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Reid Kress Weisbord, Distinguished Professor of Law, Rutgers University - Newark

Turmoil within Dolly Parton’s estate underscores the precariousness of family businesses after founders die

Dolly Parton waves to her fans at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in March 2024. Amy Harris/Invision via AP

Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver announced the legendary singer’s death on Aug. 25, 2026, in a prerecorded video. Seaver, the son of one of Parton’s 11 siblings, had been her head of security for many years.

But Seaver is currently embroiled in a messy dispute with She’s Alive LLC, the company Parton established to manage her business assets after her death.

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