A Tennessee judge has granted Dolly Parton’s estate a temporary restraining order against the late singer’s nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company.
She’s Alive, the entity founded to manage and protect Parton’s estate, had filed the complaint against Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services.
The estate accused Seaver of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire in court filings.
The order says the court took into account the repeated threats cited in the complaint, as well as the alleged demands for payment and Seaver’s “claimed access to weapons, experience with violence, and intention to retaliate.”
It describes the communications as “concerning,” specifically noting the threat to use force.
As part of the order, Seaver and his company SAPS, which provided Parton’s security detail, must refrain from entering any She’s Alive property or talking with or being within 305m of She’s Alive employees and business partners.
The order is also meant to keep Seaver from interfering with its business relationships.
A hearing is scheduled for October 7.
Seaver, who was handpicked by the country music star to announce her death in August, did not respond to a request for comment.
Representatives for SAPS also did not respond.
In the temporary restraining order request filed by She’s Alive and other court documents, Seaver is accused of sending increasingly threatening messages over several weeks. She’s Alive is run by Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager.
Last week, She’s Alive terminated Seaver and SAPS, saying his “terrorising conduct made their continued retention untenable,” according to court documents.
The court documents showcase a series of messages She's Alive says were sent by Seaver, starting just before Parton's death. They start with threats to destroy Parton's brand, and then after her death, depict Seaver revelling in his newfound fame and calling himself an “international arms dealer.”
In one message written on September 1 and included in the court documents, he said: “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*** pay me.”
Seaver also claimed he worked for private military contractors overseas during the Iraq war and used that experience as part of these threats, according to the complaint.
The messages have resulted in Parton’s trusts and estates attorney leaving and employees of She’s Alive resigning, according to the court documents. The entity has also had to hire private security for its employees, including at their homes, the documents state.
Parton, 80, was a beloved country music great who wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You, that earned a total of more than 100 million worldwide sales.
