Jeannie Seely, Country Music Icon, Dies At 85 In Nashville
Jeannie Seely, Grammy-winning country music legend, died at 85 in Hermitage, Tennessee. Known for hits like "Don't Touch Me," she performed 5,397 times at the Grand Ole Opry.
Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country music legend revered as Miss Country Soul, died on Friday in Hermitage, Tennessee, at the age of 85. Her death was confirmed by her publicist, who said she passed away at 5 p.m. CT due to complications from an intestinal infection at Summit Medical Center. Despite facing recent health struggles, including multiple abdominal and back surgeries, Seely continued performing well into 2024.
Born in Pennsylvania, Seely made her way to Nashville in 1965 with only $50 to her name. After working briefly in Los Angeles as a bank employee and secretary at Liberty/Imperial Records, she relocated to pursue her musical ambitions. Her big break came with the 1966 hit 'Don't Touch Me," which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard country chart and earned her a Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording. Over the next decade, Seely delivered a string of hits including 'I'll Love You (More Than You Need)," 'Can I Sleep in Your Arms," and her chart-topping duet with Jack Greene, 'Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You."
Seely was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and remained a fixture on the iconic stage for over five decades. Her final performance came on February 22, 2024, marking her 5,397th appearance, the most by any performer in Opry history. Variety once described her as proof 'that it's possible to get hipper as you get older."
Fellow country stars paid tribute to her enduring influence. Dolly Parton remembered, 'She was one of my dearest friends… I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humor." Country singer Sunny Sweeney shared an emotional reflection, writing, 'I was sitting in her [Opry] dressing room when she passed… I promise to carry your torch with pride forever."
In recent years, Seely remained relevant to new generations of fans as host of a weekly SiriusXM show on Willie's Roadhouse. Her final album, An American Classic, released in 2020, featured collaborations with Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, and Lorrie Morgan.
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