Country Icon Jeannie Seely’s Cause of Death Is Far More Tragic Than Fans Expected
Jeannie Seely, Country Music Trailblazer and Opry Icon, Dies at 85 Country music has lost one of its most enduring voices. Jeannie Seely, lovingly known as “Miss Country Soul,” passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the age of 85. Seely rose to prominence in the late 1960s with her Grammy-winning hit “Don’t Touch Me.”
But beyond the awards, her legacy was built on something deeper — consistency, resilience, and a profound love for the stage. She made history as the first woman to host the Grand Ole Opry, a show she would go on to grace an astonishing 5,397 times — more than any other performer in its long history.
Though she never notched a No. 1 on the charts, Seely’s impact far exceeded radio rankings. Over five decades, she served as both…
