Dolly later recalled that they just became good friends because Billy Ray was a Kentucky boy while she came from Tennessee.
The two shared many similarities in their roots, culture and love of country music.
They did more than tour together.
Dolly and Billy Ray also worked directly with each other in music.
Dolly wrote the song Romeo and invited Billy Ray to appear in its music video.
She also recalled that Billy Ray had appeared on some of her shows and that the two spent a great deal of time traveling, performing and talking together.
Those days spent constantly alongside one another on the road allowed their friendship to grow quickly, evolving from a professional relationship into a bond that felt almost like family.
At the time, even their friendship and closeness were exaggerated by tabloids into rumors of a romantic relationship.
In 1992, while Billy Ray was at the height of his fame, some tabloids began claiming that he and Dolly were romantically involved.
Billy Ray was reportedly quite embarrassed and even felt that he needed to apologize to Dolly for the stories.
But Dolly’s reaction was completely different.
She did not get angry, nor did she allow the rumors to damage their friendship.
