Dolly Parton’s sister Freida says “there is no feud” in the family

Freida Parton says “there is no feud” in the Parton family after Dolly Parton’s estate won a temporary restraining order against nephew Bryan Seaver, her former head of security.

Dolly Parton’s sister is pushing back on the idea that the family is fighting.

Freida Parton posted on Instagram on Sept. 23 that “there is no feud within our family.” She added, “We all love Bryan.”

Bryan is Bryan Seaver, Dolly’s nephew and her longtime head of security. The estate company that now runs Dolly’s business interests asked a court for a restraining order against him this week, and a judge granted a temporary one.

What did Freida Parton say about Bryan Seaver?

Freida kept it short. Her post said nobody in the family is fighting over Dolly’s estate, and that the family loves Bryan, per USA Today.

She didn’t address the specific allegations in the court filing. She didn’t criticize the estate, either.

Freida is one of Dolly’s younger sisters. Seaver is the son of another sister, Cassie Parton, and the late Larry Seaver.

Why did Dolly Parton’s estate seek a restraining order?

The request came from She’s Alive LLC, the company Dolly set up to manage her business interests. It’s run by Danny Nozell, her longtime manager.

According to the filing, as reported by the Associated Press, the company accuses Seaver of:

• Threatening to hurt Dolly’s brand partnerships unless he was paid for podcast and social media work

• Sending messages to staff and advisers that the filing describes as “threats of real-world violence”

• Bringing up his background as a military contractor in ways the company says were meant to intimidate

These are allegations in a civil court filing. A judge has not ruled on the claims themselves.

A Tennessee judge granted a temporary restraining order this week. It bars Seaver and his security company from coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, lawyers and business partners, per ABC News and TMZ. A hearing is set for Oct. 7.

What has Bryan Seaver said?

He denies it.

“I’ve never threatened anyone,” Seaver said in a statement, per ABC News. He said a text was taken out of context, and that Dolly used to jokingly call him her “baby boy ninja.”

Seaver confirmed he was fired, which TMZ dates to Sept. 21. He said the estate had agreed to keep his company on for security services, then let him go a week later over what he called “contrived” threats.

In a statement to TMZ, he also called the moves by Nozell and Pinnacle Bank “unexpected.” Nozell declined to comment to ABC News.

Seaver ran Dolly’s security for more than 20 years. He also runs a Nashville security company, and he was the family member who announced Dolly’s death on Aug. 25.

When did Dolly Parton die?

Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at 80.

Her death set off a wave of tributes across country music and beyond. At Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that carries her name, plans for tributes in 2027 are already taking shape.

The estate fight hasn’t touched Dollywood’s plans, based on what’s been reported so far. The park is co-owned with Herschend, the family company that runs it day to day.

What is She’s Alive LLC?

It’s the company Dolly set up before her death to protect her legacy and her business interests, per reports on the filing. Nozell, who managed her career for years, now leads it.

The company is the one that brought the court filing. Seaver’s statement to TMZ also named Pinnacle Bank, which is involved with the estate, though its exact role hasn’t been spelled out publicly.

What happens next in the Dolly Parton estate case?

The Oct. 7 hearing is the next date to watch. That’s when a judge could decide whether the temporary order stays in place.

Freida, for her part, has already said where she stands. “We all love Bryan.”

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• USA Today, via the Union Leader (Sept. 23, 2026), Freida’s post, the family ties, Seaver’s role and his statement to TMZ

• CBS News and the Associated Press (Sept. 24, 2026), the restraining order, the allegations, the Oct. 7 hearing and Seaver’s lack of comment to the AP

• ABC News (Sept. 2026), Seaver’s denial and statement, the 1,000-foot terms and Nozell’s no comment

• TMZ (Sept. 24, 2026), the order’s terms and Seaver’s firing date

• NPR (Aug. 25, 2026), Dolly Parton’s death at 80

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