Shocking Loss: Country Icon Jeannie Seely Passes at 85

The country music world is mourning the loss of one of its most enduring voices. Jeannie Seely, affectionately known as “Miss Country Soul,” passed away on August 1, 2025, at the age of 85 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee. The Grammy-winning artist died from complications related to an intestinal infection, following a year of serious health challenges, including multiple surgeries and pneumonia.

Born Marilyn Jeanne Seely on July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, she began singing on local radio at just 11 years old. With a dream of performing on the big stage, she made her way to California in the early 1960s before settling in Nashville in 1965, where she would leave a permanent mark on country music history.

Seely’s breakthrough came in 1966 with the hit “Don’t Touch Me,” a song that soared to No. 2 on the U.S. country charts and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The song became a country classic and launched her into stardom.

In 1967, Jeannie Seely became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, where she would go on to make more than 5,397 appearances—more than any artist in the institution’s 100-year history. Her consistent presence and commitment to the Opry made her one of its most cherished members.

But Seely’s legacy goes beyond her music. She was a trailblazer who challenged conventions at a time when female performers were expected to conform. She famously wore a miniskirt on the Opry stage, breaking dress code norms and helping redefine how women were seen in country music. In 1985, she made history again as the first woman to host a segment of the Grand Ole Opry.

Over the course of her career, Seely recorded a string of hits, including “A Wanderin’ Man,” “I’ll Love You More (Than You Need),” and the emotional duet “Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You” with Jack Greene. She also found success as a songwriter, penning songs recorded by artists like Connie Smith and Irma Thomas.

Despite her health struggles in her final years—including two major abdominal surgeries and a lengthy stay in the ICU—Seely remained creatively active. She continued to perform, host her SiriusXM radio show, and even released new music in 2024, including a powerful cover of Dottie West’s “Suffertime.”

Her husband, Nashville attorney Gene Ward, passed away in December 2024 after a long battle with cancer. Seely is survived by extended family, close friends in Nashville—including fellow country legend Dolly Parton—and her beloved cat, Corrie.

In tribute, the Grand Ole Opry announced that its August 2 performance will be dedicated to Jeannie’s memory—a fitting farewell to an artist who defined the spirit of the Opry for more than five decades.

Jeannie Seely’s legacy will live on not only through her timeless music but also through her courage, character, and the doors she opened for future generations of women in country music.