Dolly Parton's nephew who delivered heartbreaking announcement of singer's death is FIRED from longtime security role amid estate war

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By ADAM S. LEVY, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 02:11 BST, 22 September 2026 | Updated: 02:22 BST, 22 September 2026

Dolly Parton's nephew and longtime security chief Bryan Seaver has been dismissed from his position overseeing her properties, less than a month after the death of the music icon at 80.

Seaver on Wednesday received a notice reviewed by TMZ that he and his security organizations - which provided protection for Parton's Nashville home, museum and a warehouse - were being replaced by another company.

Insiders told the outlet that they believed Parton's manager Danny Nozell and Pinnacle Bank were responsible for the decision to terminate him and his employees.

A new security team was deployed to the locations previously overseen by Seaver's companies on Wednesday after the termination notice was issued.

Sources close to Seaver said he and his associates had been 'dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions' carried out in the wake of Parton's  August 25 passing.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Bryan Seaver, Danny Nozell and representatives for Pinnacle Bank for further comment on the story.

Dolly Parton's nephew and longtime security chief Bryan Seaver has been dismissed from his position overseeing her properties, less than a month after the death of the music icon at 80 

'We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith,' Seaver's camp told TMZ.

His camp told the outlet they believed the actions had been taken 'with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much.'

According to the outlet, the notice issued to Seaver indicated that the DP Dean Trust had been overseeing Parton's business and properties in the wake of her passing.

Seaver retains a personal interest in her trust moving forward, according to the report.

Seaver, whose mother Cassie is Parton's sister, had been appointed by the late Jolene singer to reveal her death in a public statement.

Following Dolly's August 25 passing following a battle with cancer, Seaver had been seen in a clip in which he revealed the sad news.

'Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by [late husband] Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens,' Seaver said in the emotional clip.

In the clip, Seaver noted that his father Larry had held the security position before him.

Seaver seen accompanying Parton to a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance in 2016 

Parton pictured at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas in March of 2022 

He said that he had been her security head for the past 'two decades,' and had been working for her over the past four decades.

'I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s,' Seaver said. 'Dolly opened doors not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible.

'Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible.'

He added, 'She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you.'

Parton has been well-remembered in the near month since her passing, which included an expansive tribute at the Primetime Emmy Awards last week which featured Reba McEntire and Sally Field.

Nashville International Airport will be renamed in Parton's memory following a vote from the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners weeks back.