The file
Dolly Parton
Photo: David Gahr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
person

Dolly Parton

Country singer-songwriter (1946-2026) known for Jolene, 9 to 5, Dollywood and the Imagination Library

Entries
34
On the record
15
Stories
1
Latest entry
Nov 9, 2026

The record

Compiled by the MrScandal desk from the documents below ยท Desk editor Laima ฤ’rkลกฤทe-Kreicberga ยท Nov 12, 2026

Dolly Parton's court record is short and mostly in her favor. Porter Wagoner, whose television show she left in 1974, sued her in 1979 for about $3 million; she later said she settled for around $1 million. Songwriters Neil and Jan Goldberg claimed she took 9 to 5 from their song Money World, and in December 1985 a Los Angeles jury found for her after 35 minutes. A 2021 opposition to her DOLLY trademark application was withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice in 2023. Dollywood, the theme park bearing her name, has been both plaintiff and defendant in ride and copyright suits.

The public disputes on record are ones she answered herself. In January 2018 she dropped the word Dixie from her Dixie Stampede dinner shows, saying attitudes change. In 2021 she asked Tennessee lawmakers to shelve a bill for her statue at the Capitol, and in March 2022 she asked to be taken off the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot. The Hall kept her on it and inducted her that year.

She died on August 25, 2026, at 80. Within a month She's Alive LLC, the company her manager Danny Nozell runs to manage her business interests, fired her nephew and longtime head of security Bryan Seaver and sued him in Davidson County Chancery Court, alleging threats against the business. Seaver denied threatening anyone. A chancellor granted a restraining order in September; in November Nozell moved to drop the case, and it was dismissed without prejudice on November 9, 2026.

Questions people ask

What is the Dolly Parton estate lawsuit about?

Her manager Danny Nozell, through She's Alive LLC, sought an injunction against her nephew Bryan Seaver and his security company after her death, alleging threats against the business, and won a temporary restraining order in September 2026. Seaver denied the allegations. On November 9, 2026 Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles dismissed the case without prejudice, so it can be refiled; a filing said only that the sides had reached an agreement. source

Why did Dolly Parton drop Dixie from the Stampede name?

On January 10, 2018 she announced that Dixie Stampede would become Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri. Her statement said streamlined names would help the shows expand to new cities and avoid confusion, and that attitudes change. source

Why did Dolly Parton withdraw from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

In March 2022 she said she had not earned the right to be nominated and did not want votes split because of her. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame answered on March 17, 2022 that ballots had already gone out to voters that month, praised her humility and said rock and roll is not defined by any one genre. She stayed on the ballot. source

Did Dolly Parton win the 9 to 5 copyright lawsuit?

Yes. Neil and Jan Goldberg filed suit in April 1983, claiming 9 to 5 copied their song Money World, and sought $1 million in punitive damages and a share of the film's profits. After a two-week trial in December 1985 the jury deliberated 35 minutes and found for Parton. U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter denied the Goldbergs' motion for a new trial. source

Why did Porter Wagoner sue Dolly Parton?

Wagoner sued her in 1979 for breach of contract, seeking about $3 million and claiming he had made her a star and was owed a percentage of her career. Parton said she settled for around $1 million. source

Was Dollywood damaged in the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire?

Dollywood said on November 29, 2016 that the park itself was not damaged, but more than a dozen cabins managed through Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Cabins were damaged or destroyed. Staff evacuated guests from 50 rooms at the DreamMore Resort and 19 cabins, and the park suspended operations from November 30 to December 2. source

Who was sued over the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire?

The fire victims' suits that reached the federal appeals court were filed against the federal government, claiming Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff failed to warn Gatlinburg in time. A judge dismissed them in 2022, and in August 2023 the Sixth Circuit vacated that dismissal and sent the cases back. The fire killed 14 people and damaged or destroyed about 2,500 buildings. source

Why did Dolly Parton turn down a statue at the Tennessee Capitol?

On February 18, 2021 she asked lawmakers to withdraw a bill by Rep. John Mark Windle to put her statue on the Capitol grounds, saying that given all that was going on in the world, putting her on a pedestal was not appropriate. She said the idea could be revisited years later or after she was gone. source

Roles and honours on the record

  • 1967-1974 Duet partner of Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show source
  • 1979 Defendant in Porter Wagoner's breach-of-contract suit, settled source
  • 1983-1985 Defendant in the Goldbergs' 9 to 5 copyright suit, jury verdict in her favor source
  • 1995 Founder, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, through The Dollywood Foundation source
  • 1999 Inductee, Country Music Hall of Fame source
  • 2021-2023 Applicant for the DOLLY trademark, Serial No. 88829102, in Opposition No. 91271581 before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board source
  • 2022 Inductee, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performer category source

Every entry, newest first

Last entry Nov 5, 2026
  1. Filed

    Nozell filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice in the suit against Seaver, per Yahoo citing Rolling Stone. Danny Nozell drops suit vs Dolly Parton's nephew, can refile

  2. Filed

    Manager Danny Nozell sued nephew Bryan Seaver in Nashville Chancery Court, alleging threats to extort money, per Yahoo. Danny Nozell drops suit vs Dolly Parton's nephew, can refile

  3. Reported

    Nozell said in a statement to People that he leads the team overseeing Parton's legacy projects. Danny Nozell drops suit vs Dolly Parton's nephew, can refile

Stories in this file

Dolly Parton: WITHDRAWNMoney ยท 6d ago

โš–๏ธ Danny Nozell drops suit vs Dolly Parton's nephew, can refile

Bryan Seaver denies threatening anyone. The dismissal is without prejudice, and the terms are not yet known. โณ

The record, entry by entry

Lawsuits involving her

  1. 1979 Filed Porter Wagoner sued her for breach of contract, seeking about $3 million and claiming he had made her a star and was entitled to a percentage of her career. The case was settled; Parton later put the amount at around $1 million. American Songwriter report
  2. 1983-04-01 Filed Songwriters Neil and Jan Goldberg sued in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming 9 to 5 copied their song Money World. They sought $1 million in punitive damages and a share of the film's profits. American Film Institute catalog, Nine to Five
  3. 1985-12 Ruled After a two-week trial the jury deliberated 35 minutes and found for Parton on the 9 to 5 claim. U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter later denied the Goldbergs' motion for a new trial. American Film Institute catalog, Nine to Five
  4. 2021-09-09 Filed Calip Holdings Inc. filed an opposition at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to her application to register DOLLY, Serial No. 88829102, filed in 2020. She answered on October 19, 2021, and the case was suspended in 2023 on consent motions to pursue settlement talks. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, TTAB docket, Opposition No. 91271581
  5. 2023-09-11 Ruled After Calip Holdings withdrew its opposition on September 7, 2023, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board dismissed it with prejudice. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, TTAB docket, Opposition No. 91271581

Dollywood and her businesses

  1. 2011-10 Filed Dollywood sued HUSS Park Attractions, the German maker of its Timber Tower ride, in Sevier County Circuit Court for $500,000, alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty and negligence. The park said the ride, opened in 2006 and closed in 2011, had never worked properly or been satisfactorily repaired. Insurance Journal, Associated Press report
  2. 2015-01 Filed A Florida woman who suffered a brain injury in a fall from Dollywood's Waltzing Swinger ride in December 2013, and her husband, sued Herschend Family Entertainment and Dolly Parton Productions in federal court in Knoxville for $475,000. The park said it does not comment on pending litigation; no outcome was reported. Claims Journal, Associated Press report
  3. 2019-10-10 Filed Lee Mendelson Film Productions, copyright owner of Christmas Time Is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas, sued Dollywood in federal court, claiming the park had used the song in its live Christmas shows since 2007 without permission and seeking $150,000 per use. Dollywood declined to comment on pending litigation. Washington Times, Associated Press report

2016 Sevier County wildfires

  1. 2016-11-29 Official After the Gatlinburg-area wildfire, Dollywood said the park itself was undamaged but more than a dozen cabins managed through Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Cabins were damaged or destroyed. Guests in 50 DreamMore Resort rooms and 19 cabins had been evacuated, and the park suspended operations from November 30 to December 2. MusicRow report on Dollywood's statement
  2. 2016-12-13 Reported Parton headlined a telethon in Nashville for the Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund, which pledged $1,000 to every family that lost its primary residence in the fires. The fires killed 14 people and spread to more than 2,500 structures in Sevier County. Christian Science Monitor report
  3. 2017-03-15 Reported The My People Fund had issued $1,000 monthly checks to 921 families, with six months of payments planned, and was expected to pay out more than $5.5 million in total. Global News report
  4. 2023-08 Ruled A Sixth Circuit panel vacated the 2022 dismissal of wildfire victims' suits against the federal government, which claim Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff failed to warn Gatlinburg in time, and sent them back to the district court. Insurance Journal, Associated Press report

Public disputes and statements

  1. 2018-01-10 Official She announced that Dixie Stampede, her dinner shows in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri, would be renamed Dolly Parton's Stampede. Her statement said streamlined names would support expansion to new cities and that attitudes change. UPI report
  2. 2021-02-18 Official She asked Tennessee lawmakers to withdraw a bill by Rep. John Mark Windle to put a statue of her on the Capitol grounds, saying that given what was going on in the world, putting her on a pedestal was not appropriate. WHDH, Associated Press report
  3. 2022-03-14 Official She asked to be withdrawn from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot, her first nomination, saying she had not earned the right and did not want votes split because of her, and hoped the Hall would consider her again if she was ever worthy. 1News report
  4. 2022-03-17 Official The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame replied that ballots for the 17 nominees had already been sent to voters that month, praised her humility and said rock and roll is not defined by one genre. She remained on the ballot. Good Morning America, ABC News report

Estate dispute (2026)

  1. 2026-09-16 Reported She's Alive LLC, the company managing her business interests, fired her nephew Bryan Seaver, her longtime head of security. Axios Nashville report
  2. 2026-09-22 Filed She's Alive sued Seaver in Davidson County Chancery Court, alleging a campaign of threats and coercion, including a written vow to destroy the entire brand. Seaver denied making threats. Axios Nashville report
  3. 2026-09-23 Ruled Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles granted a temporary restraining order barring Seaver and his firm, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, from She's Alive property and from contact with or coming within 1,000 feet of its employees and business partners. In an affidavit Seaver said he had never threatened physical harm and that the texts concerned a dispute with Herschend Family Entertainment over more than $250,000 he said was owed to his firm. NY1, Associated Press report
  4. 2026-11-05 Filed A day after a filing said the sides had reached an agreement, Nozell moved to drop the complaint without giving a reason, ahead of a hearing set on a permanent injunction. NY1, Associated Press report
  5. 2026-11-09 Ruled Chancellor Myles dismissed the case without prejudice, so it can be refiled. Neither side nor the court disclosed the terms of the agreement. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press report

Career and honors

  1. 1946-01-19 Official She was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, member profile
  2. 1967 Official She joined The Porter Wagoner Show as Wagoner's duet partner, and left the show in 1974. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, member profile
  3. 1995 Official She founded and launched the Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee, through The Dollywood Foundation. It went statewide in Tennessee in 2004 and later launched in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, about page and timeline
  4. 1999 Official She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, member profile
  5. 2005 Official She received the National Medal of Arts. National Endowment for the Arts, National Medal of Arts recipient page
  6. 2006 Official She was nominated for the Academy Award for original song for "Travelin' Thru" from Transamerica, for which she wrote the music and lyric. The award went to "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 78th Academy Awards
  7. 2006 Reported She received a Kennedy Center Honor, NBC News noted in its obituary. NBC News report
  8. 2022 Official She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the performer category. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, inductee page
  9. 2023 Official The Imagination Library said it gifted its 200 millionth book since its founding. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, about page and timeline
  10. 2026-08-25 Reported She died at 80, NBC News reported. Her nephew announced the death in a video posted on her Instagram account, and her team confirmed it. NBC News report

Documents

Sources behind this file

  1. Yahoo report on the dismissal, citing Rolling Stone ยท Report, Nov 5, 2026
  2. AP News report on the Dollyfest announcement ยท Report, Aug 31, 2026
  3. People report on Danny Nozell's statement ยท Statement, Aug 26, 2026
  4. USA Today report with Bryan Seaver's announcement transcript ยท Report, Aug 25, 2026
  5. NBC News report on Dolly Parton's death ยท Report, Aug 25, 2026