Jeannie Seely-Hank Cochran relationship: How 'Don't Touch Me' writer launched his wife's career
Seely would go on to marry the songwriter, but their relationship started out professionally, including her acting on Cochran's advice at one time.
Jeannie Seely-Hank Cochran's relationship
Seely, wishing to pursue a career in music, had moved to Los Angeles when she was 21. There, she had gigs as a DJ, a secretary at a record label, and a songwriter. Then, in 1965, Seely set out for Nashville, acting on advice of Hank Cochran.
'Don't Touch Me' won Seely a Grammy, and the two kicked off a professional relationship with the singing talent recording a string of songs, including, 'I'll Love You More (Than You Need)', the 1967 track, and 1968's 'Welcome Home to Nothing.'
The two married in 1969, at Renfro Valley, Kentucky. Seely became Cochran's fourth wife.
They were together for a decade, splitting up in 1979. During this time, Seely recorded many more of Cochran's songs, which include, 'Lucky Ladies.' Some of these tracks were rendered as duets with Jack Greene, like 'Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You' and 'What in the World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love.'
Seely remarried in 2010, when she tied the knot with Eugene Ward, the attorney. The two remained married till Ward's demise in 2024.
Reacting to the news of her death, Duane Allen of the vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, said, '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. 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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kalabhavan Navas laid to rest in Aluva, hundreds pay respects
Kochi: Scores of people from various walks of life, including prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry, paid their last respects to popular mimicry artist and actor Kalabhavan Navas when his body was kept for public homage at his residence and Town Juma Masjid in Aluva on Saturday. The mortal remains were interred at Town Juma Masjid around 6pm, in the presence of his family members and others. Navas was found unconscious in a hotel room in Chottanikkara on Friday night. He was taken to a nearby hospital where his death was confirmed due to heart failure. He was staying at the hotel after the last day of shooting for the upcoming Malayalam movie 'Prakambanam'. On Saturday, his body was taken to his residence on the Aluva-Perumbavoor road, around 1pm, after postmortem was conducted at the Ernakulam govt medical college hospital. His colleagues in the industry, including Lal, Sidique, Ramesh Pisharody, Sharafudheen, Bindu Panickar, Saikumar, Kalabhavan Shajon, K S Prasad, Kottayam Nazeer and others, paid their last respects. The autopsy report confirmed that Navas's death was due to heart failure. Signs of a previous heart attack were also found during the postmortem. Navas was found collapsed near the door of his hotel room, which was not locked. Actor Vinod Kovoor said in a Facebook post that Navas experienced chest pain on the set during shooting. Despite calling a doctor, they continued shooting to avoid disruption. TNN Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Jeannie Seely, ‘Don't Touch Me' singer and Grammy winner, dies at 85
Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country music singer and longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died at the age of 85. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seely passed away on Friday in Nashville due to complications from an intestinal infection. She rose to fame in 1966 with her hit song Don't Touch Me, written by Hank Cochran. The track earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and launched a successful music career. She went on to receive two more Grammy nominations. In 1967, Seely became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She made history as the first woman to regularly host and emcee segments of the show. Over the years, she performed on the Opry stage more than 5,000 times, making her one of its most frequent performers. Born on July 6 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely developed a passion for music early on and appeared on local radio and television programmes. After a brief career in banking, she moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time, signing with Challenge Records. According to THR, her debut single with Monument Records, "Don't Touch Me" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 85 on the Hot 100. Over the years, she had more than 25 singles on the country charts, including "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" and "Lucky Ladies". Seely also wrote songs for other artists, including Faron Young's "Leavin' and Sayin' Goodbye." She often performed with Jack Greene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with their duet "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" reaching No. 2 on the country chart. She released 17 studio albums, with her final album "An American Classic" coming out in 2020. The album featured collaborations with Willie Nelson, Ray Stevens, and Lorrie Morgan. In 2018, she launched her own SiriusXM show "Sundays With Seely." Her last performance at the Grand Ole Opry was in February 2024. According to the publication, singer Tim Atwood, in a statement, paid tribute to Seely and said, "It doesn't seem possible to know a world without Seely in it. And as good as the Opry show is, the Opry spotlight will never shine as brightly without Jeannie in the center circle." Dolly Parton, a longtime friend, took to her Instagram account and wrote, "I have known Jeanie Seely since we were early on in Nashville. She was one of my dearest friends. I think she was one of the greatest singers in Nashville, and she had a wonderful sense of humour. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together, and she will be missed." Seely's husband, Gene Ward, died in December 2023 after a battle with cancer.
Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
Akon to perform in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai as part of India tour in November
Grammy-nominated pop star Akon is set to return to India this year with a multi-city concert tour. The singer, known for global hits like Smack That and Lonely, will perform in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai as part of his India Tour 2025. The tour is being organised by event company White Foxin partnership with Percept Live. Akon will take the stage in Delhi on November 9, followed by Bengaluru on 14 November, and Mumbai on November 16. Akon, who has a strong fan base in India, especially after lending his voice to popular Bollywood tracks like Chammak Challo and Criminal from Shah Rukh Khan's expressed his excitement about the tour. 'India has always shown me so much love — it's like a second home. The energy, the culture, the fans… it's on another level. I'm beyond excited to be back and perform live for y'all. This tour is gonna be something special — let's make history together!' he said in a statement. Aman Kumar, co-founder of White Fox, called the singer's return a major event for fans. 'Bringing Akon back to India is a celebration. This is the night fans have been waiting for. We promise an extravagant experience that will be remembered for years to come,' he said. Tickets for the tour will go on general sale from August 10, exclusively on District by Zomato. HSBC cardholders will get early access from August 8. Mononymously known as Akon, Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his single "Locked Up". The Shah Rukh Khan starrer film hit song Chammak Challo was co-composed by Akon and was recorded at the Yash Raj Studios.
