Dolly Parton's estate sues her nephew over 'relentless' threats

Dolly Parton's estate has taken legal action against her nephew over alleged "relentless" threats.

Bryan Seaver announced the late country great's death last month but is now being sued by her business manager.

Until recently, the son of Dolly's sister Cassie was employed as Dolly's head of security, and issued the first official announcement of his 80-year-old aunt's death.

However, Bryan was quickly fired from his role amidst allegations from Dolly's estate that he had begun issuing threats of violence in a bid to extort money.

"I'm a killer," Bryan, who previously worked with the military, allegedly wrote to a member of Parton's legal team. "I'm going to spend the next times I have on earth ratf**king anyone that has ever betrayed my family."

Dolly's estate is managed by She's Alive LLC, a company established by the singer before her death, and run by her longtime manager, Danny Nozell.

"I'm literally an international arms dealer and mercenary," the estate has claimed Bryan told Danny in a text message. "All I do is warfare. Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do."

Dolly's estate is now seeking a restraining order that would ensure Bryan must remain at least 1,000 feet away from all members of her team.

"Mr. Seaver has been relentless," the lawsuit read. "These were not ordinary workplace disputes or heated words; they were deliberate threats from a self-proclaimed heavily armed, former security operative with a military-contractor background. Many of (Dolly's staff members) are now afraid to come to work or have resigned entirely because they do not feel safe."