Jeannie Seely
Encyclopedia
Jeannie Seely is an American
country music singer and Grand Ole Opry
star. She is best-known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me
", which peaked at No. 2 on the country charts.
Seely has produced numerous country hits, from the 60s into the mid-70s, including duets with Jack Greene
like 1969's "I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You". Seely has befriended many country singers, including Jan Howard
and Dottie West
.
in 1940. She was the youngest of four children. Growing, up Seely, along with her siblings and parents lived in a two-story farmhouse, which still exists today in her hometown. Her musical influences partially came from her parents, Leo and Irene. Leo played the banjo on the weekends and also called local square dances. Seely's mother, Irene sang with her daughter every Saturday morning while they baked bread together. She started listening to the weekly broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry
at age 11. By the time she was 16, Seely appeared on a television station, "WICU" in Erie, Pennsylvania
. While in high school
, she was an honors student and was also a cheerleader. After she graduated high school in 1958, Seely worked in her hometown's bank. She also did night courses at America's Institute of Banking. At age 21, Seely packed up everything she owned and moved out to California
. She first started working at a Beverly Hills bank, but left after a year and worked for half the money as a secretary at Liberty and Imperial Records
in Hollywood, California.
Seely also at this time started working for Four Star Records
(a record company Patsy Cline
once recorded for), where she began her career as a songwriter
. The R&B artist Irma Thomas
recorded one of her songs called "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is", that became a big Pop hit for her. Seely also appeared as a regular act on the program Hollywood Jamboree with Glen Campbell
, who was a rising Country Music star at the time. Finally, Seely got a recording contract of her own from Challenge Records
. Songwriter, Hank Cochran
was impressed with Seely's talents and though she should move to Nashville
to peruse a career in Country Music, but Seely didn't think she was ready yet. Upon the encouragement of Country singer Dottie West
(who also recorded one of her songs), she finally took Cochran's advice in 1965 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
.
on Porter Wagoner
's road show and television series. Seely was also looking for a record label to sing with. Seely was initially turned down by every record label in town; however one record label (Monument Records) offered Seely a recording contract in early 1966. She was soon recording in the studio by March. One of the first songs recorded then was her husband's self-penned, "Don't Touch Me
". The song was then released and turned brought Seely her first major success country singles chart. The song peaked at the No. 2 position on the Billboard Country charts and stayed there for three weeks, however on all the other major country charts (Cashbox, Record World), the song hit No. 1.; it remained on the charts for over five months. The song even climbed into the lower regions of the pop singles charts, peaking at No. 85. Because of the success of "Don't Touch Me", Seely was invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry that June. She also won Billboard's, Cashbox's, and Record World's "Most Promising Female Artist Award". In March 1967, Seely won the Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Don't Touch Me", becoming only the third female country singer to win the award. That year, an album was released titled, The Seely Style, which featured "Don't Touch Me". In September, 1967 Seely joined the Grand Ole Opry, a lifelong dream of hers, where today she still remains a member.
Following her breakthrough hit's success, Seely released a follow-up single titled "It's Only Love", from her first album. The song proved a solid follow-up, making the Top 15 on the Country charts at No. 15. The next year, Seely had two other Top 40 Country hits from her next album, Thanks! Hank, one of which hit the Top 20 called "A Wanderin' Man". For the rest of the decade, Seely enjoyed only one other Top 10, titled, "I'll Love You More (Than You'll Ever Need)" in 1968. Another album released in 1968, titled, "Little Things" produced a Top 30 hit, "Welcome Home to Nothing". Seely only stayed under Monument until late 1968, before switching over to Decca records in 1969.
For several years Jeannie was married to Hank Cochran
, the writer of such songs as “Make the World Go Away
”, “She's Got You
”, “I Fall to Pieces
”, “The Chair”, and “Ocean Front Property”. The marriage – the only for Jeannie but the fourth for Hank – finally ended in a divorce.
. Together they recorded a single ("I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You") and an album (Jack Greene/Jeannie Seely). Their single hit No. 2 on the Billboard Country charts in 1970 and No. 1 on all the other major Country charts, making the duo one of the most successful duet pairings of the early 1970s. Their road shows were also successful, and gave both singers' careers a boost. In 1972, they released a new album entitled, Two for the Show. Two singles from the album hit the Top 20 on the Country charts, starting with "Much Oblige", followed by "What in the World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love". The duo has been nominated for the CMA Awards' Vocal Duo of the Year as well as various Grammy award nominations. Together they toured for ten years performing everywhere from New York's Madison Square Garden
to London's Wembley Arena
, most often in country music "package shows."
A long list of artists – including Dottie West
, Norma Jean, Tex Williams
, Lorrie Morgan
, Jack Greene, Connie Smith
, and Doyle Lawson
– have recorded compositions written by Jeannie. In 1972, Faron Young
took “Leavin’ And Sayin’ Goodbye” to the No. 1 position, earning Jeannie a BMI
Songwriter’s Award.
After being successfully paired with Jack Greene, Seely saw the time to take note to revitalizing her career as a solo artist. In 1973, Decca then became MCA records. Under MCA, she recorded a new album, titled Can I Sleep in Your Arms/Lucky Ladies, the name of two singles to be released by Seely between 1973 and 1974. The first single was released in 1973, which was "Can I Sleep in Your Arms". The song was well liked by Country radio, and peaked in the Top10 at No. 6, just missing the Top 5 spot. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" was originally derived from an old hobo lament titled, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight". The follow-up to the Top 10 came with "Lucky Ladies" in 1974, which came close to hitting the Top 10, peaking in the Top 15. "Lucky Ladies" was also derived from another song. Seely transformed an old Appalachian ballad titled "Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies
" to "Lucky Ladies". While under MCA, Seely's material got more sexual and riskier like 1975's "First Time" and 1976's "Since I Met You Boy". In early 1977, Seely switched labels again, this time to Columbia records.
After just getting started under a new record company, Seely was involved in a serious near-fatal automobile accident in 1977, which almost caused her career to come abruptly to an end. Because of the support of friends and family, most notably good friend Dottie West
, Seely was able to recover and return to touring and performing. (Ironically in August 1991, West would too be involved in a serious automobile accident, which would ultimately claim her life.) Today, Seely greatly misses West, and she was played by Cathy Worthington in the TV-movie about West's life in 1995, titled Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
, starring Michele Lee
. By late 1977, Seely's chart success was already fading from the public view. Her last record to hit the national charts came later that year, with the song, "Take Me to Bed".
's road show, and also appeared in his film Honeysuckle Rose
, and also recorded for the soundtrack, which eventually received a "Platinum" rating by the RIAA. Seely also became the first female Country singer to host half-hour segments of the Grand Ole Opry, first starting in 1985, when Country singer Del Reeves
was caught in a snowstorm. In the late-80s, Seely played various acting roles. She played "Miss Mona" in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
play as well as playing Jean Shepard
's daughter and Lorrie Morgan
's mother in the Country music musical Takin' It Home. In 1988, she also published her own book, titled Pieces of a Puzzled Mind. In the early 90s, Seely continued to try new things, including playing Danny Shirley's mother in the music video for Confederate Railroad
's 1993 No. 1 hit, "Trashy Woman". Seely has also played at Dolly Parton
's "Dollywood
" and served as Brad Paisley
's date for the 2000 CMA awards show. Lorrie Morgan
has also recorded one of Seely's compositions for her 1997 album, Shakin' Things Up
. Morgan credits Seely to be one of the biggest inspirations to her career, and even refers to her as a second mother.
In 2003, Seely appeared in the movie Changing Hearts starring Faye Dunaway
. Fellow Country singers and friends Rita Coolidge
and Jan Howard
also appeared in the movie. In Fall 2003, Seely released a new album, which was marketed towards Bluegrass music
titled Life's Highway
, which received high critical acclaim. Today, Jeannie Seely still remains a member of the Grand Ole Opry and lives close by the Opry in a house by the Cumberland River that was renovated and decorated by Seely herself.
On Monday, May 3, 2010, Seely posted on her official Facebook page that she had lost her home along Nashville's Cumberland River, car, clothes and personal possessions as a result of the 2010 Nashville Flood. Seely and her dog, Cheyenne, sought refuge at a friends.
On Saturday, November 10, 2010, Jeannie Seely married attorney, Gene Ward.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music singer and Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
star. She is best-known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me
Don't Touch Me
"Don't Touch Me" is the name of a classic country music song originally recorded and made famous by Jeannie Seely in 1966.-History:"Don't Touch Me" was written by Jeannie Seely's husband, Hank Cochran, the songwriter who wrote Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" and Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go...
", which peaked at No. 2 on the country charts.
Seely has produced numerous country hits, from the 60s into the mid-70s, including duets with Jack Greene
Jack Greene
Jack Greene is an American country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" and well known for his 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything."-Early career:...
like 1969's "I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You". Seely has befriended many country singers, including Jan Howard
Jan Howard
Lula Grace Johnson , known professionally as Jan Howard, is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She attained moderate success as a country female vocalist during the 1960s and early 1970s...
and Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
.
Early Life & Rise to Fame
Seely was born in Titusville, PennsylvaniaTitusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,146 at the 2000 census. In 1859, oil was successfully drilled in Titusville, resulting in the birth of the modern oil industry.-History:...
in 1940. She was the youngest of four children. Growing, up Seely, along with her siblings and parents lived in a two-story farmhouse, which still exists today in her hometown. Her musical influences partially came from her parents, Leo and Irene. Leo played the banjo on the weekends and also called local square dances. Seely's mother, Irene sang with her daughter every Saturday morning while they baked bread together. She started listening to the weekly broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
at age 11. By the time she was 16, Seely appeared on a television station, "WICU" in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. While in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, she was an honors student and was also a cheerleader. After she graduated high school in 1958, Seely worked in her hometown's bank. She also did night courses at America's Institute of Banking. At age 21, Seely packed up everything she owned and moved out to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She first started working at a Beverly Hills bank, but left after a year and worked for half the money as a secretary at Liberty and Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
in Hollywood, California.
Seely also at this time started working for Four Star Records
Four Star Records
4 Star Records is the name of a record label that recorded many well-known country music acts in the 1950s. The label, founded after World War II, was home to singers such as Hank Locklin, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Rose Maddox, Webb Pierce and T. Texas Tyler...
(a record company Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
once recorded for), where she began her career as a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. The R&B artist Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas is an American Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans"....
recorded one of her songs called "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is", that became a big Pop hit for her. Seely also appeared as a regular act on the program Hollywood Jamboree with Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, who was a rising Country Music star at the time. Finally, Seely got a recording contract of her own from Challenge Records
Challenge Records
Challenge Records has been the name of at least three different record labels in the 20th century:* Challenge Records - a US based company* Challenge Records - a US based company* Challenge Records - a Netherlands based company...
. Songwriter, Hank Cochran
Hank Cochran
Garland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and others...
was impressed with Seely's talents and though she should move to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
to peruse a career in Country Music, but Seely didn't think she was ready yet. Upon the encouragement of Country singer Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
(who also recorded one of her songs), she finally took Cochran's advice in 1965 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
The Success of "Don't Touch Me"
Upon arriving to Nashville, she was hired to fill in for Norma JeanNorma Jean (singer)
Norma Jean Beasler , better known as Norma Jean, is an American country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had a number of country singles in the Top 10 and Top 20 between 1963 and 1967, including "Go Cat Go" and "The Game of Triangles", and was...
on Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner
Porter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
's road show and television series. Seely was also looking for a record label to sing with. Seely was initially turned down by every record label in town; however one record label (Monument Records) offered Seely a recording contract in early 1966. She was soon recording in the studio by March. One of the first songs recorded then was her husband's self-penned, "Don't Touch Me
Don't Touch Me
"Don't Touch Me" is the name of a classic country music song originally recorded and made famous by Jeannie Seely in 1966.-History:"Don't Touch Me" was written by Jeannie Seely's husband, Hank Cochran, the songwriter who wrote Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" and Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go...
". The song was then released and turned brought Seely her first major success country singles chart. The song peaked at the No. 2 position on the Billboard Country charts and stayed there for three weeks, however on all the other major country charts (Cashbox, Record World), the song hit No. 1.; it remained on the charts for over five months. The song even climbed into the lower regions of the pop singles charts, peaking at No. 85. Because of the success of "Don't Touch Me", Seely was invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry that June. She also won Billboard's, Cashbox's, and Record World's "Most Promising Female Artist Award". In March 1967, Seely won the Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Don't Touch Me", becoming only the third female country singer to win the award. That year, an album was released titled, The Seely Style, which featured "Don't Touch Me". In September, 1967 Seely joined the Grand Ole Opry, a lifelong dream of hers, where today she still remains a member.
Following her breakthrough hit's success, Seely released a follow-up single titled "It's Only Love", from her first album. The song proved a solid follow-up, making the Top 15 on the Country charts at No. 15. The next year, Seely had two other Top 40 Country hits from her next album, Thanks! Hank, one of which hit the Top 20 called "A Wanderin' Man". For the rest of the decade, Seely enjoyed only one other Top 10, titled, "I'll Love You More (Than You'll Ever Need)" in 1968. Another album released in 1968, titled, "Little Things" produced a Top 30 hit, "Welcome Home to Nothing". Seely only stayed under Monument until late 1968, before switching over to Decca records in 1969.
For several years Jeannie was married to Hank Cochran
Hank Cochran
Garland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and others...
, the writer of such songs as “Make the World Go Away
Make the World Go Away
"Make the World Go Away" is a country-popular music song composed by Hank Cochran. It has become a Top 40 popular success three times: for Timi Yuro , for Eddy Arnold , and for the brother-sister duo Donny and Marie Osmond . The original version of the song was recorded by Ray Price during...
”, “She's Got You
She's Got You
"She's Got You" is a famous pop song written by Hank Cochran and was first recorded and released as a single by Patsy Cline in 1962. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it.-History:...
”, “I Fall to Pieces
I Fall to Pieces
"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
”, “The Chair”, and “Ocean Front Property”. The marriage – the only for Jeannie but the fourth for Hank – finally ended in a divorce.
Success With Jack Greene in the 70s & Revitalizing Her Solo Career
While moving over to Decca in 1969, Seely teamed up with fellow Country star, Jack GreeneJack Greene
Jack Greene is an American country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" and well known for his 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything."-Early career:...
. Together they recorded a single ("I Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You") and an album (Jack Greene/Jeannie Seely). Their single hit No. 2 on the Billboard Country charts in 1970 and No. 1 on all the other major Country charts, making the duo one of the most successful duet pairings of the early 1970s. Their road shows were also successful, and gave both singers' careers a boost. In 1972, they released a new album entitled, Two for the Show. Two singles from the album hit the Top 20 on the Country charts, starting with "Much Oblige", followed by "What in the World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love". The duo has been nominated for the CMA Awards' Vocal Duo of the Year as well as various Grammy award nominations. Together they toured for ten years performing everywhere from New York's Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
to London's Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, most often in country music "package shows."
A long list of artists – including Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
, Norma Jean, Tex Williams
Tex Williams
Sollie Paul Williams , known professionally as Tex Williams, was an American Western swing musician from Ramsey, Illinois....
, Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
, Jack Greene, Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
, and Doyle Lawson
Doyle Lawson
Doyle Lawson is an American bluegrass and gospel musician. Doyle is best known as an accomplished mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 5-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.-Biography:...
– have recorded compositions written by Jeannie. In 1972, Faron Young
Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...
took “Leavin’ And Sayin’ Goodbye” to the No. 1 position, earning Jeannie a BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Songwriter’s Award.
After being successfully paired with Jack Greene, Seely saw the time to take note to revitalizing her career as a solo artist. In 1973, Decca then became MCA records. Under MCA, she recorded a new album, titled Can I Sleep in Your Arms/Lucky Ladies, the name of two singles to be released by Seely between 1973 and 1974. The first single was released in 1973, which was "Can I Sleep in Your Arms". The song was well liked by Country radio, and peaked in the Top10 at No. 6, just missing the Top 5 spot. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" was originally derived from an old hobo lament titled, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight". The follow-up to the Top 10 came with "Lucky Ladies" in 1974, which came close to hitting the Top 10, peaking in the Top 15. "Lucky Ladies" was also derived from another song. Seely transformed an old Appalachian ballad titled "Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies
Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies
"Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies" is an American folk music ballad, originating from the Appalachian region. It has been recorded under either of its two title variations by numerous artists, including The Carter Family, Joan Baez, Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton...
" to "Lucky Ladies". While under MCA, Seely's material got more sexual and riskier like 1975's "First Time" and 1976's "Since I Met You Boy". In early 1977, Seely switched labels again, this time to Columbia records.
After just getting started under a new record company, Seely was involved in a serious near-fatal automobile accident in 1977, which almost caused her career to come abruptly to an end. Because of the support of friends and family, most notably good friend Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
, Seely was able to recover and return to touring and performing. (Ironically in August 1991, West would too be involved in a serious automobile accident, which would ultimately claim her life.) Today, Seely greatly misses West, and she was played by Cathy Worthington in the TV-movie about West's life in 1995, titled Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story is a 1995 television biopic about the life of country music singer Dottie West portrayed by Michele Lee...
, starring Michele Lee
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...
. By late 1977, Seely's chart success was already fading from the public view. Her last record to hit the national charts came later that year, with the song, "Take Me to Bed".
Later Careers & Life Today
In the early 1980s, Seely continued to record and perform. She served as an opening act for Willie NelsonWillie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
's road show, and also appeared in his film Honeysuckle Rose
Honeysuckle Rose (film)
Honeysuckle Rose is a 1980 romantic drama film directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Willie Nelson, Dyan Cannon and Amy Irving.-Plot:...
, and also recorded for the soundtrack, which eventually received a "Platinum" rating by the RIAA. Seely also became the first female Country singer to host half-hour segments of the Grand Ole Opry, first starting in 1985, when Country singer Del Reeves
Del Reeves
Franklin Delano Reeves , better known as Del Reeves, was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell"...
was caught in a snowstorm. In the late-80s, Seely played various acting roles. She played "Miss Mona" in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall...
play as well as playing Jean Shepard
Jean Shepard
Ollie Imogene Shepard , better known as Jean Shepard, is an American honky tonk singer-songwriter who was a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the #1 spot...
's daughter and Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
's mother in the Country music musical Takin' It Home. In 1988, she also published her own book, titled Pieces of a Puzzled Mind. In the early 90s, Seely continued to try new things, including playing Danny Shirley's mother in the music video for Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad is an American country rock band founded in 1987 in Marietta, Georgia by Danny Shirley , Michael Lamb , Mark Dufresne , Chris McDaniel , Warren "Gates" Nichols and Wayne Secrest...
's 1993 No. 1 hit, "Trashy Woman". Seely has also played at Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's "Dollywood
Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....
" and served as Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
's date for the 2000 CMA awards show. Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
has also recorded one of Seely's compositions for her 1997 album, Shakin' Things Up
Shakin' Things Up
Shakin' Things Up is a 1997 country album by Lorrie Morgan, released in 1997 on BNA Records.Billboard charting singles on Shakin' Things Up include "Go Away" at #3, "One of Those Nights Tonight" at #14, "I'm Not That Easy to Forget" at #49, and "You'd Think He'd Know Me Better" at #66...
. Morgan credits Seely to be one of the biggest inspirations to her career, and even refers to her as a second mother.
In 2003, Seely appeared in the movie Changing Hearts starring Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
. Fellow Country singers and friends Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
and Jan Howard
Jan Howard
Lula Grace Johnson , known professionally as Jan Howard, is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She attained moderate success as a country female vocalist during the 1960s and early 1970s...
also appeared in the movie. In Fall 2003, Seely released a new album, which was marketed towards Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
titled Life's Highway
Life's Highway
Life's Highway is an album released by country music artist Steve Wariner. It was released in 1985 by MCA. Three singles were released from it in 1986, and the first two singles, including the title track, went to number-one. This album peaked at #22...
, which received high critical acclaim. Today, Jeannie Seely still remains a member of the Grand Ole Opry and lives close by the Opry in a house by the Cumberland River that was renovated and decorated by Seely herself.
On Monday, May 3, 2010, Seely posted on her official Facebook page that she had lost her home along Nashville's Cumberland River, car, clothes and personal possessions as a result of the 2010 Nashville Flood. Seely and her dog, Cheyenne, sought refuge at a friends.
On Saturday, November 10, 2010, Jeannie Seely married attorney, Gene Ward.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award Program | Award | Result |
| 1966 | Billboard magazine | Most Promising New Artist | Won |
| 1966 | Cashbox magazine | Most Promising New Artist | Won |
| 1966 | Record World magazine Record World Record World magazine was one of the three main music industry trade publications in the United States, along with Billboard and Cash Box magazines. It was founded in 1946 under the name Music Vendor, but since 1964 changed it to Record World, under the ownership of Sid Parnes and Bob Austin, both... |
Most Promising New Artist | Won |
| 1967 | Grammy Awards | Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Don't Touch Me Don't Touch Me "Don't Touch Me" is the name of a classic country music song originally recorded and made famous by Jeannie Seely in 1966.-History:"Don't Touch Me" was written by Jeannie Seely's husband, Hank Cochran, the songwriter who wrote Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" and Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go... " |
Won |
| 1972 | CMA Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year (with Jack Greene Jack Greene Jack Greene is an American country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" and well known for his 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything."-Early career:... ) |
Nominated |
| 1973 | CMA Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year (with Jack Greene) | Nominated |
| 1974 | CMA Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year (with Jack Greene) | Nominated |
| 1975 | CMA Awards | Vocal Duo of the Year (with Jack Greene) | Nominated |