Dolly Parton’s Manager Files Lawsuit Against Her Nephew

Dolly Parton’s estate recently fired her nephew, who announced her passing and served as head of her security for 20 years, alleging he made violent threats against others associated with the estate.

Bryan Seaver, Dolly Parton’s beloved nephew who had served as the head of her security for 20 years, was suddenly dismissed from his position last week. The news was surprising to the public, as Seaver had been the one to announce his famous aunt’s passing. Now, more details surrounding his dismissal have emerged.

Dolly’s manager, Danny Nozell, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the estate (She’s Alive, LLC) against Seaver with allegations of threats to “those associated with Miss Parton’s legacy.” Nozell’s complaint alleges that Seaver, who is the son of Dolly’s sister Cassie, had become “emboldened” following the country icon’s passing.

“Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing,” the filing claims. “Those threats continued after her passing, and he aimed them directly at [the estate’s] personnel, counsel, and business partners. In writing, he vowed to ‘destroy the entire brand,’ [and] threatened to ‘ratfuck every [business] entity’ that helps operate Dollywood.”

The estate also alleges that Seaver, whose companies provided security guards for Parton’s properties for the last two decades, claimed to be “an international arms dealer and mercenary.” The filing claims that he “threatened that ‘everyone needs to be worried about what I might do’ and told Ms. Parton’s entertainment attorney, ‘I’m not an entertainment person; I’m a killer.’”

Some estate personnel have reportedly resigned as a result, while Parton’s trusts and estates attorney withdrew after Seaver allegedly “targeted” her. Other individuals associated with the estate have retained private security, and “ordinary operations have given way to an atmosphere of fear.”

Meanwhile, Seaver told TMZ that his words were taken out of context.

“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,” he said. “However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.”

He also claimed that he was merely speaking “frankly” to Parton’s manager, whom he considered a friend. “A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”

Regarding the comments seemingly threatening the brand and businesses associated with Dollywood, Seaver said he was “talking about people that have done bad to Dolly in business—a specific company that scared her and intimidated her.”

“Those comments were about specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her, and I stand by that.”