Overview

• Jeannie Seely died on August 1 in Nashville at age 85 after complications from an intestinal infection.
• In 1967 she became the first woman to regularly host the Grand Ole Opry, tallying over 5,000 performances with her final appearance in February 2025.
• Her 1966 breakthrough single “Don’t Touch Me” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
• A prolific songwriter, Seely wrote more than two dozen charting songs for herself and others, including Faron Young’s hit “Leavin’ and Sayin’ Goodbye.”
• Peers such as Dolly Parton and Tim Atwood have honored her enduring influence on country music and her role in advancing opportunities for women.