Donald Trump stated that country music icon Dolly Parton "really liked" him, despite her history of avoiding direct political endorsements and once referring to both Trump and Hillary Clinton as "nuts."

Parton died Tuesday at age 80 after a battle with cancer. Following the news, Trump issued a statement mourning her passing and ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-mast for a week. "Very sad to report that one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away," Trump wrote. "This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will."

In a Wednesday interview with Glenn Beck, Trump elaborated on his relationship with the singer. "I knew her a little bit," he said. "She wasn't a very political person. She really liked me, I will tell you."

Parton, known for hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5," consistently deflected questions about her political leanings throughout her career. In 2016, during the presidential campaign, she told CNN that both Trump and Clinton were "nuts" and described the race as "the greatest show on television," without explicitly supporting either candidate. She later clarified her stance, stating, "I have not endorsed Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump."

When pressed by reporters on political matters, Parton often emphasized her role as an entertainer. In 2018, she declined to comment when asked if Trump resembled the sexist boss character from her film "9 to 5." "I’m not addressing that," she said. "I’m not in politics, I’m an entertainer. That’s why I don’t talk about people."

In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, when asked about Trump, Parton reportedly cut off the inquiry, stating, "I ain’t talking about Trump!"

Parton's agents had previously announced she had to cancel shows due to health struggles. Her Las Vegas residency, scheduled for later this year, was postponed and ultimately canceled due to "health challenges." At the time of the cancellation, Parton reassured fans about her career, saying, "Don't worry about me quittin' the business because God hasn't said anything about stopping yet. But I believe he is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you."

It has been reported that Parton spent her final days at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, having been admitted on Friday.