Dolly Parton’s estate continues to battle her nephew and former head of her security, who denies accusations that he threatened violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy.
Dolly Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as the head of her security, has denied accusations that he threatened members of the estate and to destroy his aunt’s legacy. Seaver submitted an affidavit on Tuesday in response to a temporary restraining order request by She’s Alive, Parton’s company that manages her property and businesses. Last month, the company accused Seaver of sending threatening messages in which he described himself as an “international arms dealer.”
Seaver claims that the matter arose from a dispute between his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS), and another company that operates Dolly’s hotel and museum in downtown Nashville, Herschend Family Entertainment. According to the affidavit, the hotel allegedly owed Seaver’s company around $251,000 for the security services it provided.
“SAPS had not been paid since approximately one to two weeks before Ms. Parton died on August 25, 2026,” Seaver said.
Seaver’s affidavit asserts that all invoices prior to Parton’s death were sent to her longtime manager, Danny Nozell, who runs She’s Alive. Seaver said the messages referred to in the restraining order were sent to Nozell “in the course of private conversations between two friends” and were never sent to employees.
“I have never threatened physical harm to Mr. Nozell, to any [She’s Alive] employee, contractor, attorney, advisor, or business partner, or to anyone else associated with [She’s Alive],” said Seaver.
He further claims that the messages to Nozell regarding the alleged threat to ruin Parton’s legacy were part of his frustration at not being paid by the company managing her hotel. Further, the conversation was part of a larger discussion on the number of media requests that Seaver received following his aunt’s death, on which Nozell was advising him. Seaver was notably the one to announce Parton’s passing in a video posted to her socials.
While Seaver admitted in his affidavit that his language was crude, he doubled down that he did not mean he would inflict physical harm on anyone involved. “I have never sent anything to Dollywood or [Herschend Family Entertainment] threatening to harm their brand or their personnel.”
He also denied allegations that he attempted to avoid being served legal paperwork by putting up barbed wire and caution tape outside his home. Seaver claimed that the barbed wire was requested by his teenage son while Seaver himself was working.
“People repeatedly came to our front door, rang the doorbell, knocked, and pulled on the screen door, beginning early in the morning and continuing during the day,” Seaver said. “The media is constantly at my home.”
According to the affidavit, Seaver’s company has since received the payment it was owed and has been replaced as the security company employed by She’s Alive.
