Parton manager files restraining order against singer's nephew

Nephew denies making threats in statement to TMZ

Dolly Parton’s longtime business manager Danny Nozell filed for a restraining order Tuesday in a Tennessee court against Bryan Seaver, the singer’s nephew and former head of security, alleging in court papers that Seaver carried out a “campaign of threats, intimidation and coercion” intended to extract money from Parton’s estate. The request asks a judge to bar Seaver from coming within 1,000 feet of any person or entity connected to She’s Alive, the entity Parton’s trust designated to oversee her business portfolio, and from interfering with the company’s business relationships.

She’s Alive also sued Seaver, alleging he carried out a deliberate campaign to interfere with the company’s business relationships through threats and coercion. She’s Alive oversees the Dollywood theme park, which Parton opened in 1986 and which draws millions of visitors each year, as well as her brand partnerships. An attorney for She’s Alive did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Parton died at 80 last month after a battle with cancer. Her husband, Carl Dean, died last year; the couple had no children. According to the court papers, Parton employed family members throughout the years “when their skills were compatible with her business needs.”

Seaver runs a private-security business and provided security to Parton for about two decades. He announced Parton’s death in an Instagram video. She’s Alive fired Seaver and his security firm last week, barring him and his employees from entering any of Parton’s properties, according to court papers filed by the company.

The filings allege Seaver’s threats began in the weeks leading up to Parton’s death and continued afterward. Seaver described himself as an “international arms dealer and mercenary,” according to the request for a restraining order, and told Parton’s entertainment attorney: “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.”

Seaver threatened to harm the reputation of Parton’s businesses — including Dollywood — if he did not receive money from the estate, the request states. In a text message to Nozell included in the court documents, Seaver wrote: “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—ing pay me.”

The filings also state that one attorney representing Parton’s trust resigned after Seaver made threats. Seaver did not respond to a request for comment from The Wall Street Journal Wednesday.

In a statement to TMZ, Seaver denied making threats. “A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving,” Seaver said, according to TMZ.