Freida Parton is pushing back on reports that Dolly Parton’s family is fighting over the country legend’s estate as a separate legal dispute involving their nephew Bryan Seaver moves through court.
Dolly’s younger sister addressed the speculation in a Sept. 23 Instagram statement, writing, “There is no feud within our family.”
Freida also specifically rejected claims that members of the Parton/Owens family were battling over Dolly’s estate and expressed support for Seaver, who is the son of Dolly’s sister Cassie Parton.
The statement came one day after She’s Alive, LLC, the company created to protect Dolly’s business interests, filed a lawsuit against Seaver and his security company. The filing accuses him of threats and intimidation following the end of his longtime security work for Dolly’s properties.
Freida Parton Says the Family Is Not Fighting Over Dolly’s Estate
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Freida directly addressed the family-rift reports in her statement.
“There is no feud within our family,” she wrote. “No one in the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate.”
She then mentioned Seaver by name. “We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other,” Freida added.
Her statement did not address the allegations contained in the lawsuit, explain why Seaver’s security services ended or challenge the court action filed by She’s Alive.
Court records reviewed by Us Weekly show that the company filed suit Sept. 22 in Davidson County Chancery Court and also requested a temporary restraining order.
Seaver Had Worked on Dolly’s Security for More Than 20 Years
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Seaver’s connection to Dolly extended well beyond his role as a contractor. He is her nephew and had worked on her security operation for more than two decades after following his father, Larry, into the job.
When Dolly died at 80 on Aug. 25, Seaver appeared in the video announcing her death on her official social media accounts. He said Dolly had asked him years earlier to handle the announcement when the time came.
In the video posted to Dolly’s Instagram, Seaver described the responsibility as both an honor and an extremely difficult moment. He also spoke about the opportunities Dolly had created for him and other relatives over the years.
Within weeks, however, Seaver and his security companies were informed that their services were no longer required. Replacement security was brought in for properties associated with Dolly, including her Nashville home, museum and warehouse.
She’s Alive Accuses Seaver of Threats and Intimidation
She’s Alive, LLC filed its lawsuit against Seaver in Davidson County Chancery Court on Sept. 22.
The company, which is overseen by Dolly’s longtime manager Danny Nozell, alleges that Seaver made threatening and intimidating statements after losing the security work and attempted to obtain money while referencing his background as a military contractor and his access to weapons.
The filing includes messages the company characterizes as threatening toward Dolly’s brand and people involved in managing her business interests.
A judge granted a temporary restraining order on Sept. 23 requiring Seaver to stay away from She’s Alive employees and certain other people connected with the dispute while the case proceeds.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and Seaver disputes the company’s description of his conduct.
Seaver Says His Messages Were Not Direct Threats
Seaver told TMZ that he never directly threatened Nozell or anyone associated with She’s Alive.
He characterized some of the messages cited in the lawsuit as private “rage-talk” exchanged between two men who were grieving following Dolly’s death, while acknowledging that he stood by many of the underlying sentiments.
Seaver has not denied that the messages themselves were sent, but he disputes the claim that they amounted to actual threats.
Freida’s statement focused on the family’s relationship with Seaver rather than the merits of the lawsuit, making clear that she does not consider the court battle between her nephew and Dolly’s business operation evidence of a broader family fight over the estate.