Jeannie Seely was laid to rest in a very special memorial in Nashville, and the country community came together to give the country legend an appropriate sendoff.
When Was Jeannie Seely’s Funeral?
Jeannie Seely’s funeral was held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Thursday (Aug. 14).
She had performed at the Opry 5,397 times — more than any other country star in its history — and the iconic country music institution billed her celebration of life as “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show.”
Which Country Stars Appeared at Jeannie Seely’s Funeral?
A large cast of country stars and Nashville insiders were on hand to tribute the iconic country singer-songwriter.
Seely’s pastor and friend opened the service with a powerful message and a prayer, and Seely’s faith was front and center throughout most of the memorial.
Jimmy Fortune was on hand with a personal tribute, and Dailey & Vincent singer Jamie Dailey performed a powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace,” asking the assembled crowd of industry insiders and fans to join in.
Dolly Parton remembered Seely in a special video tribute, while Larry Gatlin, Louise Mandrell, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites, Steve Wariner, the War and Treaty, T. Graham Brown, Darryl Worley and more offered up sweet memories and musical tributes in honor of the beloved Opry icon.
Seely’s all-star Opry family joined her band and the Opry band at the end of the service. They closed by performing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in a most fitting sendoff for Seely, who was one of the Opry’s most passionate advocates over the decades.
Where Can I Watch Jeannie Seely’s Funeral Online?
Watch Jeannie Seely’s memorial service in the video below:
What Did We Learn From Jeannie Seely’s Memorial Service?
A long list of Opry insiders, music business friends and artists shared emotional memories of Seely, including a number of facts that fans might not know:
- She opened many doors for women in country music privately as well as publicly, especially at the Opry.
- Seely was known for her quick humor and sharp wit, often sharing her opinions and strong views in a vaguely NSFW manner that endeared her to many.
- She was a leader behind the scenes in Nashville, advocating for the Opry support musicians and staff to receive fair pay for their work.
- The singer-songwriter, author and actor was also a poet, interior designer, landscape designer and more whose gatherings at her Nashville home were a hub for her fellow country stars and industry friends.
Who Was Jeannie Seely?
Jeannie Seely scored her debut hit in 1966 with “Don’t Touch Me,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance.
Seely went on to score hits that included “It’s Only Love,” “A Wanderin’ Man,” “I’ll Love You More (Than You Need),” “Can I Sleep in Your Arms” and more.
She was also an actress, launching her career with a cameo role in Willie Nelson‘s Honeysuckle Rose in 1980.
She appeared in Changing Hearts in 2022, as well as Nashville stage productions of Takin’ It Home (1986), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1988), Everybody Loves Opal (1990), Always Patsy Cline (2001) and more.
How Did Jeannie Seely Die?
Jeannie Seely died on Aug. 1 at age 85 after experiencing complications from an intestinal infection.
She had been battling health issues for most of a year, which worsened considerably after her husband, Gene Ward, died in December of 2024.
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Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
