Police were called to Dolly Parton’s Tennessee mansion just weeks before the country music legend’s death after a family disagreement allegedly turned physical, according to a newly uncovered incident report.
The July 13, 2026, confrontation involved two of Parton’s relatives and is the latest revelation surrounding her family as a separate legal battle over her multimillion-dollar business empire continues following her death at age 80 on August 25.
According to police records obtained by In Touch Weekly, Officer Peter Spain responded to Parton’s longtime home in Brentwood, an upscale Nashville suburb, after receiving a complaint about an alleged assault.
Keegan Seaver, 21, told the officer that his aunt, Rebecca Seaver, 40, had repeatedly struck him with her open hands following a disagreement involving her coworker, Andrea Abernathy.
The confrontation reportedly began after Keegan had a verbal dispute with Abernathy earlier that day. Keegan told police he had not suffered any injuries.
Rebecca acknowledged confronting her nephew about his behavior but disputed his account of the physical encounter.
According to the incident report, she claimed Keegan placed his hand near her face in an attempt to provoke her, prompting her to lightly slap his hand away. She denied striking him elsewhere.
After interviewing both relatives, Officer Spain determined there was insufficient evidence to establish that an assault had occurred or identify a primary aggressor.
“Due to the lack of evidence and contradicting statements from both parties, I didn’t believe there was sufficient evidence to determine a primary aggressor or that an assault even occurred,” the officer wrote.
No arrests were made, and no criminal charges were filed. Both relatives were advised to separate and work with their supervisors or employers to prevent another confrontation.
Rebecca is the daughter of Parton’s sister, Cassie Parton, and serves as director of the Dolly Parton Archive and executive director of the Life of Many Colors Museum, which celebrates the singer’s life and career.
The incident occurred while Parton was privately battling cancer. The beloved singer, known for timeless hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” died on August 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.
It remains unclear whether Parton was present when police arrived or knew about the disagreement.
The police call has attracted additional attention because Rebecca’s brother, Bryan Seaver, is now involved in a bitter legal dispute with the company overseeing Parton’s business interests.
Bryan, 49, served as his famous aunt’s head of security for more than two decades and was the family member chosen to publicly announce her death.
However, just weeks after her passing, he was dismissed from his security position following allegations of threatening behavior.
In September, She’s Alive LLC, the company established to manage Parton’s business affairs, filed a lawsuit accusing Bryan of making threats against employees, business associates and others connected to the singer’s estate.
Court documents allege he attempted to pressure the company for money and made statements about destroying Parton’s brand and business relationships.
Bryan has denied threatening anyone, arguing that his private messages were taken out of context during an emotionally difficult period.
A Tennessee judge granted the company a temporary restraining order against Bryan and his security business. The legal dispute remains ongoing, with a court hearing rescheduled for October 20.
The July incident involving Rebecca and Keegan is separate from the lawsuit against Bryan, and no evidence has been publicly established connecting the two matters.
Meanwhile, In Touch Weekly reported uncovering nearly 30 police calls associated with Parton’s residence during the final 18 months of her life.
Those calls reportedly included burglary complaints, activated panic alarms, a suspected swatting attempt, a welfare check and requests for additional police patrols around the time of her death.
The circumstances surrounding each call have not been fully established, and the records do not indicate that Parton was personally involved in every incident.
For now, the newly revealed police response offers another glimpse into the tensions surrounding members of Parton’s extended family during her final weeks, while the separate courtroom battle over her business legacy continues to unfold.
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