A legal dispute has emerged involving the estate of the late country music icon Dolly Parton, as her longtime business manager has accused her nephew, Bryan Seaver, of issuing threats aimed at extorting money from her estate.
On Tuesday, Danny Nozell, who managed Parton’s business affairs, filed a request for a restraining order in a Tennessee court against Seaver. The filing alleges that Seaver engaged in a "campaign of threats, intimidation and coercion" targeting She’s Alive, the entity appointed by Parton’s trust to oversee her expansive business interests. She’s Alive manages Dollywood, the theme park founded by Parton in 1986, as well as her brand partnerships. The court granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, prohibiting Seaver from interfering with the company’s operations and maintaining a distance of at least 1,000 feet from any associated individuals or entities.
In addition to the restraining order, She’s Alive has initiated a lawsuit against Seaver, accusing him of intentionally disrupting business relationships through coercive tactics. A representative for She’s Alive did not respond to requests for comment.
Parton, who passed away last month at age 80 after a battle with cancer, built a diverse business empire beyond her celebrated music and film career. Alongside her husband, Carl Dean, who died in 2025, she cultivated Dollywood and various consumer product lines. The couple had no children. Seaver, who operated a private security firm and provided security services to Parton for approximately 20 years, publicly announced her death in an Instagram post.
Court documents reveal that Seaver and his security company were dismissed by She’s Alive last week, with an order barring them and their employees from all Parton properties. According to the filings, Seaver began issuing threats in the weeks before Parton’s death, continuing thereafter. He reportedly described himself in communications with Parton’s entertainment lawyer as an “international arms dealer and mercenary,” stating, “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.”
The lawsuit alleges Seaver threatened to damage the reputation of Parton’s businesses, including Dollywood, unless he received financial compensation from the estate. One text message included in court records quotes Seaver saying he planned to launch a podcast aimed at undermining Dolly’s brand partnerships and exposing purported wrongdoings, adding, “It’s going to be great. Or f..king pay me.”
The filing also notes that one attorney representing Parton’s trust resigned following threats from Seaver. Seaver did not respond to direct requests for comment. However, in a statement provided to an entertainment news outlet, he denied issuing threats and characterized the exchanges as emotional conversations between two men grieving together.