"When we saw all the crowds coming in, I thought, 'Oh my goodness,'" Parton told Knox News during a sit-down interview. "It just does my heart good to see that Dollywood has done so well and after 40 years, it just gets better and better and better."

Dolly Parton was in attendance Friday as Dollywood kicked off the celebration of its 40th anniversary of her beloved theme park in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains. In addition to performing on stage during the celebration,

Legendary singer Dolly Parton celebrated the 40th anniversary of her theme park, Dollywood, amongst a crowd of fans Friday in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Parton’s public appearance at the event marks her first since the death of her husband,