Dolly Parton’s manager gets restraining order against her nephew after alleged threats
Dolly Parton’s estate alleges fired nephew has made threats to “destroy the entire brand”. (Getty Images)
Dolly Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell has been granted a restraining order against Parton’s nephew and former head of security Bryan Seaver, alleging a campaign of intimidation and threats to “destroy the entire brand”.
Nozell filed the request in a Tennessee court, as detailed in court documents (via TMZ). Attorneys for She’s Alive, LLC (SAL), the company Parton created to continue her legacy after her death, said: “Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing.” They added: “In writing, he vowed to ‘destroy the entire brand.’”
The filing alleges Seaver threatened to damage Parton’s business interests, including Dollywood, and to “set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships” unless he was paid. It also alleges SAL staff resigned or stopped coming to work, and that SAL and vendors retained private security due to fear of Seaver and his “armed associates”.
Seaver was dismissed as Head of Security on 15 September 2026. In messages quoted in the lawsuit, he is alleged to have written: “I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary. All I do is warfare. Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.”
Another alleged message said: “I’m going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. It’s going to be great. Or f****** pay me.”
How the dispute unfolded
Parton died on 25 August 2026, aged 80. Her death was announced by her nephew Seaver in an Instagram video, saying it was something she asked of him years ago.
As described in the termination letter account, replacement security guards took over Parton’s main residence in Nashville and other properties on 16 September, after Seaver and his security companies were dismissed from her properties.
Seaver’s response
Seaver denied the lawsuit’s messages were threats, saying in a statement to TMZ: “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 also said: “A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”
It is understood a temporary restraining order was granted on 22 September 2026, after SAL sought court action.
