Country music fans lost a legend on March 20, 2020, when singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers died at age 81. Many fans and celebrities alike paid tribute to the icon, including the Texas native’s longtime friend and collaborator, Dolly Parton. “You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend.” Fellow country star Reba McEntire commented on her post, writing, “Dolly, he sure loved you.”
Marianne Gordon never felt “uncomfortable”
Marianne Gordon, an actor, was married to Kenny Rogers from 1977 to 1993. During this time, Gordon got to know the country legend on a deep level, especially where it concerned his close friendship with Dolly Parton. “I never felt uncomfortable at all. I just knew him so well,” she told Closer Weekly on March 24, 2020, when asked about the romance rumors. “But, it’s funny that you say that. We had a tennis pro who traveled with us, Doug Dean asked me too. I told him Kenny said I like her [Dolly] as a friend and we have a great thing on stage. We’d lose it. There is sexual tension and teasing each other and it would screw it up.”
Although Gordon is pretty sure nothing happened between the collaborators, she doesn’t rule it out. “Dolly might have [made a move though],” she added. “It’s entered my mind because she always said she thought like a man. I don’t mean it badly. Dolly is a fun girl.”
The bottom line? It sounds like this situation is drama-free.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers set the record straight
For those who might not believe Marianne Gordon’s account of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ relationship, they should probably take note of a 2013 interview the two did with ABC News. When asked directly whether they were an item at one point, the “Jolene” singer replied, “Never. It never crossed our minds because he was with people. … I’ve been with my husband for 48 years. That’s not to say I’m blind or dead.” Rogers joked, “We never consummated anything. We just teased each other all [about] it.”
At the end of the day, the pair’s story begins and ends with friendship. “Kenny’s friendship means more to me than our hit records,” Parton told CMT’s Cody Alan in 2017. “Actually, we’re kind of like soul mates. He’s from Texas and I’m from Tennessee. There’s an old famous country song, ‘T for Texas, T for Tennessee.’ We always sing that to each other.” She added, “I love his singing. I love his voice. I never tire of hearing him sing. And I think our voices blend great, so I’m really proud of the musical part of that as well.”
Of course, it’s completely reasonable to have a platonic soulmate. And we think this perfectly explains why Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers never dated.
Marianne Gordon praises Kenny Rogers
Despite their relationship not working out, Marianne Gordon has nothing but nice things to say about Kenny Rogers. “I always felt his total focus was on me,” she recalled about her ex-husband to Closer Weekly. “If anyone wanted anything from him, he was looking me in the eye and said, ‘Whatever she wants to do.'”
The Rosemary’s Baby star admitted she lost Rogers’ attention when he turned 50, although she doesn’t hold it against him. “He was always in a good mood and had a wonderful sense of humor about things,” she said. “And he really didn’t change with fame.” Considering Rogers was worth a reported $250 million when he died, this compliment says a lot about his character.
Now that Rogers is gone, Gordon is focused on remembering the good times. “The end of a relationship like that can be devastating, but there were so many fabulous memories,” she shared. “I like to think about those.”
See the video below with the story.
Source : nickswift.com
