Cory Monteith Calls Taylor Swift 'Lovely' (But Just a Friend)

Cory Monteith says they're not. Ellen DeGeneres thinks they should.

Those are the latest official views on a potential romantic involvement between the Glee actor and country-music sweetheart Taylor Swift.

In an interview airing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Tuesday (which happens to be his 28th birthday), Monteith denies that he and Swift, 20, are dating. "No, we're just friends," he says. "I don't know where the time is to date these days."

But DeGeneres doesn't take no for an answer that easily.

"You'd be a cute couple ... maybe," she says. "She's lovely," Cory replies. Ellen: "She is lovely, and you're lovely. Two lovely people." Cory: "Stop it. Listen to her …" Ellen: "Yeah, listen to me. Think about it."

Questions about the pair's status have been swirling since they spent time together – and displayed "great chemisty," according to an onlooker – during a group outing to an L.A. bowling alley in March.

Monteith later told CMT Radio Live's Cody Alan that Swift "kicked my ass" at bowling that day.