I didn’t know this but Dolly Parton has been plagued by gay rumors for years, in part because she has a longtime female friend named Judy Ogle.  However,  in a new interview with “Nightline”, Parton denies being gay.  She says she and Judy are just best friends, and it’s basically an Oprah/Gayle relationship.

She says, “Judy and I have been best friends since we were like in the third and fourth grade.

“We still just have a great friendship and relationship and I love her as much as I love anybody in the whole world, but we’re not romantically involved.”  (Check out Dolly and Judy here.)  (Daily Mail)

She also says she and Oprah have bonded over the fact that they’re both the subject of speculation. Parton also adds: “People just think that you just can’t be that close to somebody.”

Dolly Parton and Judy Ogle together in 1980. (Getty Images)

Dolly is 66 years old, and has been married to her husband Carl Dean for 46 years.

Of course, you rarely see or hear from this guy.  Which is probably another reason people suspect Dolly of being gay.