Dolly Parton’s nephew announced her death. Why her estate is suing him now

Less than a month ago, Bryan Seaver appeared in a solemn video on Dolly Parton's social media accounts to announce the country music icon's death.

Parton had personally asked her nephew years earlier to deliver the news when the time came. Seaver, who served as her head of security for more than two decades, described the responsibility as an honor mixed with pride and sadness.

Now, the relative once entrusted with announcing Parton's death is at the center of an escalating legal dispute involving her estate.

She's Alive, LLC, an entity Parton created to protect her legacy, filed a lawsuit against Seaver on Sept. 22 and was granted a temporary restraining order that same day. The filings accuse Seaver of threatening Parton's employees and business associates and attempting to damage the singer's brand.

The court action came days after Seaver and his security companies were dismissed from protecting Parton's properties.

The lawsuit alleges Seaver "began a campaign of threats, intimidation and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing."

According to filings obtained by People, Seaver allegedly invoked his experience as a military contractor, his access to weapons and his capacity for violence while seeking money from those overseeing…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/