Kenny Rogers Explains Why He and Dolly Parton Never ‘Consummated’ Their Flirty Relationship in Resurfaced Video

n a recently resurfaced interview Dan Rather did with Kenny Rogers in 2014, the “Through the Years” singer spoke about his flirtatious relationship with country superstar Dolly Parton. Despite rumors, Rogers denied ever having an affair with his old friend and collaborator.

When Rather asked if anything “romantic” ever happened with Parton, Rogers replied:

“I am telling you from the bottom of my heart. I met her husband, first of all. and I was married to Marianne through that whole time. But what we did, is we flirted with each other for thirty years and it was much more electric. I think once you consummate a relationship like that it loses something. And she and I both believe that theory.”

“So we did some massive flirting in front of the nation, but there was never anything more than that,” he added.

There’s no denying that Rogers and Parton had great chemistry. But according to the “We’ve Got Tonight” singer, that’s all it was.

Parton was married to her husband, Carl Dean, for 59 years before he died in March 2025 at the age of 82. They got married in 1966. Rogers was married five times to Janice Gordon, Jean Rogers, Margo Anderson, Marianne Gordon, and Wanda Rogers, who the singer was married to when he died in 2020.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared