The management company that oversees Dolly Parton’s business and estates, She’s Alive, has filed for a temporary civil restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, alleging a campaign of threats and intimidation aimed at destroying the singer’s legacy.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for the last twenty years and was the first to announce her death on Instagram, was dismissed by She’s Alive as head of security last week. He has now responded with a statement to TMZ in which he says the texts and emails cited in the lawsuit were taken out of context and that “nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.”
The lawsuit, filed in Nashville, cites a series of exchanges in which Seaver allegedly said he would destroy Parton’s brand, would act as “the hand of retribution for my entire family,” and even threatened to launch a podcast “dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships.” He purportedly also used his background as a military contractor to intimidate staff, with statements such as, “All I do is warfare… Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.”
Seaver, the son of Partion’s sister Cassie, owns a company that provided security for her properties for two decades. In his defence, he says he was merely “talking frankly in a private way with Danny [Nozz] I think was my friend.” he said, “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.”
The court filings also claim the accusations forced some lawyers and trustees of Parton’s assets to resign and forced She’s Alive to hire private security for its employees, even at their homes. The estate has not yet responded to request for comment.
The dispute comes against a backdrop of a public tug‑of‑war over the late superstar’s legacy. Over the last four years, her estate has worked to preserve her image and expand future projects, with Danny Nozz expanding her touring career and managing her brand. Seaver’s claims now threaten that vision.
Image source: Getty Images
The case is still pending and the outcome remains uncertain. An internal investigation by She’s Alive is ongoing, while Seaver continues to rally his defence. The battle signals a deepening fracture within the Parton estate over control and legacy management.
