Dolly Parton's Nephew Denies 'Threatening' Texts, Cites Misinterpretation

Dolly Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, has asserted in a court filing that text messages, described as threatening by the late singer's estate, were taken out of context. The communications emerged during legal proceedings concerning a temporary restraining order the estate obtained against Seaver.

Seaver, 49, stated in the filing that the disputed texts were exchanged with Danny Nozell, Parton's longtime manager, in a private capacity. He suggested that Nozell had previously encouraged him to publicize his work in dealing with arms, referencing past messages about his military experience and weapon knowledge. When Seaver vowed to "destroy Dolly's brand partnerships," he maintained this referred to business strategies, not acts of violence.

Seaver acknowledged sending profane emails around the time of Parton's death on August 25. The conflict also involved an unsettled payment of $251,000 to his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, for work performed at properties owned by the late entertainer. He expressed dissatisfaction with issues at the SongTeller Hotel in Nashville, including safety violations, construction delays, and alleged misconduct by security guards.

According to Seaver's filing, Parton had supported his efforts to address these problems with Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates the SongTeller Hotel and Dollywood. He included a letter dated November 11, 2024, in which Parton described his organization as "very professional, very discreet, and very good at what they do," noting his long tenure leading her security team.

Seaver also stated that he and Nozell exchanged friendlier texts after the communications that were later characterized as threatening. He noted that he and Nozell had discussed the possibility of Seaver appearing on "The Joe Rogan Experience" for an interview.

He denied accusations that his correspondence led to an estate attorney's resignation, claiming Nozell informed him that two attorneys had left their positions and the bank was "taking everything over."

She's Alive LLC, managed by Nozell, accused Seaver of making threats involving violence and business sabotage, prompting the restraining order. Seaver argued that the order's terms are overly broad, preventing him from being within 1,000 feet of family members working with She's Alive. He stated the dispute has drawn unwanted media attention to his home and relatives, including his wife's 96-year-old grandmother. Seaver's 17-year-old son reportedly installed barbed wire at their home's entrance to deter unwanted visitors.

A magnetized camera was reportedly recovered near the Seaver residence, though its origin was unclear. Seaver has requested the court deny She's Alive LLC's request for an extension of the temporary restraining order. The case is scheduled to return to court on October 20.