Dolly Parton's Manager Moves to Drop Complaint Against Her Nephew
Dolly Parton's longtime manager, Danny Nozell, has moved to drop his legal complaint against the late singer's nephew, Bryan Seaver, who had been accused in court filings of threatening the company that manages her estate.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, Nozell asked a Tennessee court to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled later. A filing the day before said the two sides had reached an agreement, but neither document explained the reason or gave details of the deal, The Associated Press reported.
A hearing on whether to make a restraining order against Seaver permanent had been scheduled for Tuesday.
A Rift in Dolly's Inner Circle
Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, which also involved kidney and autoimmune issues, according to NBC Los Angeles. The dispute within her inner circle began while she was sick and spilled into public view in the weeks after her death.
Parton rose from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to become one of the most celebrated singers, songwriters and philanthropists in the world, known for hits like "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You."
Seaver served as Parton's head of security, and the singer had handpicked him to announce her death. He ran a security company called Squadron Augmented Protection Services, or SAPS.
Nozell runs She's Alive, the entity Parton founded to manage and protect her estate. In early September, She's Alive fired Seaver and SAPS, saying his "terrorizing conduct made their continued retention untenable."
The Restraining Order
About a week later, Nozell petitioned a Tennessee court for protection. Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles granted a temporary restraining order against Seaver and SAPS, citing his "claimed access to weapons, experience with violence, and intention to retaliate."
The order barred Seaver and his company from She's Alive properties. It also prohibited them from contacting She's Alive employees and business partners or coming within 1,000 feet of them.
According to the petition, Seaver began making threats against She's Alive personnel, lawyers and business partners shortly before Parton's death. The filing said he vowed to "destroy the entire brand" and described himself as "literally an international arms dealer and mercenary."
Seaver Denied Making Threats
Seaver pushed back on the accusations. In an affidavit, he said he had never threatened physical harm to Nozell or anyone else connected to the company and had no intention of doing so.
He said he considered Nozell a close friend and ally before the restraining order. He described the texts cited in the petition as a "private conversation between two friends who were both frustrated, grieving and discussing strategy."
Seaver said his crude messages were about a dispute with Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates Dollywood and the Songteller Hotel. He said the company owed his security firm more than $250,000 for work it had already completed.
Seaver also argued the order was so broad that much of Nashville, including some of his own relatives, was off-limits to him.
The AP said it reached out to lawyers for She's Alive, Seaver and his company for comment.
Dolly's Legacy Lives On
Parton left behind a business empire, much of it based in her Tennessee hometown, that employed many of her close friends and family members. The Songteller Hotel opened after her death.
Fans have continued to honor the country music icon in the months since she died. Miley Cyrus, Parton's goddaughter, tearfully performed "Jolene" at the Hollywood Bowl in her honor, and Ella Langley and Reba McEntire are set to appear in a CMAs tribute special.
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