Dolly Parton's estate company sued her nephew and former security chief one month after her death, alleging threats to ruin her brand

Dolly Parton died in Nashville on 25 August 2026, aged 80. Her husband, Carl Dean, had died in March 2025. They had no children. Her will and estate plan have not been made public, and no probate filing naming her beneficiaries has been reported. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death. He ran her security through his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. On 15 September 2026, She's Alive, the company that manages her estate and is run by her longtime manager Danny Nozell, fired Seaver and his firm, citing "terrorizing conduct." It sued him in Davidson County Chancery Court. The filing alleges that he sent threatening messages beginning just before her death, demanded payment, described himself as an "international arms dealer," and wrote that he would start a podcast "dedicated to ruining Dolly's brand partnerships." It says estate attorneys resigned and the company hired guards for employees' homes. On 23 September a judge ordered Seaver to stay 1,000 feet from She's Alive employees, lawyers and partners. Seaver denies making threats. He says the texts were private messages to Nozell, that his anger was over more than $250,000 owed for completed work, and that his "brand" remark was aimed at Herschend Family Entertainment, which runs Dollywood. In 2026 the restraining order stands; a hearing before Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles is set for 3 November 2026, pending.