Country Icon’s Sibling Dismisses Family Feud Rumors Following Nephew’s Dismissal and Restraining Order

Dolly Parton’s sibling has refuted claims of a familial “feud,” emerging in the wake of revelations that the late singer’s nephew faced termination and a restraining order.

Bryan Seaver, the nephew of the recently deceased country music legend, served as her longtime head of security. He was also responsible for the video announcement confirming her passing.

On Tuesday, September 22, She’s Alive—the corporation managing Parton’s business interests—filed a restraining order against Seaver. The corporation alleged that he initiated “an obscene, deliberate, and escalating campaign of threats” to extract funds from the Parton estate (via The New York Times).

The court filing also reportedly contained text messages allegedly sent by Seaver, described as “harassing and ominous threats” directed at Dollywood business partners. He reportedly informed She’s Alive’s manager, Danny Nozell, that he would launch his own podcast “dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships and exposing the violations these people have committed against us.”

According to *Variety*, Nozell dismissed Seaver on September 15 and also filed a restraining order. In a statement to *TMZ* regarding the legal action, Seaver stated that he “stands by” most of his comments, asserting they were taken out of context.

“I was speaking frankly in a private manner with Danny, whom I considered a friend,” he continued. “A lot of these messages represent two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”

He also told *ABC News* that “the restraining order is spurious and simply a publicity stunt.”

“I was fired,” he added. “After the estate negotiated with me and my company for services in perpetuity and agreed to that service provision from my company. A week later they fired me for these contrived ‘threats’.”

Dolly’s sister, Freida, has since stated there is no “feud” within the family following the legal proceedings between the late singer’s estate and her nephew.

“I’ll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family,” she posted on Instagram. “No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate. We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other. I love you all!!”

A representative for She’s Alive did not respond to requests for comment from publications including *Rolling Stone* at the time of writing.

The news of Dolly’s death shocked the music world when it surfaced last month. Although she had previously told fans she was managing health issues she “didn’t pay attention to” while caring for her late husband Carl Dean, the public was unaware of her cancer diagnosis, a fact her sister later explained was because “she did not want people sad.”

Earlier this month, she was honored posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Honors & Awards, appearing via a pre-recorded video clip at the ceremony.

The *NME* obituary for Parton concluded: “Resplendent in her rhinestone suit, she embodied both qualities as a unifying icon. The world has become more divided since that set, but everyone will always love Dolly.”

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