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Bryan Seaver, Dolly Parton\u2019s nephew and longtime head of security, is embroiled in a nasty and very public legal battle with the company managing her estate.<\/p>\n
At its heart, the dispute appears to be about \u2014 what else? \u2014 money.<\/p>\n
Forbes<\/a> estimated that Parton, whose death from cancer was announced on Aug. 25<\/a>, had a net worth of $450 million US.\u00a0<\/p>\n While neither she nor her late husband Carl Dean had any children, Parton did have a large family \u2014 11 siblings (six of whom are still alive), at least 12 nephews and nieces, according to People magazine<\/a>, and even some great-nephews and -nieces.<\/p>\n She\u2019s Alive, LLC is the name of the entity created to manage and protect Parton\u2019s estate. It\u2019s run by her longtime manager Danny Nozell.<\/p>\n The estate has also filed a lawsuit and restraining order against Seaver, the family member Parton had handpicked to announce her death.<\/p>\n Bryan Seaver was fired from his job providing security at Dolly Parton’s properties, including Dollywood, last month, and ordered to immediately vacate the premises. (Melissa Sue Gerrits\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Want to know more? Here\u2019s how the dispute has played out so far:<\/p>\n Aug. 25: Dolly Parton dies after a brief battle with cancer. Bryan Seaver announces her death to the public in a short video statement on her Instagram account.<\/p>\n Sept. 9: She\u2019s Alive, LLC is created.<\/p>\n Sept. 21: TMZ reports<\/a> Seaver has been fired from providing security services at Parton\u2019s properties.\u00a0<\/p>\n A copy of the termination letter<\/a> obtained by the tabloid indicates Seaver and his staff were ordered to vacate the properties immediately. It says the decision was made “for the protection of the Trust and beneficiaries as a whole.” It also states Seaver\u2019s personal stake in the estate is not being terminated.<\/p>\n Sept. 22: She\u2019s Alive files a lawsuit and temporary restraining order against Seaver.<\/p>\n TMZ publishes<\/a> court documents filed by Parton\u2019s former manager, Danny Nozell, alleging Seaver described himself as an international arms dealer, and raised his military experience to intimidate Nozell into giving him money.<\/p>\n Seaver denies he threatened Nozell, telling TMZ “a lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”<\/p>\n WATCH | Voicemail from Dolly showed Brett Kissel how much she cared: Voicemail from Dolly Parton showed ‘how much she cares’: Singer<\/p>\n Canadian country singer Brett Kissel speaks with CBC\u2019s Hanomansing Tonight about Dolly Parton\u2019s \u2018unmatched\u2019 legacy and long-standing career in entertainment. Kissel never met Parton in person but remembers when she reached out to him by phone after fellow Canadian Jackie Rae Greening passed along his number to her. Parton\u2019s family shared the news of her death on social media on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Sept. 23: A Tennessee judge rules Seaver and his company show a “present and continuing disruption and threat” to She’s Alive. <\/p>\n Parton\u2019s sister Freida says there is no feud within her family on Facebook<\/a>. “No one among the Parton\/Owens family is fighting over Dolly\u2019s estate,” she says in the post. “We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other.”<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791460816_45_default.jpg\")
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