According to Gillian Walters, last updated on February 14, 2022 at 10:19 am EST
Kenny Rogers, a country music icon, passed away at the age of 81 on March 20, 2020. Dolly Parton, a longtime friend and partner of the Texas native, was among the many celebrities and fans who paid tribute to the great. She posted on Instagram, “You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone.” and she was right. “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.” Country music legend Reba McEntire sent a note reading, “Dolly, he sure loved you.”

Not only were Rogers and Parton very close, but they also collaborated on a number of projects. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: Together, released in 1985, and the duo’s subsequent singles, such as “Islands in the Stream,” proved that they were formidable. Relationship rumors swirled around the two for years because of how well they clicked. Some of Rogers’ five ex-wives stepped out following the country singer’s death, so it’s safe to infer that this was an awkward subject for them. The fourth wife of Rogers and mother of his son, Christopher Cody Rogers, Marianne Gordon, is included in this group.

So, how does Gordon feel about Parton’s bond with her late ex-husband? After the jump, we’ll show you her perspective on the matter.

Marianne Gordon was never “uncomfortable” doing anything.

From 1977 until 1993, Kenny Rogers was married to actor Marianne Gordon. In particular, Gordon became very acquainted with the country icon through his strong friendship with Dolly Parton during this period. “I was completely at ease the whole time. “I simply knew him so well,” she told Closer Weekly on March 24, 2020, in response to the romance claims. I find it amusing that you say that, though. A tennis pro accompanied us on our trip; Doug Dean also requested me to join him. I informed him that Kenny had mentioned that I enjoy Dolly as a friend and that we work well together on stage. We would completely lose it. It would ruin the sexual tension and teasing that’s going on.

Gordon is very certain that there was no interaction between the collaborators, but she still won’t say it’s impossible. Additionally, she mentioned that Dolly might have taken action. She claimed she thought like a man the whole time, so the thought crossed my mind. My intention is not malicious. My darling Dolly is a real character.

Is that all? It appears that there is no drama surrounding this circumstance.

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton cleared the air.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers gave an interview to ABC News in 2013, in case anyone doubts Marianne Gordon’s version of their relationship. “Never” was the response given by the “Jolene” singer when questioned directly if they were an item at one point. Since he was with others, the thought never occurred to us. Our marriage has lasted for forty-eight years. That doesn’t mean I’m completely incapacitated. “We never consummated anything,” Rogers said in a playful manner. All we did was make fun of each other about it.

Ultimately, the bond between the two characters is what propels their journey forward. For Parton, “Kenny’s friendship means more to me than our hit records,” she said to Cody Alan of CMT in 2017. Truly, we’re very much like a soulmate couple. Our home states are Tennessee and Texas, respectively. ‘T for Texas, T for Tennessee’ is a well-known classic country tune. We always serenade one another with that song. “I thoroughly enjoy his vocal performances,” she continued. His voice is quite captivating. His singing is always a treat for me. I am also quite pleased with the musical aspect of it because I believe our voices harmonize well.

A platonic soulmate is entirely logical, of course. In our opinion, this is the main reason why Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were never romantically involved.

Kenny Rogers receives Marianne Gordon’s appreciation.
Despite the fact that they broke up, Marianne Gordon still speaks highly of Kenny Rogers. “I always felt his total focus was on me,” she recalled, speaking about her ex-husband with Closer Weekly. “If anyone wanted anything from him, he was looking me in the eye and said, ‘Whatever she wants to do.'”

Although she doesn’t hold it against him, the Rosemary’s Baby actress did confess that Rogers stopped paying attention to her after he turned 50. “He was always in a good mood and had a wonderful sense of humor about things,” according to her. “And he really didn’t change with fame.” This praise speaks much about Rogers’ character, given his rumoured $250 million net fortune at the time of his death.

Gordon is reminiscing about the good days now that Rogers is gone. “The end of a relationship like that can be devastating, but there were so many fabulous memories,” she told me. “I like to think about those.”

Wanda Miller was the “most rewarding” partner for Kenny Rogers.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, Kenny Rogers, who has been married four times and had a flirty connection with Dolly Parton, said that his “most rewarding” relationship was with Wanda Miller, his fifth wife. Regarding his marriage to Miller, whom he wed in 1997, he stated, “That’s no offense to any of the other people I was married to.” “I just think I wasn’t ready before.” In his life, he had many things, he continued. I’ve made loads of money and had the biggest and best of everything, but now I’m back to looking at the small things that matter: my boys. Hello, Wanda. It’s not about me anymore. This is all about them.

Miller had twin boys with Rogers; they were fifteen years old when he died. The country legend’s Instagram account seems to suggest he was very close with the teens, a relationship he had worked hard to develop. “In my autobiography, I talk about, there’s a fine line between being driven and being selfish, and I think I may have crossed that line a couple of times when I was younger,” Rogers admitted in 2013 to The Boot, referencing his earlier parenting mistakes with his older children. This is something I would rather not do with the lads. I’m determined to be there and be a dad to them at all costs.”

In the end, it sounds like Kenny Rogers found true happiness with Miller and his beloved children.