Dolly Parton finally addresses gay rumours in new interview
Despite Dolly Parton having a solid marriage to her husband of 53 year, the rumours of her sexuality have followed her throughout her career.
The theory suggests that her long-time best friend Judy Ogle is her secret partner instead of her husband Carl Dean, who keeps a very low profile in their hometown of Nashville.
Now Parton has addressed the rumours in an interview with The Sun, saying that she accepts everyone for who they are.
“So people say that — because you can’t really have a great relationship with a woman. I’m not gay but I have so many gay friends and I accept everybody for who they are.”
As for the gay rumours? Parton explained a bit more about why people give her love life any thought at all.
“Well, people love to talk, people love to gossip.
“Judy and I have been best friends for 64 years, since we were little kids. Our parents knew each other, we grew up together, we were like sisters, became best friends.
“She was very quiet, I was very outgoing. So we made perfect friends. We went all through school together.
“She went to the army when we graduated because she needed the insurance and she needed to help her family and I was trying to make it. As soon as she got out, she came to Nashville and we’ve been together ever since.”
Dolly Parton and long-time friend Judy Ogle
However, the rumours don’t phase Parton. As long as they don’t come for the people she loves, which include friends and family, she doesn’t have a problem with being in the public eye.
“People love to talk — but sometimes that’s your best publicity. I don’t care what they say as long as they don’t hurt other people I love.”
This includes saying anything negative about her husband of 53 years, Carl Dean.
“He’s a good man. It is a true love story and he’s my best buddy — he’s crazy, he’s funny,” she says.
“So I think laughter has been a big part of our relationship. We both have a lot of fun.
“And we’re not in the same business — he doesn’t care about that. He’s pretty much a homebody, loves staying around home. We live out on a farm. He likes to mow the fields and work on his tractors.”
The pair love their quiet life, which includes a life without children. This is due to a hysterectomy when Parton was 36, but she believes it “wasn’t meant to be”.
“My husband feels the same way. Now that we are older, we’re almost kind of glad that we don’t have a bunch of grandkids driving us crazy that we have to babysit if we don’t want to.”