Jeannie Seely has been laid to rest in a very special celebration of life ceremony in Nashville, and pictures from the memorial show how her fellow country stars and Nashville’s music community turned out to give her a perfect sendoff.
How Did Jeannie Seely Die?
Jeannie Seely died on Aug. 1 at age 85 after suffering complications from an intestinal infection.
The iconic country singer had been facing serious health issues for most of a year, which got worse after her husband, Gene Ward, died in December of 2024.
When Was Jeannie Seely’s Funeral?
Jeannie Seely’s public memorial took place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Thursday (Aug. 14).
She had performed at the Grand Ole Opry a remarkable 5,397 times — more than any other artist in its history — and the Opry billed her memorial as “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show.”
Which Country Stars Attended Jeannie Seely’s Funeral?
Dolly Parton (via video), Larry Gatlin, Jimmy Fortune, Louise Mandrell, Jamie Dailey, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites, Steve Wariner, the War and Treaty, T. Graham Brown, Darryl Worley and more country stars were on hand to speak and perform at Seely’s memorial at the Grand Ole Opry House.
Where Can I Watch Jeannie Seely’s Funeral Online?
Watch Jeannie Seely’s touching memorial in the video below:
Who Was Jeannie Seely?
Jeannie Seely was one of the most groundbreaking female country artists in the genre’s history. She paved the way for many of the country women who came after her — especially at the Opry, where she did not hesitate to call out discrimination against women when she saw it.
She landed her first country hit in 1966 with “Don’t Touch Me,” which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance.
Seely went on to a long slate of country 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 launched an acting career with a cameo role in Willie Nelson‘s Honeysuckle Rose in 1980.
Seely would go on to appear in the feature film Changing Hearts in 2022. She also starred in a number of Nashville stage productions.
Scroll through the pictures below to see the highlights from Jeannie Seely’s touching memorial service.
PICTURES: See the Highlights From Jeannie Seely’s Funeral at the Grand Ole Opry
Jeannie Selly was laid to rest at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Aug. 14, and the Nashville country community turned out in full force to give her an appropriate sendoff.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Country Stars Who Have Died in 2025
We’re not even six months into 2025, and already country music has suffered some devastating losses.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
