Country music icon Jeannie Seely dies at 85, leaving a legacy of hits and rebellion

Country music icon and Grammy award winner Jeannie Seely has passed away at the age of 85.

The vocalist achieved numerous chart successes, notably with Don't Touch Me, which earned her a Grammy in 1967 when she was merely 26. At that time, Seely became one of the youngest recipients of a Grammy following the awards' launch in 1959 and held this distinction for many years.

Her triumph continued across multiple decades, with the Pennsylvania-born musician from Titusville becoming beloved for her distinctive vocal approach and earning the nickname "Miss Country Soul". Seely blazed a trail for female artists in country music, earning recognition for her bold individualism and delivering a series of undisputed chart-toppers throughout the '60s and '70s.

The performer's career stretched over six decades, during which she graced the stage of Grand Ole Opry nearly 5,400 times - the cherished live country music radio programme in America. This Saturday's Grand Ole Opry performance will honour Seely's memory following her death on Friday due to complications from an intestinal infection, reportsThe Mirror.

Don Murry Grubbs, the artist's publicist, offered a heartfelt tribute to the songwriter, who delivered multiple country chart successes during the '60s and '70s, including three Top 10 entries on what is currently 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? , which was adapted from the folk song Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister? .

Seely, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, was quite the maverick, famously donning a miniskirt on stage during an era when such attire was considered scandalous.

Her dazzling career unfolded at a time when country music demanded a certain demureness from its female stars, yet her impact is profound, inspiring contemporary icons like Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow.

In May, Seely shared that she was on the mend following a series of back surgeries, including two emergency operations, and an 11-day intensive care stint. She also battled pneumonia.

At the time, she expressed her determination in a statement: "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."

The unsinkable Seely is working her way back. "

Born in July 1940 in Titusville, roughly two hours north of Pittsburgh, and raised in the adjacent Townville, Seely's passion for country music was ingrained from the start; her mother was a singer and her father a banjo player.

As a youngster, she graced local radio shows and television. In her early twenties, she ventured to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams, securing a position at Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood. Seely continued to write and record, eventually making her way to Nashville.

She performed on Porter Wagoner's show and secured a contract with Monument Records. Her biggest hit, "Don't Touch Me", a crossover ballad penned by Hank Cochran, soon followed. This song won Seely her first and only Grammy Award for best country and western vocal performance in the female category.

In 1969, Cochran and Seely tied the knot, but their marriage ended in divorce a decade later. Seely later married Gene Ward, who sadly passed away last year. Seely remained active in the music industry, releasing albums, performing, and hosting shows. She regularly featured on country music programmes in her later years.

Her songs, considered classics, have been covered by a range of artists including Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Ernest Tubb, Grandpa Jones, and Little Jimmy Dickens. Seely's dedication to country music never waned.

Since 2018, she has hosted the weekly programme Sunday's with Seely on Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse SiriusXM channel. That same year, she was honoured with an induction into the Music City Walk of Fame.

A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1967, the year she won her Grammy, Seely released her most recent song in July 2024. It was a rendition of Dottie West's "Suffertime," recorded at the globally renowned RCA Studio B. She had performed it at the Opry the previous year.