Legal battle continues as Dolly Parton's estate claims nephew put up barbed wire to avoid summons

By Kelsi Karruli

Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, is facing legal action from the entity Parton enlisted to protect her brand following her death.

A fan of Dolly Parton visits a mural featuring her likeness in Chicago in August following the death of the country music star, actress and philanthropist.

Dolly Parton's estate has claimed that the late country music icon's nephew, Bryan Seaver, went to extraordinary lengths to evade being served with a summons-including allegedly draping barbed wire around the entrance to his property.

Seaver, who announced the "9 to 5" hitmaker's death on Aug. 25, was fired from his longtime role as head of security at Parton's properties on Sept. 16.

What followed was a bitter legal battle, with the entity tasked with protecting Parton's brand accusing Seaver of making threats of violence and vowing to destroy the singer's legacy. Seaver has fiercely denied the allegations against him.

On Oct. 2, he filed a motion asking the court to postpone a hearing scheduled for Oct. 9, claiming he had been unable to secure an attorney to represent him.

Seaver is facing legal action from She's Alive, LLC (SAL), an entity Parton enlisted to protect and promote her brand following her death.

A judge ultimately granted Seaver's request and pushed the hearing to Oct. 20-but not without opposition from SAL.

In court documents, She's Alive argued against the delay and accused Seaver of having "attempted to evade service of process," adding that the court "should not reward that behavior."

According to the filing, attempts were made to serve Seaver with a summons on three separate occasions.

Dolly Parton at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in 2022.

During the second attempt, the process server allegedly spotted four vehicles parked in the driveway, but no one answered the door.

"Eventually, Mr. Seaver's residence had a no-trespassing sign in the front yard and barbed wire draped across the handrails leading to the front door," the filing alleged.

SAL also urged the court to view Seaver's assertion that he had been unable to find legal representation "with considerable skepticism."

"He waited until the last moment to take any action, and the court should not reward that behavior," the filing stated, adding that Seaver "already has lawyers who appear to be anxious to represent him."

The latest courtroom clash comes after a temporary restraining order was granted against Seaver on Sept. 22.

In one of its lawsuits, SAL alleged that Seaver began making threats in the weeks leading up to Parton's death.

"Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing," the filing, obtained by People, alleged.

The suit further claimed that Seaver vowed in writing to "destroy the entire brand" and allegedly told Parton's entertainment attorney: "I'm not an entertainment person. I'm a killer."

The filing noted that Parton "loved and cared for her family very deeply," while accusing her nephew of threatening to damage her legacy and "inflict reputational and economic harm."

Seaver was also accused of making "threats of real-world violence" against members of Parton's staff.

SAL said it has a responsibility to safeguard both the singer's legacy and the people involved in maintaining it.

"As the entity entrusted by Ms. Parton to protect and promote her life's work for future generations, SAL must cultivate a safe work environment for employees, advisors, and partners, free from intimidation or hostility-particularly intimidation by an armed former security contractor," one filing stated.

"Without relief, Defendants' calculated campaign will continue to inflict fear, to destabilize SAL's operations, and to cause further irreparable harm."

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Seaver and his security company were subsequently served with a termination notice directing them to immediately vacate the Parton properties they had been tasked with protecting.

Those properties reportedly include Parton's Nashville home, museum, warehouse, and a downtown residence.

Dolly Parton in 2025.

Replacement security personnel were reportedly dispatched to the locations. Seaver and his team later spoke out about their termination, taking aim at Parton's longtime manager, Danny Nozell, and saying they were "dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions" that followed the singer's death.

"We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much," they said.

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According to TMZ, Seaver's removal from his security role did not affect his personal interest in Parton's trust.

Parton died "peacefully" on Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer in her hometown of Nashville, Tenn., where she and her late husband, Carl Dean, had lived for decades. Dean died in March 2025.

News of Parton's death was announced on her Instagram account by Seaver, who identified himself as the son of Cassie Parton and said he was representing the Parton and Owens families.

"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality," he said. "As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven't truly felt it til now."

Seaver said his aunt had told him she wanted to "rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton" after spending a lifetime wearing heavy rhinestones.

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He also paid tribute to Parton as someone who "lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus," saying she was surely reunited with Dean, her parents, and other loved ones.

An obituary shared with Realtor.com remembered the music legend for far more than her decades of chart-topping success.

"A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family," it read.

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"Dolly Parton's legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place."

Parton's death came just days after she opened up about her health in an Aug. 21 interview with People, admitting that she had failed to "pay attention" to her own symptoms while caring for Dean during the final months of his life.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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