Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning nation music artist and Grand Ole Opry legend, has died. She was 85.
The artist’s rep revealed to a number of retailers that Seely died on Friday at Summit Medical Middle in Hermitage, Tennessee, on account of issues from an intestinal an infection, following two emergency stomach surgical procedures and different well being issues this yr.
Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys remembered Seely in an announcement. “I’m praying for Jeannie Seely. I consider that she’s joined Jesus Christ, Gene Ward, Nora Lee Allen, Joe Bonsall, Rusty Golden and all of our expensive family members we’ve misplaced,” he stated. “She made an enduring affect on not solely Nashville however the world. Her contribution to nation music and the Grand Ole Opry won’t ever be forgotten. Most don’t know, however the final date I had with my stunning spouse was a double date with Jeannie Seely and Gene Ward. My coronary heart is breaking proper now.”
Born July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely’s breakout nation hit got here together with her 1966 single ‘Don’t Contact Me’, written by Hank Cochran. The track earned her a Grammy Award for Finest Feminine Nation Vocal Efficiency.
Blazing a path as the primary girl to commonly host and emcee Grand Ole Opry segments, she grew to become a member of the storied establishment in 1967. Seely additionally pushed boundaries when she grew to become identified for acting on the Opry stage in a mini-skirt.
Jeannie Seely circa 1970 (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures)
Seely had greater than two dozen singles place on the Billboard nation charts, together with ‘Can I Sleep in Your Arms’ and ‘Fortunate Girls’. By means of the ’60s and ’70s, she carried out duets like ‘Want I Didn’t Need to Miss You’ together with her music companion Jack Greene.
On display screen, Seely appeared as herself within the 1980 Jerry Schatzberg-helmed romantic western drama Honeysuckle Rose, along with starring alongside Faye Dunaway, Tom Skerritt and Ian Somerhalder in Altering Hearts (2002). She additionally carried out on stage in musicals The Finest Little Whore Home in Texas (1988) and At all times, Patsy Cline (2001), in addition to a 2005 Nashville manufacturing of The Vagina Monologues.
Seely remained energetic in nation music in her remaining years, additionally launching her ‘Sundays with Seely’ phase on Willie Nelson’s SiriusXM radio sequence Willie’s Roadhouse in 2018.
Preceded in loss of life by her husband Gene Ward, mother and father Leo and Irene Seely, and siblings Donald, Bernard and Mary Lou, Seeley is survived by many shut mates, members of the family and her cat Corrie.
