Freida Parton Speaks Out After Dolly’s Estate Files Lawsuit Against Nephew Bryan Seaver
on
Freida Parton, the younger sister of the late Dolly Parton, is addressing the rumors about a family feud after their nephew was sued by Dolly’s estate.
Bryan Seaver, the son of Dolly and Freida’s sister, Cassie Parton, served as Dolly’s head of security for more than two decades. Bryan was also the person who announced Dolly’s death on August 25, 2026, at her request.
On September 21, TMZ reported on a termination notice they obtained, which showed that Bryan and his security companies had reportedly been fired from their positions. TMZ claims that “sources” informed the outlet that replacement guards have already been brought in to watch over Dolly’s museum, warehouse, and downtown Nashville home.
TMZ noted that the documents they viewed indicate that Bryan’s personal interest in the DP Dean Trust remains unaffected. Bryan and his team issued a statement to TMZ regarding the situation, saying:
“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.”
Then, on September 22, Dolly’s estate, She’s Alive, LLC (SAL), filed a lawsuit against Bryan Seaver. PEOPLE, who obtained the legal paperwork, reported that the estate also filed for a temporary restraining order against Bryan, and that order has since been granted.
Part of the filing claims, “Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing…. In writing, he vowed to ‘destroy the entire brand’ and also told her entertainment attorney: ‘I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.'”
According to the documents viewed by PEOPLE, Bryan has also been accused of making “threats of real-world violence” toward those working on Dolly’s team.
Dolly Parton’s Sister Freida Parton Addresses Rumors Of Family Feud
Amid all of this, rumors have been swirling about a family feud brewing within the Parton family. Dolly’s sister, Freida Parton, took to social media on Wednesday (September 23) to tackle those rumors.
She shared a brief, clarifying statement, writing:
“I’ll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family. No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate.”
Freida Parton continued to speak about Bryan. She shared how her family feels about him, writing:
“We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other. I love you all!!”
See Freida Parton’s statement below.
Bryan Seaver Responds To Claims Made Against Him In Lawsuit
Bryan Seaver issued another statement to TMZ after news broke about the lawsuit against him. He denied the lawsuit’s claims that he made threatening comments to members of Dolly’s team, saying:
“I am a security professional and I am a killer…However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.“
Bryan claimed that he had been “talking frankly in a private way” with Dolly’s manager, Danny Nozell, in some of the messages referenced in the lawsuit, and that those messages were taken out of context.
“A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving,” Bryan said.
ABC News reports that Bryan issued an additional statement to them regarding the alleged “I’m a killer” comment referenced in the lawsuit. ABC says Bryan told them, “Dolly called me her ‘killer!’ It was a joke we used around her camp.”
Learn more about the lawsuit and restraining order filed against Bryan Seaver by watching the ABC News report below.
