JEANNIE SEELY, PIONEERING VOICE IN COUNTRY MUSIC, PASSES AWAY AT 85
Jeannie Seely, a pioneering voice in Country Music, has passed away. She was 85.
Seely broke barriers for women in Country Music with her bold style, emotional depth and trailblazing presence on the Grand Ole Opry. She became the first woman to regularly host segments of the Opry and won a GRAMMY Award in 1967. A champion for songwriters and artists alike, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and continued to perform on its stage more than 55 years later. She was also nominated for four CMA Awards, and in 2023 she was presented with the CMA Joe Talbot Award, which is awarded in recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of Country Music’s values and tradition. A lifelong believer in the power of storytelling, Seely understood from a young age the importance of “writing what you know.” She placed deep value in songwriting and cherished opportunities to collaborate with younger writers, seeing those moments not only as a way to pass down tradition but to create something meaningful together.
“While I’ve had the privilege of working with Jeannie Seely over the past 25 years, my immediate grief is deeply personal. Early in my tenure at CMA, I shared unforgettable lunches with Jeannie and Jo Walker Meador, full of stories that were occasionally irreverent but always fascinating. Jeannie was at the very first Fan Fair with Jack Greene and remained a beloved fixture for decades. She once told me a hilarious story about switching credentials with Dottie West just to keep people on their toes. When the CMA Board honored her with the Joe Talbot Award in 2023, it was for more than her music and fan relationships—it was for her spark. She mentored countless artists, especially women, and while they learned from her confidence and wit, she reminded us she was learning from them too. That humility was part of her magic.” — Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA
