NASHVILLE, Tennessee — A Tennessee judge granted Dolly Parton’s estate a temporary restraining order Wednesday against her nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company, following allegations that he threatened violence and sought to damage the late singer’s business interests.
She’s Alive, the entity established to manage and protect Parton’s estate, filed the complaint Tuesday against Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services, which previously provided Parton’s security.
The court cited repeated threats, alleged demands for payment and Seaver’s claimed access to weapons and experience with violence when granting the order. The judge described the communications as concerning and specifically cited an alleged threat to use force.
Under the order, Seaver and SAPS cannot enter She’s Alive properties or contact or come within 1,000 feet of its employees and business partners. The order also prohibits them from interfering with the entity’s business relationships.
The court scheduled a hearing for Oct. 7.
Seaver did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Representatives for SAPS also did not respond to requests for comment.
She’s Alive, which longtime Parton manager Danny Nozell runs, said it terminated Seaver and SAPS last week after what court documents described as “terrorizing conduct.”
Court filings include messages that She’s Alive attributed to Seaver and said he sent over several weeks. The messages allegedly began with threats to damage Parton’s brand and continued after her death.
In one message dated Sept. 1, Seaver allegedly threatened to start a podcast targeting Parton’s business partnerships and demanded payment.
The complaint also alleges that Seaver cited experience working for private military contractors during the Iraq War while making the threats.
According to the court documents, the messages contributed to the departure of Parton’s trusts and estates attorney and several She’s Alive employees. The entity also hired private security for employees, including protection at their homes, the documents said.
Kristin Mumford, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, said the department had no reports involving Seaver in its system.
Seaver had been selected by Parton to announce her death from cancer last month.
Parton, a country music icon, wrote hundreds of songs during her career, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”
