Dolly Parton has paid tribute to her husband Carl Dean in her first public appearance since his death. The 79-year-old country music singer’s husband died aged 82 on March 3. She paid tribute to him during a surprise concert at the preview for Dollywood season passholders ahead of opening for its 40th season in Tennessee.

Few journalists ever got to meet Carl Dean, the husband of Dolly Parton, who died Monday at age 82. He was renowned for his reclusiveness, developing a legend — probably in spite of himself — as perhaps the least-sighted but most-speculated-about spouse of any enduring superstar in the last half-century of pop culture.

Dolly Parton is one of the most beloved figures in country music, and perhaps in pop culture generally. The prolific singer and songwriter continues to tour in her seventies to sold out crowds, and she’s been performing since her preteens.