The battle over Dolly Parton's estate has taken a bitter new turn: her nephew Bryan Seaver, who ran security for the singer's properties for more than two decades, says he's been fired.

Seaver — the same relative who announced Parton's death at age 80 last month — received a termination notice on September 16 dismissing him and his security companies from their roles protecting her Nashville homes, her museum and her warehouse, according to TMZ. Replacement guards have reportedly already taken over.

"Dismayed" by the decision

The termination letter states that Parton's properties and business affairs are now controlled by the DP Dean Trust, and that Seaver's personal financial interest in the trust is unaffected by the security shake-up. Still, Seaver pushed back publicly, saying he and his team were "dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions" taken by Parton's longtime manager, Danny Nozell, and Pinnacle Bank, which jointly oversee the trust.

"DISMAYED BY THE UNEXPECTED AND, SO FAR, UNEXPLAINED ACTIONS"

The shake-up is the latest sign of an escalating dispute over how Parton's estate and business empire will be managed going forward. Parton died on August 25 at age 80, and questions over control of her properties, brand and finances have been simmering since.

Neither Nozell nor representatives for the trust have publicly detailed the reasoning behind Seaver's dismissal. Fans and industry observers have been closely watching the fallout, given Parton's enormous business footprint spanning music, Dollywood and a wide range of licensing ventures.