Jeannie Seely is dead at 85: Country music legend's 'dearest friend' Dolly Parton pays tribute
Seely died on Friday at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, from complications brought on by an intestinal infection, according to People.
Her death follows the loss of her husband Eugene Ward from cancer in December.
Seely had been plagued by health problems since last year, and she announced in May that she had undergone multiple surgeries on her back to repair her vertebrae.
The performer also said she had two emergency abdominal surgeries and developed pneumonia during an 11-day stay in the intensive care unit.
'Rehab is pretty tough, but each day is looking brighter and last night, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. And it was neon, so I knew it was mine!' she said at the time. 'The unsinkable Seely is working her way back.'
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