Singer Jeannie Seely, a Grammy award recipient, passes away at the age of 85.
American Country Music Legend Jeannie Seely Passes Away at 85
In a sad turn of events, American country music singer-songwriter Jeannie Seely has passed away at the age of 85. The news of her death was confirmed by her publicist on Friday, August 13th, 2021.
Born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1940, Seely started performing on the radio at an early age. She moved to Nashville and transitioned from working in an office to a career in music, eventually signing with Monument Records.
Seely's career took off in the mid-1960s with her breakthrough hit "Don't Touch Me," which reached No. 2 on the U.S. country charts and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. This success was just the beginning of a five-decade-long career that saw Seely place more than a dozen titles in the US Top 40 country hits.
Seely was a prolific performer, making 5,397 appearances on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage, more than any other artist in the Opry’s history. She also became the first woman to regularly host Opry segments. Some of her other notable hits include "A Wanderin' Man," "I’ll Love You More (Than You Need)," and "Can I Sleep in Your Arms?" as well as a duet partnership with Jack Greene, producing another Top 10 hit, "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You."
Seely's contributions to country music go beyond chart success. She reshaped the image and roles of women in the genre by breaking fashion norms onstage and pioneering female hosting roles on the Grand Ole Opry. Her soulful vocal style earned her the nickname “Miss Country Soul.”
Even after her peak commercial success, Seely continued recording, touring, and hosting radio shows into the 2020s, including her SiriusXM program “Sunday's with Seely” on Willie Nelson’s channel.
Seely's death occurred in Tennessee, due to an infection. The photo gallery for Jeannie Seely is now open, allowing fans to reminisce about her illustrious career and remember her as a trailblazer in country music.
Seely's legacy will live on, as she left a lasting impact on the genre with her groundbreaking achievements, prolific performance history, notable classic songs, and influential songwriting.
[1] Tweet from Jeannie Seely's official Twitter account. [2] Article from the Tennessean newspaper. [3] Article from Rolling Stone magazine. [4] Article from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's official website.
Entertainment stars and music lovers mourned the passing of American Country Music Icon Jeannie Seely, who passed away at the age of 85. Known for her hit songs like "Don't Touch Me," "A Wanderin' Man," and "I’ll Love You More (Than You Need)," Seely was a trailblazer in country music, breaking fashion norms onstage and pioneering female hosting roles on the Grand Ole Opry, earning her the nickname “Miss Country Soul.”
