Dolly Parton’s estate drops lawsuit against her nephew Bryan Seaver

Dolly Parton’s estate has withdrawn its lawsuit against her nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver, following weeks of legal disputes. 

According to PEOPLE, She’s Alive, LLC, the company Dolly established to oversee her business interests after her death on August 25, filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in the Chancery Court of Tennessee on November 5. 

The dismissal was filed without prejudice, which means the company still has the option to pursue the case again in the future. 

The development came after weeks of disagreements between Dolly’s estate, which is managed by her longtime manager Danny Nozell, and Bryan, who worked as his aunt’s head of security for more than 20 years before his dismissal.  

Bryan’s lawyer issued a statement to TMZ, as per PEOPLE, saying his client remains grateful for the opportunity to put the dispute behind him. 

“Mr. Seaver cares deeply about his Aunt Dolly, her music, her family, and the incredible legacy she left behind,” his attorney said. 

“He has made a career out of protecting his aunt while she was alive and remains committed to Dolly and his entire family. Mr. Seaver is grateful to put this misunderstanding behind him so that the entire family can continue to grieve peacefully and ensure that the bright light of Dolly’s legacy remains entirely untouched.” 

The legal dispute began after Dolly’s estate accused Bryan of making threats against the company and several of its employees. The complaint alleged that he made statements invoking his military background and that his behavior had prompted multiple employees to resign. 

He was also accused of threatening to damage Dolly’s brand partnerships through a podcast. 

Bryan, however, denied making threats against anyone. He argued that his private exchanges with Danny, which included what he acknowledged were instances of using “profane” language, had been taken out of context in the court documents. 

He maintained that their conversations were “ultimately friendly” and said in an October court filing that the temporary restraining order issued against him was affecting his personal life and his position as a beneficiary of Dolly’s trust. 

“I care about Ms. Parton, her music, her legacy, and her family. I do not want this dispute to harm her legacy,” he wrote in the October 13 filing. 

Amid the legal proceedings, Bryan’s mother and Dolly’s younger sister, Cassie, also shared a personal message on Facebook about her grief and support for her son. Cassie described their bond as “very special and meaningful,” adding that the singer had chosen Bryan to be the person who would announce her death when the time came. 

She also addressed the ongoing family situation, explaining that supporting her son did not mean she had to publicly take sides in the dispute. 

“I recognize that we are living through circumstances involving deeply personal matters, differing perspectives, and issues that deserve to be addressed thoughtfully, respectfully, and through the appropriate channels,” she wrote. 

“My love for my son does not require me to publicly judge others, take sides in disagreements, or speak about matters that I may not fully understand. Nor should my silence on any particular issue ever be mistaken for a lack of love or concern for my child.” 

Dolly died on August 25 at the age of 80, following what was described as a brief battle with cancer.