Dolly Parton: I need heels

Dolly Parton says rumours she showers in high heels are "horses**t" although she does wear them to get into her kitchen cupboards.

The American country singer is famously fastidious about her appearance and never leaves home unless she has her make-up on and her hair in place. Her love of looking glamorous has caused rumours she never dresses down, but Dolly – who is 5ft. tall - insists that isn't the case.

"Oh that's horses**t! Ha ha ha!" she laughed, when asked whether she wears big shoes in the shower. "But I do wear high heels in the house – otherwise I can't reach the cabinets! I don't wear my heels in the shower or when I sleep – and I wear my little tennis shoes when I do my treadmill – but when I go out, of course I will. That's my look and that's how I'm always gonna be."

Although the 65-year-old is open about some aspects of her life, others remain a secret. She'll happily discuss the plastic surgery she's had, but prefers to keep her husband of 45 years Carl Thomas Dean out of the limelight.

This decision has lead to intense speculation about her private life. Dolly is often seen with her best friend Judy Ogle, and some have suggested the two might be lovers. It's something Dolly giggles about, but she also finds it sad that people don't understand what it's like to have such a close pal.

"Judy and I laugh and laugh when people say such things," she told British newspaper The Guardian. "It keeps me humble, having someone around who I know loves me for who I am and not what I've done. Judy and I have known each other since we were itty-bitty girls and we're like Siamese twins because we've grown together and if something happened to her, it would just kill me."

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has dealt with similar rumours due to her friendship with Gayle King. It's something Dolly and Oprah have bonded about.

"Oprah and I have talked about that a lot," she explained. "We share many very special bonds and we have often spoken about how people try to make out that she and Gayle [King] are gay and Judy and I are gay. But we understand that very few people are lucky enough to have a very best friend and keep that best friend all your life."