Tennessee Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against Dolly Parton's Nephew

A Nashville Chancery Court judge granted Dolly Parton's estate a temporary restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, after the trust alleged he used threats and intimidation to interfere with its business relationships. The order requires Seaver to stay at least 1,000 feet from estate employees and business partners, avoid private property owned by the estate, and refrain from disruptive or harassing conduct. It also extends to his security firm, Squadron Augmented Protection Services.

The ruling, issued on Wednesday, was based on emails and text messages presented as exhibits in the estate’s complaint. In the communications, Seaver allegedly threatened Danny Nozell, manager of She’s Alive LLC, which controls Parton’s professional assets, and claimed he could “destroy the entire brand” if certain business partners were not removed. He also referenced his past work for private-military contractors and claimed to be an “international arms dealer and mercenary.”

"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 pay me," the judge noted, highlighting the combination of threats with monetary demands.

Judge I’Ashea L. Myles described the messages as part of a “repeated course of conduct” that linked threats to demands for payment, citing Seaver’s references to weapons and potential retaliation. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7, and Seaver must file a response by Oct. 2 if he wishes to contest the order.

Seaver, who previously provided security for Parton’s properties, was removed from that role on Sept. 15, though he remains a beneficiary of the trust.