Jeannie Seely Dies at 85
Jeannie Seely, the Grammy‑winning singer best known for her 1966 hit "Don’t Touch Me," has died at 85 after complications from an intestinal infection at Summit Medical Center in Tennessee on August 1, 2025.
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Her breakthrough with "Don’t Touch Me" earned her the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and established a pattern of chart success with follow‑ups like "It’s Only Love," "A Wanderin’ Man," and "Can I Sleep in Your Arms?".
Joined Grand Ole Opry in 1967, Seely performed on its stage an unmatched 5,397 times, and yes, it is more than any individual in the Opry’s century‑long history. She also became the first woman to host its segments regularly, redefining both the sonic and visual norms of the genre, including the decision to wear a miniskirt on stage (a bold move at the time).
Her health declined sharply in 2025. She underwent multiple back and emergency abdominal surgeries, spent 11 days in intensive care with pneumonia, and battled persistent complications before her passing. Her husband, attorney Gene Ward, had died just months prior, in December 2024.
Artists and industry figures immediately honored Seely’s life and influence. Dolly Parton referred to her as “one of the greater singers in Nashville” and “one of my dearest friends,” while Billy Ray Cyrus described her voice and spirit as “pure gold.” Bill Anderson, her longtime collaborator, reflected on their 60‑year friendship and their combined over 10,000 Grand Ole Opry appearances.
Seely extended her influence beyond performance. She wrote songs recorded by legends such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dottie West, Connie Smith, Ray Price, and Ernest Tubb.
In later decades, she branched into acting, stage productions, a SiriusXM show, Sundays with Seely, and authored the book Pieces of a Puzzled Mind.
Net worth estimates vary: Country Thang Daily in 2021 placed it at roughly $1.4 million, though some 2023 features speculated as much as $5 million, reflecting her decades‑long royalty income, songwriting credits, and Opry earnings.
Her passing marks the departure of a trailblazer whose emotional delivery and refusal to conform reshaped country music. Nashville has lost one of its enduring storytellers, but her songs and influence remain.
