Country music legend Jeannie Seely died Friday, August 1, 2025, at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, from complications related to an intestinal infection. She was 85 years old.
The Grammy Award-winning singer, known for her signature hit “Don’t Touch Me” and her record-breaking tenure at the Grand Ole Opry, had been battling serious health issues throughout 2025. Seely underwent multiple back surgeries for vertebrae repairs, two emergency abdominal surgeries, and spent 11 days in intensive care while also suffering from pneumonia.
Born July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely began her musical journey at age 11, performing on local radio stations. Her family would gather around the radio on Saturday nights to listen to Grand Ole Opry shows, inspiring her lifelong dream of joining the iconic program.
After high school, Seely worked as a stenographer before moving to California in 1961 with only $50 and a Ford Falcon. She initially took a banking job but soon transitioned to the music industry, working as a secretary at Imperial Records in Hollywood while developing her songwriting skills.
In 1965, Seely relocated to Nashville full-time, where Porter Wagoner hired her as the female singer for his road show and syndicated television series within a month of her arrival. She signed with Monument Records and released “Don’t Touch Me” in 1966, a song written by Hank Cochran that became her breakthrough hit.
The crossover ballad reached number two on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and earned Seely her first and only Grammy Award for Best Country and Western Vocal Performance in the female category. The success of “Don’t Touch Me” also secured her an invitation to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Seely was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member on September 16, 1967, becoming the first woman to regularly host Opry segments. She challenged traditional expectations for female country performers, notably wearing a miniskirt on the Opry stage when such attire was considered taboo. Her advocacy eventually led to changes allowing women to host segments regularly starting in 1993.
Known as “Miss Country Soul” for her distinctive vocal style, Seely achieved additional chart success with songs including “I’ll Love You More (Than You Need)” in 1967, “A Wanderin’ Man,” and “Can I Sleep in Your Arms” in 1973. She also recorded successful duets with Jack Greene, including “Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You,” which reached number two on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart in 1970.
Seely married songwriter Hank Cochran in 1969, though they divorced in 1979. Cochran, who wrote several of her biggest hits, died in 2010 from cancer. In 2010, she married Nashville attorney Eugene Ward, who died in December 2024 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Throughout her career, Seely made 5,397 appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, more than any other artist in the show’s 100-year history. Her final Opry performance occurred on February 22, 2025. Beyond performing, she hosted the weekly “Sundays With Seely” show on SiriusXM‘s Willie’s Roadhouse channel since 2018.
As a songwriter, Seely penned hits for numerous artists, including Dottie West, Connie Smith, and Norma Jean. She collaborated with Randy Newman on “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand),” which became a hit for R&B singer Irma Thomas. Her compositions were also recorded by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price, among others.
Seely continued creating music until her final days, releasing her last song, “Suffertime,” a cover of Dottie West’s track, in July 2024. The recording was made at the renowned RCA Studio B. Her 2020 album “An American Classic” featured collaborations with Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, and Lorrie Morgan.
Country music stars paid tribute to Seely following news of her death. Dolly Parton described her as one of her dearest friends and praised her wonderful sense of humor. Bill Anderson, her longtime Opry colleague, reflected on their 60-year friendship and over 10,000 combined Opry performances.
Saturday’s Grand Ole Opry show was dedicated to Seely’s memory. Her funeral service, billed as “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show,” was scheduled for Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. CT at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, with public attendance welcomed and live streaming available.
Seely received numerous honors throughout her career, including induction into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2018, the CMA’s Joe Talbot Award in 2023, and the SOURCE Jo Walker-Meador Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. In April 2025, SAG-AFTRA’s Studio Space on Music Row was named in her honor.