Dolly Parton Estate Seeks Restraining Order Against Nephew

An estate tied to Dolly Parton has accused the country music star's nephew of threatening violence and trying to damage both her legacy and her business holdings. The estate is asking a judge to prevent him from interacting with its employees or taking part in its business affairs, according to court records filed in Nashville. Those filings offer the first public sign of conflict in what had otherwise been a closely controlled process for handling Parton's estate after her recent death. Bryan Seaver owns a company that handled Parton's security detail and was chosen to announce her passing. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a request for a temporary restraining order submitted by Shes Alive, which manages Parton's professional property, and in other court records, the company says Seaver sent messages that became increasingly threatening. Shes Alive is led by Danny Nozell, Parton's longtime manager. Last week, Shes Alive ended its relationship with Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services, saying his conduct made it impossible to keep working together. The filings describe text messages and emails that Seaver allegedly sent beginning shortly before Parton died. Those communications included threats to harm the brand, and later messages in which Seaver reportedly bragged about his higher profile and described himself as an 'international arms dealer'. In one message dated September 1 and included in the court records, he wrote: "Im going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dollys brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. Its going to be great. Or f pay me." Seaver also said he had worked for private military contractors overseas during the Iraq War, citing that experience to strengthen his threats, according to the filings. The dispute has reportedly caused Parton's main trusts and estates lawyer to leave and several Shes Alive employees to resign. The company has brought in private security for the staff who remain. The restraining order request asks that Seaver be barred from contacting Shes Alive employees, attorneys, and business partners, or from coming within 1,000 feet of them, and from interfering with its current operations. During a career that spanned six decades, Parton wrote hundreds of classic songs, among them 'Jolene,' 'Coat of Many Colors,' and 'I Will Always Love You.' She generated more than 100 million sales worldwide and more than 1 billion streams.