Dolly Parton opens up about Kenny Rogers' death saying it 'caught me by surprise'

As the weekend marked two weeks since Kenny Rogers' passed away, country music superstar Dolly Parton has only just started to process her longtime friend's death.

During a virtual appearance on the Today show, the '9 To 5' hitmaker opened up about her grief, saying: "Kenny and I have been friends for so many years. We just connected, you know how there's some people you just feel like you've known all your life.

"We just knew each other so well, both kinda goofy and silly, have a warm sense of humour, so we had a lot of fun times together. Our voices really blended well and we had the same outlook on life and on things, and so we just, travelling around the world like we did for so many years, we became very, very close."

"When Kenny passed away, it caught me by surprise," Dolly told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager from her home in Nashville.

"I knew he wasn't doing well, but it was just like, I lost someone so close to me, it just broke my heart. It just shocked me and I was very emotional about it for several days, and now I've kind of put it in a peaceful place, knowing that he's at peace.

"My words and love go out to his children and to Wanda, his wife, and to all his fans. I'll always miss him, but I'll always treasure what we had together."

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The country music queen first paid tribute to Kenny the morning after his passing.

Taking to social media, Dolly shared a video in which she said: "I loved Kenny with all my heart, and my heart's broken."

Alongside the video she wrote: "You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone. 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. So you be safe with God and just know that I will always love you, dolly.

The country music legend passed away on March 20, at the age of 81.

According to his family, he passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice.