Presidents Obama and Clinton at the Democratic Convention, Sept. 5, 2012. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

First Lady Michelle Obama says she sees signs of a flourishing "bromance" between her husband, President Obama, and former President Bill Clinton, even though the 42 nd president earlier this month denied that their relationship deserves the label.

"Bill Clinton has been an important adviser, friend and supporter for a very long time," Mrs. Obama tells "Access Hollywood" in an interview that aired this week.

She called the hug between Clinton and her husband on stage at the Democratic National Convention a "public display of the bromance."

"Barack understands that to be good at this job you've got to learn and listen from those who've done it. And because there are so few people alive today who have done this job, you know, you don't waste any of that advice," the first lady said in the interview. "I know he was grateful to have someone like Bill Clinton speak about the economy and create some clarity."

But in an interview before taking the stage in Charlotte on Sept. 5, Clinton sang a very different tune.

"We haven't been close friends a long time or anything like that, but he knows I support him," he told NBC.

Clinton said he "respects" Obama and that the two have "good" ties, but added "it is, from my point of view, not a transaction or a bromance or any of that sort of stuff."