Dolly Parton visited her very own Tennessee mountain home on Friday. Following the death of her husband Carl Dean on March 3, the country icon made her first public appearance at Dollywood’s Celebrity Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Parton, 79, arrived at the theme park to help kick off the resort’s 40th operating season.

Dolly Parton said she’s “doing better than I thought I would,” weeks after losing her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. But “that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.” Parton, 79, spoke about her late husband in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel when she appeared at a recent event for season pass holders at Dollywood,

Dolly Parton is believed to be comforted by life after death, after her family encountered paranormal activity following the death of her baby brother