Kenny Rogers, who unfortunately passed away last week at the age of 81, spent decades collaborating with his fellow country music legend Dolly Parton on music.

Despite the chemistry that the two shared, they never actually dated, but this didn’t stop rumors of a romantic connection between them from running rampant.

Many women would be jealous of the connection that Rogers shared with Parton, but his ex-wife Marianne Gordon would not be one of them.

“I never felt uncomfortable at all,” Gordon recently told Closer Weekly.

“But, it’s funny that you say that. … Kenny said, ‘I like her 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.’”

However, the actress added that she believes their friendship may have been tested at some point.

“Dolly might have [made a move though],” Gordon said. “It’s entered my mind because he always said she thought like a man. I don’t mean it badly. Dolly is a fun girl.”

That being said, Gordon added that she always had the utmost trust in Rogers.

“He sincerely felt they had a cute thing going, and if anything happened between them, they’d ruin that,” the former “Hee Haw” star said.

Gordon and Rogers met in 1974 and tied the knot three years later, according to Fox News.

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They welcomed their son Christopher Cody Rogers in 1981 before they divorced in 1993. Rogers later married Wanda Miller in 1997, and they remained together until his death on March 20. Though their marriage didn’t last, Gordon had nothing but positive things to say about her ex-husband.

“I couldn’t say enough nice things about him and how special he was,” she said. “So many people have called to remind me of the wonderful things Kenny did to help his friends and mine, including buying a car for a friend’s mother. He was such a kind, good person.”

Rogers himself addressed rumors of a romantic relationship between himself and Parton in an episode of “Dolly.”

“One of the things that affect a relationship when you’re working with someone is your upbringing and your background,” Rogers said. “She’s a very special person who has a very special place in my life.”

Parton was one of the first people to pay tribute to Rogers after his passing.

“You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone,” the singer wrote alongside a video tribute to him. “I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend.”

“So you be safe with God and just know that I will always love you,” she added.

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

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