Dolly Parton’s estate has filed a request for a temporary restraining order against the late star’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, accusing him of issuing threats of violence and attempting to dismantle her business empire. Court documents submitted Tuesday in Nashville mark the first public indication of internal discord within the carefully managed legacy of the country music icon, who died from cancer last month.
Seaver, who owned Squadron Augmented Protection Services and served as Parton’s security detail, was also the person handpicked by the singer to publicly announce her death. The filing, lodged by She’s Alive—the entity responsible for protecting Parton’s professional assets and managed by her longtime manager Danny Nozell—alleges that Seaver sent escalating threatening messages over several weeks leading up to and following her passing.
According to the complaint, Seaver’s communications began with threats to ruin Parton’s brand partnerships. In one message dated September 1, he stated he planned to launch a podcast dedicated to exposing alleged violations by those partnered with Parton, adding, “It’s going to be great. Or f——— pay me.” The documents further claim Seaver referenced his purported experience working for private military contractors during the Iraq War and boasted of becoming an “international arms dealer.”
The hostile behavior reportedly forced Parton’s trusts and estates attorney to withdraw and caused employees at She’s Alive to resign. The organization has since been forced to hire private security for its staff, including at their residences. Last week, She’s Alive terminated its contract with Seaver and his security firm, citing his “terrorizing conduct” as making further retention untenable.
The requested restraining order would prohibit Seaver from contacting or coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys, and business partners, while also barring interference with the company’s commercial relationships. Parton leaves behind a catalog of over 100 million records sold worldwide and more than one billion online streams for hits such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Seaver did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Hopefully the judge grants that restraining order quickly. Staff safety has to be the absolute priority right now.
Dolly always kept her business sharp. It is a shame the family drama has to spill into public court filings.
Did he really say he’d become an arms dealer? That sounds like something out of a bad movie, not real life.
He was the one who announced her death? And now this. The timing feels incredibly manipulative and cruel.
This is truly heartbreaking. To think someone she trusted could turn on her legacy like this is just devastating.