Dolly Parton's Estate Files Suit, Gets Restraining Order Against Nephew Over Alleged Threats

Dolly Parton 's estate, via She's Alive, LLC, has filed a lawsuit against the late legend's nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver. The lawsuit follows Seaver's termination from his longtime role.

She's Alive, LLC (SAL), an entity laid out by Parton to protect her legacy and operated by longtime manager Danny Nozell, filed the suit against Seaver and his security company on Tuesday (September 22) in Nashville, Tennessee. The court granted She's Alive a temporary restraining order against Seaver to prevent him from contacting employees and interfering with its business operations, and requires him to remain at least 1,000 feet from its offices. Documents allege Seaver demanded payment and threatened staff and brand partners if his demands were not met. The filing, obtained by multiple news outlets, alleges that Seaver boasted about arms dealing, referred to himself as a "killer," and threatened to launch a podcast that would harm Parton's brand, among other allegations. Seaver is accused of "invoking his self-proclaimed military-contractor experience, access to weapons, and capacity for violence," as he demanded payment. The threats allegedly began weeks before Parton's death on August 25.

"Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing… In writing, he vowed to 'destroy the entire brand' and also told her entertainment attorney: 'I'm not an entertainment person. I'm a killer,'" a filing reportedly reads. Some employees have reportedly since resigned.

Alleged threats by Seaver include: "Her money better be bigger than I can make elsewhere or I'm going to f*** everyone. I am about to become the hand of retribution for my entire family," "I'm going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly's brand partnership and telling the violations these people have done on us," "All I do is warfare ... everyone needs to be worried about what I might do," "I'm not an entertainment person. I'm a killer," and more, according to filings.

TMZ was first to report Seaver's firing after the former head of security received his termination notice on September 16. Parton's estate apparently fired Seaver and "replacement guards" arrived at Parton's Nashville home, museum and other properties. Seaver and his team were "dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions," he said in a statement. "We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much." Seaver's interest in DP Dean Trust was reportedly not impacted by his termination.

"I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments. I am a security professional and I am a killer," Seaver said as he denied the estate's claims to TMZ. According to Seaver, his statements were taken out of context. "However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by. I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny who I thought was my friend and he fancies himself a gangster. A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.

"I was talking about people that have done bad to Dolly in business - a specific company that scared her and intimated her," Seaver told TMZ of one alleged threat in the filing, "I'm going to ratf*** every entity I can possibly conjure." "Those comments were about specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her and I stand by that."

Seaver held his role as head of security for more than two decades. His father, Larry Seaver, held the role before him. Larry Seaver is Seaver's father and Cassie Nan Parton, the late singer-songwriter's younger sister, is his mother.

Parton's team announced on August 25 that the beloved legend "died peacefully" in Nashville, Tennessee. Seaver also confirmed his aunt's passing in a video with a message from the family, which was shared on Parton's social media accounts, at her request. Parton's representatives said in a statement to PEOPLE hours later, "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones." She was 80. Parton has since been laid to rest beside husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. He was 82.