Dolly Parton’s sister, Freida Parton, has addressed speculation about a rift within the Parton family in a statement shared on Instagram. The message comes after reports that the country icon’s manager filed a restraining order against Freida’s son, Bryan Seaver.
The statement was aimed at dismissing rumors of infighting, particularly any suggestion that the family is at odds over Dolly Parton’s estate.
“I’ll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family,” Freida Parton said. “No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate.”
She went on to emphasize the family’s unity, including her relationship with her son. “We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other,” Freida Parton continued. “I love you all!!”
The dispute at the center of Freida’s statement traces back to a company called She’s Alive, LLC, the entity Dolly Parton created to oversee her business operations. That company, managed by longtime manager Danny Nozell, filed for a temporary restraining order against Bryan Seaver in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville.
The petition accuses Seaver of mounting an escalating campaign of threats, intimidation and attempted extortion against those now running Parton’s business affairs. Court filings describe him invoking his self-proclaimed military-contractor background and referencing access to weapons while demanding money from the estate. He allegedly warned that he would “destroy the entire brand” if he wasn’t paid.
The filing came just days after Seaver was fired from his position as head of security across Dolly Parton’s properties on September 15. He had served in that role for years. He was also the one who announced Parton’s death in a video message to fans.
A Davidson County chancellor granted the temporary restraining order on September 23. It requires Seaver to stay at least 1,000 feet away from She’s Alive employees, business partners and company offices, and it bars him from interfering with the estate’s business relationships. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for October 7.
