Veterancountry artist Jeannie Seely has passed away at the age of 85.
Jeannie Seely, affectionately known as "Miss Country Soul," passed away at the age of 85 in Hermitage, a suburb of Nashville, on May 14, 2022. Born in 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely began her career in music at a young age, performing on radio. After moving to California, she worked in an office before transitioning to music.
Seely's major breakthrough came in 1966 with the release of her hit single "Don't Touch Me." The song became the first by a female artist to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her debut album, The Seely Style, reached the Top 10 on the country albums chart.
In 1967, Seely became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and made an unprecedented nearly 5,400 appearances there — more than any other performer in its history. She was the first woman to regularly host Opry segments and broke fashion barriers by wearing a miniskirt on the Opry stage, reshaping women’s image in country music.
Throughout her career, Seely placed over a dozen songs in the U.S. Top 40 country hits, including "A Wanderin' Man," "I'll Love You More (Than You Need)," and "Can I Sleep in Your Arms?" She also formed a successful duet partnership with Jack Greene, scoring a Top 10 hit with "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" in 1969.
Beyond performing, Seely was an acclaimed songwriter whose compositions were recorded by notable country artists such as Faron Young, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Connie Smith, and Dottie West, earning BMI Songwriter awards.
Seely's career spanned over six decades, and she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021. Her final album, Written in Song, was released posthumously in 2022.
Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Reba McEntire were among the celebrities who paid tribute to Seely at her funeral, which was held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Grand Ole Opry honoured Seely with a moment of silence during their show following her passing. Seely's last public performance was at the 2021 CMA Awards, where she dueted with Marty Stuart.
Seely's autobiography, Put Another Log on the Fire: My Life as a Country Star, was published in 2016. Seely's legacy as a trailblazer in country music will continue to inspire future generations of artists.
[1] "Jeannie Seely." Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. https://countrymusichalloffame.org/jeannie-seely/ [2] "Jeannie Seely." AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeannie-seely-mn0000852656 [3] "Jeannie Seely." Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/jeannie-seely/ [4] "Jeannie Seely." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Seely
Celebrities paid tribute to Jeannie Seely, the trailblazing country music artist, during her funeral held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Seely's legacy in entertainment, particularly in country music, continues to inspire future generations, marked by her contributions as a singer, songwriter, and fashion icon.
