Dolly Parton’s nephew announced her death. Why her estate is suing him now

Dolly Parton's nephew confirmed her death. Why her estate is suing him now.

Key points

• Less than a month ago, Bryan Seaver appeared in a solemn video on Dolly Parton's social media accounts to announce the country music icon's death.
• She's Alive, LLC, an entity Parton created to protect her legacy, filed a lawsuit against Seaver on Sept.
• Dolly Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver has reportedly been fired from head of security for her properties against the backdrop of an estate dispute.
• 16 after serving as his aunt's head of security for more than 20 years.
• Seaver followed his father, Larry, into the position as head of Parton's security, according to the statement he created while announcing Parton's death⁠.

Dolly Parton's nephew confirmed her death. Why her estate is suing him now. Sameen Chaudhry USA TODAY. Dolly Parton's nephew fired from security role for aunt's properties.

Parton had personally asked her nephew years earlier to deliver the news when the time came. Seaver, who served as her head of security for more than two decades, described the responsibility as an honor mixed with pride and sadness.

Now, the relative once entrusted with announcing Parton's death is at the center of an escalating legal dispute involving her estate.

She's Alive, LLC, an entity Parton created to protect her legacy, filed a lawsuit against Seaver on Sept. 22 and was granted a temporary restraining order that same day. The filings accuse Seaver of threatening Parton's employees and business associates and attempting to damage the singer's brand.

For context, the court action came days after Seaver and his security firms were dismissed from protecting Parton's properties. Why did Dolly Parton's estate seek a restraining order?

Meanwhile, the lawsuit alleges Seaver "began a campaign of threats, intimidation and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing."

According to filings obtained by Individuals, Seaver allegedly invoked his experience as a military contractor, his access to weapons and his capacity for violence while seeking capital from those overseeing Parton's interests.

"In writing, he vowed to 'destroy the entire brand' and additionally informed her entertainment attorney: 'I'm not an entertainment person. I'm a killer.'".

In practice, the filings claim Seaver threatened to damage Parton's brand partnerships, including by creating a podcast regarding alleged wrongdoing involving her businesses. The allegations have not been proven in court. The estate is seeking to prevent Seaver from interfering with Parton's businesses and professional relationships. Why was Bryan Seaver fired as head of security?

Seaver received a termination notice Sept. 16 after serving as his aunt's head of security for more than 20 years.

Seaver's responsibilities included helping protect the singer, her residences and her professional properties.

According to The termination letter, seaver and his firms were dismissed from all of Parton's properties. It additionally stated the trust's co-trustees would contact him separately regarding his interest as a beneficiary.

Although a specific explanation was not initially provided publicly, the new court filings allege Seaver's conduct led to his dismissal. USA TODAY reached out to Seaver through his security firm and Danny Nozell for comment. What has Bryan Seaver remarked concerning the allegations?

Seaver denied that his messages constituted threats, telling TMZ they were taken out of context.

"I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny who I thought was my friend and he fancies himself a gangster, " Seaver informed the outlet. "A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving."

Seaver additionally stated certain remarks concerned business partners he believed had mistreated or intimidated his aunt. "I was talking regarding residents that have done bad to Dolly in business – a specific firm that scared her and intimated her. Those comments were regarding specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her and I stand by that."

USA TODAY has reached out to Seaver through his security firm and to Nozell for comment. Why did Bryan Seaver announce Dolly Parton's death?

Seaver is the son of Parton's younger sister Cassie Parton. He began traveling with his aunt as a child in the early 1980s and eventually assumed the security position previously held by his father.

Parton personally asked Seaver to announce her death when the time came, he remarked in the video shared on her social media accounts Aug. 25.

"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality, " Seaver remarked.

Parton's precise reason for selecting him has not been publicly explained. His position as both a close relative and her longtime head of security, nevertheless, produced him a trusted figure within her family and professional circle. Contributors: Liza Esquibias, Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, dolly Partons nephew announced her death. Why her estate is suing him remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.