Dolly Parton’s estate seeks restraining order against singer’s nephew

Dolly Parton's estate seeks restraining order against singer's nephew. Anthony Robledo USA TODAY.

Key points

• Bryan Seaver is the son of Dolly's younger sister Cassie Parton and Larry Seaver.
• 25, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Pinnacle Bank have overseen the administration and operations of her trust.
• 16 after more than 20 years serving as his aunt's head of security, a role he assumed from his late father, Larry Seaver, according to TMZ.
• His sister Rebecca Seaver serves as executive director of Dolly Parton's Nashville museum.
• The filings allege that Bryan Seaver "inflicted reputational and economic harm" on those entrusted to protect the Grammy-winning musician's brand, according to Individuals.

Dolly Parton's estate seeks restraining order against singer's nephew. Anthony Robledo USA TODAY. Sept. 25 is now Dolly Parton Day in California.

California will celebrate Dolly Parton Day every Sept. 25 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill honoring the late country music icon and philanthropist. The 9/25 date is a nod to her hit song "9 to 5."

After he was fired from providing security for her properties, according to Individuals and TMZ, dolly Parton's estate requested a temporary restraining order against the late country singer's nephew, Bryan Seaver.

She's Alive, LLC (SAL), the entity Parton designed to protect her legacy after her death, filed a lawsuit Sept. 22 alleging Seaver threatened to smear his aunt's legacy and created violent threats against a number of employees, Individuals noted, citing the filing.

Since the "Jolene" singer died on Aug. 25, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Pinnacle Bank have overseen the administration and operations of her trust. According to Individuals, the estate was granted a temporary restraining order against Seaver.

USA TODAY reached out to Bryan Seaver through his security firm and Nozell for comment.

"Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing, " one filing states, Individuals noted. "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.'".

Seaver received a termination notice on Sept. 16 after more than 20 years serving as his aunt's head of security, a role he assumed from his late father, Larry Seaver, according to TMZ. The outlet published the termination letter. It notified him that all of Bryan Seaver's services "are formally dismissed and terminated" and stated that cotrustees will contact him regarding his interest as a trust beneficiary. What is Bryan Seaver accused of?

Notably, the filings allege that Bryan Seaver "inflicted reputational and economic harm" on those entrusted to protect the Grammy-winning musician's brand, according to Individuals. The outlet documented that Bryan Seaver is accused of threatening to start a podcast intended to ruin Dolly Parton's brand partnerships unless he was paid.

Meanwhile, the filings additionally maintained Bryan Seaver created "threats of real-world violence" towards the singer's staff, partners, and legal and business advisors, "allegedly often invoking his background as a military contractor, " Residents documented. One of the filings remarked those are the reasons for his termination.

"As the entity entrusted by Ms. Parton to protect and promote her life's work for future generations, SAL must cultivate a safe work environment for employees, advisors, and partners, free from intimidation or hostility – particularly intimidation by an armed former security contractor, " one of the filings states, Individuals noted. "Without relief, Defendants' calculated campaign will continue to inflict fear, to destabilize SAL's operations, and to cause further irreparable harm." What has Bryan Seaver remarked?

In an official note to TMZ shared on Sept. 21, Bryan Seaver remarked he and his teams were "dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions" taken by Nozell and Pinnacle Bank.

"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, " the statement reads.

Bryan Seaver confirmed his aunt's death in an Aug. 25 video shared on social media where he remarked he first followed Dolly Parton on the road when he was a kid in the early 1980s and secured a taste of the doors she opened for her family "to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible." In the video, he noted that Dolly Parton personally asked him to reveal her death.

"My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you, " Bryan Seaver remarked in the video. "She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family, whether you liked it or not." Who is Bryan Seaver?

Along with overseeing the "9 to 5" singer's security operations, Bryan Seaver is the CEO of Squadron Augmented Protection Services⁠, a Nashville-based firm offering executive protection, estate security, business intelligence, K-9 services, and event security, according to his LinkedIn page.

As Dolly Parton's head of security, Bryan Seaver worked to protect his aunt, her residences, and her professional properties.

His sister Rebecca Seaver serves as executive director of Dolly Parton's Nashville museum. Contributing: Sameen Chaudhry and Liza Esquibias, USA TODAY. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around dolly Partons estate seeks restraining order against singers nephew point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.