Country legend Jeannie Seely dies aged 85, months after her husband
She was nicknamed Miss Country Soul.
Country music icon Jeannie Seely has died at the age of 85.
She was best known for her songs including 1960s hits Don’t Touch Me, I’ll Love You More (Than You Need) and Can I Sleep In Your Arms? released in 1973.
Seely, who also played at legendary venue the Grand Ole Opry more than 5,300 times, died at Summit Medical Center in Tennessee on Friday.
Her cause of death was complications from an intestinal infection, according to People magazine.
Seely had been battling health issues for much of 2025 following the death of her husband last year, a statement from her rep revealed.
She had also undergone ‘multiple back surgeries this spring for vertebrae repairs’ as well as ‘two emergency abdominal surgeries’.
The country legend had performed at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry a record-breaking 5,397 times (Picture: AFF-USA/Shutterstock)The music star had also spent 11 days in the intensive care unit after suffering from pneumonia, the statement added.
Husband Eugene Ward had died from cancer in December 2024.
One of those paying tribute to Seely following the news was Dolly Parton.
‘I have known Jeanie Seely since we were early on in Nashville,’ the I Will Always Love You hitmaker began, calling Seely one of her ‘dearest friends’.
‘I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humour.
‘We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together and she will be missed.’
Seely first broke out as a country star in 1966 (Picture: Andrew Putler/Redferns) A Grammy winner from three nominations, Seely also formed a professional partnership with fellow Opry star Jack Greene (Picture: Bruno Of Hollywood/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty)Born in Philadelphia in 1940, Seely moved to California at 21and became a secretary at Imperial Records, while songwriting on the side for the likes of Connie Smith, Dottie West and Norma Jean.
She also co-wrote Irma Thomas’s hit record Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) with Randy Newman before later signing her own recording contract and moving out to Nashville in 1965.
The very next year she found major success with Don’t Touch Me, which reached number two on the US country charts and snagged her two Grammy nominations – for best Country & Western recording and best Country & Western female vocal performance, which she won.
Off the back of this triumph she began being called Miss Country Soul and scored an invitation to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, before she’d even had the chance to see a show there herself.
In 1967 she officially became a member at the Opry and revolutionised its rules as the first woman to wear a mini-skirt onstage, bucking the unofficial dress code for women, and as the first female to host Opry segments in 1985.
Seely’s other country hits include 1966’s It’s Only Love, 1967’s A Wanderin’ Man and 1969’s Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You with Jack Greene, which reached number two the country chart and gave Seely her third Grammy nomination.
Her and Greene continued to work together, releasing multiple duet albums, alongside Seely’s solo work. She released 15 studio albums.
Seely also toured alongside country legend Willie Nelson after appearing on the soundtrack for his 1980 romantic Western movie Honeysuckle Rose.
She recorded 15 albums across her career (Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Seely first married country songwriter Hank Cochran in 1969, who had penned all her songs for 1967 album Thanks, Hank! They divorced in 1981.
In 2010 she tied the knot with second husband Eugene Ward, a Nashville-based attorney. and was by his side when he died last year.
Seely is survived by extended family, friends, and her pet cat Corrie.
In 2022, Seely had celebrated 55 years as member at the Opry and more than 5,200 appearances in the show, breaking the record.
Her final total stood at 5,397 performances and tonight’s Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated to her.
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