rights
Dolly Parton paid for the gender-affirming care of her "good friend" & chauffeur of 30 years
Summary by LGBTQ News Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Greg Owen , as published by LGBTQ Nation
· September 7, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: LGBTQ Nation · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by LGBTQ News Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Greg Owen, as published by LGBTQ Nation Original story Read at the source Source published Sep 7, 2026 Indexed here Sep 7, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The staffer, a transgender man, was a close member of Parton's team and had worked with her for over 30 years.
Dolly Parton's death has brought to light a story about her support for a transgender staffer. The staffer, a transgender man, was a close member of Parton's team and had worked with her for over 30 years. He started as her chauffeur after meeting her in the 1980s, and their professional relationship evolved over time.
The staffer, Jason Pirro, had previously driven for other notable clients, including Farah Fawcett and Willie Nelson. Parton described him as her "good friend". Further details about their relationship and Parton's support for him are available.
Parton's actions have highlighted her allyship to the LGBTQ + community, and this story has surfaced as a testament to her kindness and support for those around her.
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LGBTQ Nation reported and published this story. LGBTQ News selected it, summarised the key facts above, and links to the original. We did not report this story and we added no reporting of our own to it.
About this story
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For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor .
Category: rights ·
Published: September 7, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Dolly Parton's death has brought to light a story about her support for a transgender staffer. The staffer, a transgender man, was a close member of Parton's team and had worked with her for over 30…
When was this published? This article was first published on September 7, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .