Dolly Parton’s estate has accused the country music legend’s nephew of threatening violence and trying to destroy his late aunt’s legacy and business empire, according to court filings submitted Tuesday.
Bryan Seaver, who ran a company that provided Parton’s security and was handpicked by the singer to announce her death from cancer last month, allegedly invoked his experience working for private military contractors during the Iraq War as part of his threats, the filings claim.
Parton’s estate is now asking a Nashville judge to keep Seaver away from its employees and business dealings.
The allegations provide the first signs of turmoil in what had been a carefully managed process surrounding the estate of one of country music’s most celebrated stars.
Seaver has not yet commented on the allegations.
The claims were made in a request for a temporary restraining order filed by She’s Alive, the entity responsible for managing and protecting Parton’s professional property and business interests. Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager, runs the organization.
She’s Alive terminated Seaver and his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, last week, saying his alleged “terrorizing conduct made their continued retention untenable,” according to court documents.
The filings include a series of text messages and emails that She’s Alive alleges Seaver sent beginning shortly before Parton’s death. They claim the messages initially contained threats to damage the singer’s brand before Seaver began reveling in his newfound attention following her death and describing himself as an “international arms dealer.”
In a Sept. 1 message included in the filings, Seaver allegedly threatened to launch a podcast devoted to damaging Parton’s brand partnerships unless he was paid.
The complaint alleges Seaver also cited his work with private military contractors overseas during the Iraq War in connection with his threats.
The messages have prompted Parton’s trusts and estates attorney to leave and several She’s Alive employees to resign, according to the filings. The organization also said it has hired private security to protect employees, including at their homes.
The proposed restraining order would bar Seaver from contacting or coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys and business partners. It would also prohibit him from interfering with the organization’s business relationships.
Parton wrote hundreds of songs during her career, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her music generated more than 100 million sales worldwide and more than 1 billion online streams.
