Dolly Parton jokes about gay rumours

Dolly Parton would have "come out of the closet just a-flying" if she was gay.

The country music star has been married to her husband Carl Dean for 46 years. He has chosen to stay out of the limelight during her career, leading to a lot of speculation about his marriage to Dolly.

The star has endured claims Carl doesn't exist, as well as allegations she is a secret lesbian. The 66-year-old is so secure in her marriage she is able to laugh it all off.

"I'm not gay. If I was gay, I would have come out of the closet just a-flying," she is quoted as saying by New York Daily News.

"But if there's gossip going on, they're going to bring me into it. I've been married 46 years. I think people think that in itself is not normal."

Dolly and Carl haven't had a family together and the singer admits she sometimes daydreams about what their children would have been like. While she is famed for her blonde hair and buxom figure, Carl is dark and tall.

The star insists she has "no sadness" about not becoming a mother in her new book Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You.

Dolly also discusses her penchant for plastic surgery in the tome. She has famously had work done on her breasts and prides herself on wearing a wig and full make-up at all times.

Although she knows the look isn't for everyone, it's one she loves. The singer believes it's important to look her best at all times due to her career – which she has no plans on stepping away from.

"I'm not gonna retire. Not unless it was for health reasons, like I lost my mind and didn't remember what business I was in," she laughed.