Dolly Partons professed love for the LGBT community extends beyond her fervent fanbase.

In a new interview with PrideSource , the 70-year-old country queen says she has many gay and lesbian family members, and shes always loved them unconditionally. Parton didnt name names, but added that shes had many people through the years who I have helped to feel good about themselves.

Whether its about being gay or whatever, a lot of people do me like they used to do my mama and come to talk to me about things, she said. I say, You need to let people know who you are and you need to come on out. You dont need to live your life in darkness whats the point in that? Youre never gonna be happy; youre gonna be sick. Youre not gonna be healthy if you try to suppress your feelings and who you are.

Her LGBT friends and family members, she said, just want to make the world a more beautiful place like I do.

Parton has discussed her LGBT following in a number of recent interviews. In July, she told The Guardian that she feels more like a family member or an aunt or an older sister or a friend to those fans.

Ive often said people dont come to see me to see me, they come to see me to see them, Parton said. Ive fought for the right to be myself, so that is one of the reasons that the gays and lesbians relate to me. They know that I appreciate everybody for who they are.

The icon is, once again, in the midst of another banner year professionally. Her latest album, Pure & Simple, shot to No. 1 on Billboards Top Country Albums Chart after it was released Aug. 19. Shell kick off the Canadian leg of her acclaimed Pure & Simple Tour, which has already thrilled audiences in Philadelphia , Boston and New York , on Sept. 9.