Dolly Parton finally addresses gay rumours in new interview
<p>Despite Dolly Parton having a solid marriage to her husband of 53 year, the rumours of her sexuality have followed her throughout her career.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Now Parton has addressed the rumours in an interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/8455529/dolly-parton-sexuality-rumours-secret-girlfriend/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a>, saying that she accepts everyone for who they are.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>As for the gay rumours? Parton explained a bit more about why people give her love life any thought at all.</p>
<p>“Well, people love to talk, people love to gossip.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“She was very quiet, I was very outgoing. So we made perfect friends. We went all through school together.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/dolly-parton-and-judy-ogle-news-photo/91393390" target="_blank"><img style="width: 281.25px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823775/dolly-parton-friend.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a60d404f2f294a658021bb3b9eff9a52" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Dolly Parton and long-time friend Judy Ogle</em></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>This includes saying anything negative about her husband of 53 years, Carl Dean.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“So I think laughter has been a big part of our relationship. We both have a lot of fun.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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”.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
