Jeannie Seely at the Grand Ole Opry
photo by Courtesy of Jeannie Seely website
Known as "Miss Country Soul,” Jeannie Seely died Friday of complications from an intestinal infection. She was 85.
The singer - songwriter grew up in Titusville, Pa., and dreamed of singing country music while listening to the Grand Ole Opry radio show. Ms. Seely moved to Nashville in the mid 60s and in 1967, her dreams came true when she became a member of the Opry, where she sang over 5,300 times. Miss Seely is credited with giving women singers a more prominent role at the Opry, including changing the un-official dress code.
She was the first woman to host an entire segment of the 100 year old live radio show.
Ms. Seely was no stranger to Chattanooga, appearing at least a half a dozen times.
Promoter Gene Goforth brought her debut record, “Don’t Touch Me,” by the WDOD studios in early 1966. By the second week in April, the song had climbed to the number two spot on the Billboard Country Chart. The song won the singer a Grammy. She later performed at Lake Winnepesaukah with Jack Greene. The two sang duets and traveled together. In 1969, their song, “Wish I Didn’t Have To Miss You,” went to the top of the country charts.
“Hello Chattanooga” by David Carroll records Ms. Seely singing at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium several times. This writer introduced Ms. Seely and her partner Jack Greene to a nearly sold out audience Oct. 24, 1970. Earlier in the afternoon, the singers toured the Siskin Foundation’s Children’s Rehabilitation Center on Oak Street. Both Grand Ole Opry Stars shared a common interest in youngsters who were physically challenged.
Ms. Seely said next to Nashville, Chattanooga was her favorite city in Tennessee to sing and to visit.
Cleveland, Tennessee’s Tom Rowland has fond memories of the country singer. Mr. Rowland said he introduced Ms. Seely to some friends while taking a backstage tour of the Opry. The radio personality said, “I told our friends, there was a time when I had a big crush on her. Her husband, Gene, shook his cane at me, to which she reached over, grabbed me and hugged me. We all had a good laugh, good times.”
While serving in Frankfurt, Germany, this writer interviewed Ms. Seely at the American Forces Network before her European tour. She was very popular with our troops.
Ms. Seely toured some with Willie Nelson, and appeared on the Honeysuckle Rose Soundtrack.
In recent years, Miss Seely was heard on Sirrus XM Satellite radio’s Willie’s Roadhouse. Her program was entitled, “Sundays with Seely.”
On one of her last shows, the country singer said she loved all her fans and enjoyed playing favorites from the stars she grew up listening to; singers like Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Little Jimmy Dickens and Jean Shepherd.
Last December, Ms. Sealy lost her husband, Eugene Ward, to cancer. Ms. Sealy had undergone several back surgeries this spring.
Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry is dedicating their Saturday, Aug. 2 performance to the memory of Ms. Seely.
Jeannie Seely with her friend, Pat Boone
photo by Courtesy of Jeannie Seely website