August 3, 2025
Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country music icon best known for her 1966 hit “Don’t Touch Me”, has died at the age of 85. She passed away at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, due to complications from an intestinal infection.

Widely known as “Miss Country Soul,” Seely was a trailblazer in both sound and style. She became the first woman to host the Grand Ole Opry and the first to wear a miniskirt on its stage—breaking norms while honoring tradition. Her Opry career spanned decades, with 5,397 performances, a record unmatched by any other artist.

In recent months, Seely faced multiple health challenges, including back surgeries, emergency abdominal operations, pneumonia, and an extended stay in the ICU. Her husband, Eugene Ward, passed away from cancer in December 2024, leaving her in the care of close friends and her beloved cat, Corrie.

Tributes poured in from across the music world. Dolly Parton called her “one of my dearest friends,” while the Grand Ole Opry dedicated its August 2 show to her memory.

Jeannie Seely’s legacy lives on not only through her music but through the doors she opened for generations of women in country music. Her voice, her spirit, and her fearless presence will never be forgotten.