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Legendary singer-songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely died on Friday (August 1). She was 85.
Seely died following complications from an intestinal infection at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, outside of downtown Nashville, according to a statement from Seely’s rep obtained by PEOPLE and other news outlets on Friday evening.
Seely — known as “Miss Country Soul” and hailed “a trailblazer, an icon, and the oldest actively working female entertainer in country music” — was born on July 6, 1940 in Titusville, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of four children, and grew up in a community of about 300 residents. Her parents, Leo and Irene Seely, “strongly” influenced her music growing up (she was performing on radio and TV programs by ages 11 and 16, respectively). Ultimately, Seely became the first Pennsylvania-born artist to come a member of the historic Grand Ole Opry, which marks its centennial with ongoing Opry 100 vents throughout 2025. Seely delivered more than 5,000 performances on the Opry stage, more than any other artist, per her bio. Seely said she felt “very fortunate to be part of the Opry tradition, and I am truly indebted to all the wonderful fans who have supported me over the years.”
Seely was known for songs like “Don’t Touch Me,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Leavin’ and Sayin’ Goodbye,” and more throughout her decades-long career. Her songs have also been recorded by Dottie West, Merle Haggard, Connie Smith, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Ernest Tubb, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Hank Williams Jr., plus Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” Rhonda Vincent, the “Queen of Bluegrass,” and more. Seely was the oldest female entertainer in the genre to still actively record and perform, according to her bio, which also notes Seely’s success as a solo artist, a songwriter and a duet partner. She primarily teamed up with Jack Greene, and also delivered duets with Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson, and rising female country artists like Tiera Kennedy, to name a few. Seely’s loss left a significant impact on the country music community, with many artists — including Carly Pearce, Dolly Parton and more — quickly sharing tributes in honor of the late legend.