Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country music artist and Grand Ole Opry legend, has died. She was 85.
The artist’s rep revealed to multiple outlets that Seely died on Friday at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, due to complications from an intestinal infection, following two emergency abdominal surgeries and other health problems this year.
Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys remembered Seely in a statement. “I am praying for Jeannie Seely. I believe that she’s joined Jesus Christ, Gene Ward, Nora Lee Allen, Joe Bonsall, Rusty Golden and all of our dear loved ones we’ve lost,” he said. “She made a lasting impact on not only Nashville but the world. Her contribution to country music and the Grand Ole Opry will never be forgotten. Most don’t know, but the last date I had with my beautiful wife was a double date with Jeannie Seely and Gene Ward. My heart is breaking right now.”
Born July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely’s breakout country hit came with her 1966 single ‘Don’t Touch Me’, written by Hank Cochran. The song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Blazing a trail as the first woman to regularly host and emcee Grand Ole Opry segments, she became a member of the storied institution in 1967. Seely also pushed boundaries when she became known for performing on the Opry stage in a mini-skirt.
Jeannie Seely circa 1970 (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Seely had more than two dozen singles place on the Billboard country charts, including ‘Can I Sleep in Your Arms’ and ‘Lucky Ladies’. Through the ’60s and ’70s, she performed duets like ‘Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You’ with her music partner Jack Greene.
On screen, Seely appeared as herself in the 1980 Jerry Schatzberg-helmed romantic western drama Honeysuckle Rose, in addition to starring alongside Faye Dunaway, Tom Skerritt and Ian Somerhalder in Changing Hearts (2002). She also performed on stage in musicals The Best Little Whore House in Texas (1988) and Always, Patsy Cline (2001), as well as a 2005 Nashville production of The Vagina Monologues.
Seely remained active in country music in her final years, also launching her ‘Sundays with Seely’ segment on Willie Nelson’s SiriusXM radio series Willie’s Roadhouse in 2018.
Preceded in death by her husband Gene Ward, parents Leo and Irene Seely, and siblings Donald, Bernard and Mary Lou, Seeley is survived by many close friends, family members and her cat Corrie.
