Dolly Parton’s Nephew Denies Making Threats In Effort to Quash Restraining Order

Dolly Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, is attempting to have a restraining order against him lifted, claiming he never made any serious threats of violence. The order was issued last month after the Parton estate flagged a series of allegedly violent messages sent after her death in August at the age of 80. A court hearing is set for next week to decide whether the order should be extended to a longer-term injunction.

Seaver's lawyers argue that the estate has turned a private, profane exchange between two friends into a claim of terror, which the messages themselves refute. Many of the messages in question are between Seaver and Danny Nozell, Parton's longtime manager. Seaver maintains that the messages were expressions protected by the First Amendment and that he is peaceful, having only been terminated from a security role by the estate.

He argues that the dispute was over a $250,000 debt owed for security services, which has now been paid. Seaver's lawyers claim that the restraining order unfairly bars him from communicating with his mother and trust attorneys distributing his inheritance. They argue that the order should be ended entirely.