Jeannie Seely, country icon and Opry staple, dies at 85; a look at her career, fortune, and family life
Jeannie Seely
passed away on August 1, 2025, at the age of 85 due to complications from an intestinal infection, following months of health challenges. The
Grammy-winning singer
and long-time
Grand Ole Opry
member died at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee.
According to a report on People, Seely had undergone multiple back surgeries and two emergency abdominal procedures earlier in the year and was in the ICU for 11 days.
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Born on July 6, 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Jeannie Seely's musical journey began early, performing on local radio by age 11. After stints in California working with Liberty and Imperial Records, she moved to Nashville, where she signed with Monument Records.
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Her 1966 hit 'Don't Touch Me' earned her a Grammy Award and shot her to national recognition.
In 1967, Seely was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. She made a record 5,397 appearances, more than any other performer in the Opry's history. Known as a trailblazer, she was also the first woman to host segments of the Opry regularly and famously, the first to wear a miniskirt on its stage, redefining the image of women in country music. Her final Opry performance was on February 22, 2025.
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She also found success in duets, notably with Jack Greene on the 1970 hit 'Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You,' which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's country chart.
Family and personal life of Jeannie Seely
Jeannie Seely was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Ward, who passed away in December 2024 at age 92 after a battle with cancer.
In an emotional tribute, Seely told People Magazine, 'My heart is broken now, but I am so grateful for the 15 years I had with Gene.' Ward had three children, Judy Olive, Johnny Myers, and Keven Ward, from a previous marriage.
Though Seely never gave birth to children of her own, she shared in interviews via Country Stars Central that she helped raise three stepsons during her marriage to country singer Hank Cochran, and later played a parental role in the lives of two sons of singer Jack Greene.
Later in life, she affectionately embraced the role of a grandmother, sharing joyful stories of her three young grandbabies.
Jeannie Seely's net worth
While Seely kept much of her personal finances private, Country Thang Daily estimated her net worth at $1.4 million in 2021. Later, Urban Splatter (2023) placed that figure closer to $5 million. Beyond her music, Seely also dabbled in acting, playwriting, and published writing, adding to her multifaceted legacy.
Jeannie Seely is survived by close friends and her beloved cat, Corrie. Her parents, Leo and Irene Seely, and siblings Donald, Bernard, and Mary Lou, all preceded her in death.
The Grand Ole Opry on August 2 will be dedicated in her honor.
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