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Country Music Legend Jeannie Seely Dies at 85
NEW YORK — Jeannie Seely, the iconic country singer celebrated for her soulful vocals and signature hit “Don’t Touch Me,” passed away on Friday at the age of 85. Her publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, confirmed that complications from an intestinal infection led to her passing.
Known affectionately as “Miss Country Soul,” Seely was a true pioneer for women in country music. She defied expectations with her spirited independence and delivered a string of unforgettable hits throughout the 1960s and 70s.
Her passing comes just months after the loss of her husband, Gene Ward, in December, and a challenging year that saw Seely bravely battling multiple back surgeries, pneumonia, and an extended ICU stay. Despite these hardships, she remained resilient, famously quipping earlier this year that the “unsinkable Seely” was working her way back.
Born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in July 1940, Seely’s love for country music blossomed early, nurtured by her musically inclined family. She honed her talent performing on local radio and television before venturing to Los Angeles in her early twenties.
After a stint at Liberty and Imperial Records, she set her sights on Nashville, where she landed a spot on Porter Wagoner’s show and a recording contract with Monument Records. Shortly after, she released “Don’t Touch Me,” the Hank Cochran-penned ballad that catapulted her to stardom and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Performance.
Seely and Cochran later married in 1969 and divorced in 1979.
Seely’s career was marked by a bold defiance of traditional country music norms. A true rebel, she famously sported a miniskirt on the Grand Ole Opry stage, challenging conventions and paving the way for future generations of female artists.
Her impressive repertoire includes three Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart: “Don’t Touch Me,” “I’ll Love You More (Than You Need),” and “Can I Sleep In Your Arms?” Her music has resonated with audiences and fellow artists alike, with legends such as Merle Haggard, Ray Price, and Connie Smith recording their own renditions of her classic songs.
Seely’s passion for country music never waned. She remained a vibrant presence in the industry, hosting the weekly “Sundays with Seely” on Willie Nelson’s SiriusXM channel and earning a well-deserved induction into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2018.
A beloved figure at the Grand Ole Opry, she graced its stage nearly 5,400 times since joining in 1967. This Saturday’s Opry performance will be dedicated to her memory.
Even in her final months, Seely continued to create, releasing a cover of Dottie West’s “Suffertime” in July 2024, a song she had performed on the Opry stage the previous year. Her legacy as a trailblazing artist and unwavering champion of country music will continue to inspire for generations to come.