Dolly Parton’s estate in feud with nephew over alleged threats

The estate of country music icon Dolly Parton has accused her nephew of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire, court documents show.

A filing lodged in a Nashville court on Tuesday, local time, also asked a judge to keep Bryan Seaver away from the employees and dealings of She's Alive, Parton's professional property and business.

The documents offer the first signs of discord in a carefully managed estate process for one of the most beloved personalities in music and beyond.

Mr Seaver owns a company that provided Parton’s security detail and was hand-picked by the star to announce her death from cancer last month.

He did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment.

In the temporary restraining order request filed by She’s Alive and other court documents, it claims Mr Seaver sent increasingly threatening messages over the last several weeks.

She’s Alive is run by Danny Nozell, Parton’s long-time manager.

Last week, She’s Alive terminated Mr Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services, saying his "terrorizing conduct made their continued retention untenable,” according to court documents.

The court documents showcase a series of text messages and emails She's Alive says were sent by Mr Seaver starting just before Parton's death.

The messages begin with threats to destroy the brand, and then after her death, depict Mr Seaver revelling in his new-found fame and calling himself an “international arms dealer".

In one message written on September 1 and included in the court documents, he said: “I’m going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. It’s going to be great. Or f——— pay me.”

Mr Seaver also claimed he worked for private military contractors overseas during the Iraq war and used that experience as part of these threats, according to the complaint.

The messages have resulted in Parton’s trusts and estates attorney leaving and employees of She’s Alive resigning, according to the court documents.

The entity has also had to hire private security for its employees, including at their homes, the documents state.

The restraining order is meant to stop Mr Seaver from talking with or being within 1,000 feet (304 metres) of She’s Alive employees, attorneys and business partners.

It also is meant to keep him from interfering with its business relationships.

Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You, that earned a total of more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than one billion online streams.

She died aged 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer.