Jeannie Seely, fondly known as 'Miss Country Soul, ' passes away at 85
Her publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, said she died Friday after succumbing to complications from an intestinal infection.
Known as 'Miss Country Soul' for her unique vocal style, Seely was a trailblazer for women in country music, celebrated for her spirited nonconformity and for a string of undeniable hits in the '60s and '70s.
Her second husband, Gene Ward, died in December. In May, Seely revealed that she was in recovery after undergoing multiple back surgeries, two emergency procedures and spending 11 days in the ICU. She also suffered a bout of pneumonia.
'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 in a statement at the time. 'The unsinkable Seely is working her way back.'
Dolly Parton was one of several country music luminaries paying her tribute on Friday, saying she met Seely when they were both young and starting out in Nashville.
'She was one of my dearest friends,' Parton said on her social media accounts. 'I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humor. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together and she will be missed."
Seely was born in July 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, about two hours north of Pittsburgh and raised in nearby Townville. Her love of country music was instant; her mother sang, and her father played the banjo. When she was a child, she sang on local radio programs and performed on local television. In her early 20s, she moved to Los Angeles to kick-start a career, taking a job with Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood.
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First Post
03-08-2025
- First Post
Jeannie Seely, soulful country singer behind hits like 'Don't Touch Me,' dies at 85
Seely was born in July 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, about two hours north of Pittsburgh and raised in nearby Townville read more Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer behind such standards like 'Don't Touch Me,' has died. She was 85. Her publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, said she died Friday after succumbing to complications from an intestinal infection. Known as 'Miss Country Soul' for her unique vocal style, Seely was a trailblazer for women in country music, celebrated for her spirited nonconformity and for a string of undeniable hits in the '60s and '70s. Her second husband, Gene Ward, died in December. In May, Seely revealed that she was in recovery after undergoing multiple back surgeries, two emergency procedures and spending 11 days in the ICU. She also suffered a bout of pneumonia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '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 in a statement at the time. 'The unsinkable Seely is working her way back.' Dolly Parton was one of several country music luminaries paying her tribute on Friday, saying she met Seely when they were both young and starting out in Nashville. 'She was one of my dearest friends,' Parton said on her social media accounts. 'I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humor. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together and she will be missed.' Seely was born in July 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, about two hours north of Pittsburgh and raised in nearby Townville. Her love of country music was instant; her mother sang, and her father played the banjo. When she was a child, she sang on local radio programs and performed on local television. In her early 20s, she moved to Los Angeles to kick-start a career, taking a job with Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood. She kept writing and recording. Nashville was next: She sang on Porter Wagoner's show; she got a deal with Monument Records. Her greatest hit would arrive soon afterward: 'Don't Touch Me,' the crossover ballad written by Hank Cochran. The song earned Seely her first and only Grammy Award, for best country & western vocal performance in the female category. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cochran and Seely were married in 1969 and divorced in 1979. Seely broke boundaries in her career — at a time when country music expected a kind of subservience from its women performers, Seely was a bit of a rebel, known for wearing a miniskirt on the Grand Ole Opry stage when it was still taboo. And she had a number of country hits in the '60s and '70s, including three Top 10 hits on what is now known as Billboard's hot country songs chart: 'Don't Touch Me,' 1967's 'I'll Love You More (Than You Need)' and 1973's 'Can I Sleep In Your Arms?', adapted from the folk song 'Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?' In the years since, Seely continued to release albums, perform, and host, regularly appearing on country music programming. Her songs are considered classics, and have been recorded by everyone from Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Connie Smith to Ernest Tubb, Grandpa Jones, and Little Jimmy Dickens. And Seely never stopped working in country music. Since 2018, she's hosted the weekly 'Sunday's with Seely' on Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse SiriusXM channel. That same year, she was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She appeared nearly 5,400 times at the Grand Ole Opry, which she has been a member of since 1967. Grubbs said Saturday's Grand Ole Opry show would be dedicated to Seely. She released her latest song in July 2024, a cover of Dottie West's 'Suffertime,' recorded at the world-renowned RCA Studio B. She performed it at the Opry the year before.
Hindustan Times
02-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Joanna Cassidy says it was ‘miraculous' to reconnect with boyfriend Alan Hamel after decades
Joanna Cassidy is celebrating a major milestone in her life as she turned 80 on August 2. Speaking to People magazine, the Blade Runner star even opened up about her new relationship with Alan Hamel, who was earlier married to the late Suzanne Somers. Joanna Cassidy has been dating Alan Hamel for 'several months' now.(Instagram/joannacassidyofficial) Cassidy and Hamel, 89, went public with their relationship earlier this summer, nearly two years after the death of Somers at the age of 76. She was suffering from breast cancer. Joanna Cassidy, Alan Hamel discuss their romance Speaking with the magazine, Cassidy stated that it was "sort of miraculous" when she ran into Hamel as she had not seen him for nearly three decades. Hamel resonated similar sentiments and said that it was nothing short of "a miracle" that brought them together. Sharing further details, Hamel said that the duo met more than 50 years ago. "Joanna was a guest on my show in Canada, and that was in the late 1970s, I think,' he said. Also Read: 'No mission is impossible for Tom': Internet can't keep calm as Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas soft-launch relationship Thereafter, he saw the actress when she was working on a mini-series with Suzanne and Anthony Hopkins. "And then I didn't see her again until a few months ago," Hamel told People. Calling her a "great woman," Hamel said he feels "happy" that the two of them connected with each other. He said, 'The thing is that she will help anybody to do anything. She's amazing that way.' However, Hamel believes that he does not have such things in his "DNA." He further stated that when he is next to her, he feels like there is more that he should do for the world. Joanna Cassidy and Alan Hamel were first spotted together in June. They are now planning to make more memories together in their relationship. Hamel stated that even though people do not agree, the "aging process is great'. Also Read: Jeannie Seely-Hank Cochran relationship: How 'Don't Touch Me' writer launched his wife's career Meanwhile, Cassidy is next gearing up to take on an action-packed role. She said that prior to the interview, she was a part of a class that was "one of the hardest classes I've ever taken." "And so that's a really important part of my life, is to be in the gym and work out and push myself physically," she told the magazine. FAQs For how long have Joanna Cassidy and Alan Hamel been together? As per People magazine, they have been dating each other for "several months" now. Who was Joanna Cassidy married to? She tied the knot with Dr. Kennard C. Kobrin in 1964. Later on, they welcomed two children and eventually parted ways in the 1970s. Who is Alan Hamel? He is an acclaimed producer and TV host. What did Joanna Cassidy and Suzanne Somers do together? Cassidy appeared with Somers in 1985 series Hollywood Wives.
Mint
02-08-2025
- Mint
Jeannie Seely, ‘Don't Touch Me' singer and Grammy winner, dies at 85
Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country music singer and longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died at the age of 85. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seely passed away on Friday in Nashville due to complications from an intestinal infection. She rose to fame in 1966 with her hit song Don't Touch Me, written by Hank Cochran. The track earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and launched a successful music career. She went on to receive two more Grammy nominations. In 1967, Seely became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She made history as the first woman to regularly host and emcee segments of the show. Over the years, she performed on the Opry stage more than 5,000 times, making her one of its most frequent performers. Born on July 6 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Seely developed a passion for music early on and appeared on local radio and television programmes. After a brief career in banking, she moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time, signing with Challenge Records. According to THR, her debut single with Monument Records, "Don't Touch Me" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 85 on the Hot 100. Over the years, she had more than 25 singles on the country charts, including "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" and "Lucky Ladies". Seely also wrote songs for other artists, including Faron Young's "Leavin' and Sayin' Goodbye." She often performed with Jack Greene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with their duet "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" reaching No. 2 on the country chart. She released 17 studio albums, with her final album "An American Classic" coming out in 2020. The album featured collaborations with Willie Nelson, Ray Stevens, and Lorrie Morgan. In 2018, she launched her own SiriusXM show "Sundays With Seely." Her last performance at the Grand Ole Opry was in February 2024. According to the publication, singer Tim Atwood, in a statement, paid tribute to Seely and said, "It doesn't seem possible to know a world without Seely in it. And as good as the Opry show is, the Opry spotlight will never shine as brightly without Jeannie in the center circle." Dolly Parton, a longtime friend, took to her Instagram account and wrote, "I have known Jeanie Seely since we were early on in Nashville. She was one of my dearest friends. I think she was one of the greatest singers in Nashville, and she had a wonderful sense of humour. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together, and she will be missed." Seely's husband, Gene Ward, died in December 2023 after a battle with cancer.
