08/01/2025
Jeannie Seely Passes Away At Age 85.
Country music legend Jeannie Seely died peacefully today (Aug. 1) at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, as a result of complications from an intestinal infection.
Seely had experienced ongoing health issues since the fall, which intensified after the passing of her husband, Gene Ward, in December. This year, she underwent multiple back and emergency abdominal surgeries.
Seely was one of the Grand Ole Opry’s longest-tenured stars. She performed for the 5,397 time on the legendary stage in February, which is more than any other artist in the Opry’s 100-year history. With her regular Opry appearances and her hosting duties on her own week Sundays with Seely radio show on SiriusXM, Seely was considered to be the oldest actively working female entertainer in country music at the time of her death.
Known early in her career as “Miss Country Soul” for her powerful, soulful voice, Seely’s career spanned seven decades. In 2019, Lincoln Memorial University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions.
Born July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely grew up on a farm near Townville. Just last year, the town honored her legacy with new “Home of Jeannie Seely” signs and a ceremony at the local fire station—where she once gave her first public performance.
She began performing on local radio and TV in Pennsylvania as a young girl, later moving to Los Angeles at 21 to pursue music full-time. A job at Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood led to songwriting opportunities and eventually a recording deal. Her move to Nashville came at the suggestion of friend Dottie West, and her breakout hit “Don’t Touch Me” earned her a Grammy Award, making her only the third female country artist to win one.
Seely joined the Grand Ole Opry on Sept. 16, 1967, becoming the first Pennsylvania native to be inducted and later the first woman to regularly host segments. With Jack Greene, she formed one of country’s most beloved duos. In 2022, the Opry honored her for surpassing 5,000 performances.
Her songs were recorded by legends including Merle Haggard, Connie Smith, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr., as well as artists from other genres like Boyz II Men and Seal. Her song “Yours” was named Song of the Year at the 2022 Arkansas Country Music Awards.
In addition to music, Seely acted in stage productions such as Always, Patsy Cline and The Best Little Wh******se in Texas, hosted her own Armed Forces Network radio show, toured internationally, and authored Pieces Of A Puzzled Mind. Her recordings stretched from her 1966 Billboard-charting The Seely Style to 2020’s An American Classic, which featured a duet with longtime friend Willie Nelson.
Seely was the recipient of numerous honors, including the Music City Walk of Fame, the CMA Joe Talbot Award, SOURCE’s Jo Walker-Meador Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Nashville Women in Film & Television Legacy Award. In 2025, she became the artist with the longest span—60 years—between recordings at RCA Studio B.
She remained active in recent years, producing for Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass and attending the rebranded opening of the Legends of Country Music Museum on March 1. In April, the SAG-AFTRA Studio Space on Music Row was named in her honor.
Throughout her career, Seely was a staunch advocate for artists, musicians, and songwriters—especially women—and helped foster a strong sense of community at the Opry and beyond.
She is survived by many close friends, family members, and her beloved cat, Corrie. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Ward, parents Leo and Irene Seely, and siblings Donald, Bernard, and Mary Lou.
A memorial service will be announced soon. Tomorrow night’s Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated in her honor.
Cashbox Magazine sends our thoughts and prayers to Jeannie's family and friends.
Jeannie Seely
July 6, 1940 - August 1, 2025
