Dolly Parton denies reports that she's in a lesbian relationship with her longtime best friend
- Dolly Parton has denied reports that she's gay.
- She has been best friends with Judy Ogle for 64 years, and Parton says their relationship is platonic.
- Parton has been married to husband Carl Dean Thomas for 52 years.
Dolly Parton has denied reports that she's gay and in a relationship with her childhood friend.
In an interview with The Sun, the 73-year-old singer talked about her close friendship with Judy Ogle and shut down reports that they were anything more than platonic.
"So people say that — because you can't really have a great relationship with a woman," she said. "I'm not gay, but I have so many gay friends and I accept everybody for who they are."
Ogle and Parton have been best friends for 64 years.
"Our parents knew each other, we grew up together, we were like sisters, became best friends," Parton said. "She was very quiet, I was very outgoing. So we made perfect friends. We went all through school together."
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Parton has been married to her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, since 1966. The singer was only 18 when she met the 21-year-old Thomas.
She told People in November 2018 that the secret to her 52-year marriage was a little bit of separation.
"I always joke and laugh when people ask me what's the key to my long marriage and lasting love,'' she said. "I always say, 'Stay gone!' and there's a lot of truth to that."
The singer told The Sun that she doesn't worry about reports as long as they aren't hurtful to those she cares about.
"People love to talk — but sometimes that's your best publicity," she said. "I don't care what they say as long as they don't hurt other people I love."
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