Jeannie Seely, Grand Ole Opry Legend, Dies at 85 with Record 5,398 Shows

Jeannie Seely, a Grammy-winning country music legend known as "Miss Country Soul," passed away on August 1 at the age of 85 due to complications from an intestinal infection. She held the record for the most Grand Ole Opry performances with 5,397 appearances and was the first woman to regularly host segments of the show. Seely's 1966 hit "Don’t Touch Me" earned her a Grammy and established her as a powerful vocalist, while her songwriting was recorded by top artists such as Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Celebrations of her life, titled “Jeannie Seely’s 5398th Opry Show,” are scheduled for August 14 at the Grand Ole Opry House and will be streamed online. She was a trailblazer in country music, advocating for artists’ rights and women’s equity, and received numerous honors including a star on the Music City Walk of Fame and the Joe Talbot Award. Friends and colleagues remember her as a consummate professional and a beloved figure who left a lasting legacy in the industry.