A public service will be held next week honoring Jeannie Seely. Seely was 85 years old when she passed away on August 1. A Celebration of Life service, open to the public, will be held on Thursday, August 14, at the Grand Ole Opry.
Seely holds the record for the most performances at the Opry, performing a total of 5,397 times. With that accomplishment in mind, her Celebration of Life service is being called Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show, in honor of her legacy.
Details Of Jeannie Seely’s Celebration of Life Service
The service will begin at 10:00 AM on August 14. Parking is available at the adjacent Opry Mills mall. Fans not able to attend in person will be able to listen via 650 WSM AM. The service will also be livestreamed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Opry Trust Fund.
Jeannie Seely’s Legacy In Country Music
Not only did Seely perform more than any other artist at the Grand Ole Oppry, but she was also a trailblazer. Seely is the first artist to wear a miniskirt on stage. She is also the first female to host part of the live show.
“I like to think that I’ve tried to approach things in the right manner,” Seely told Everything Nash. “I mean, you can’t come in demanding things. I saw things that I thought just weren’t right. I tried to present the change in a good way and not criticize what was being done, but just make everybody see how much better it would be, if we, for instance, opened the doors for women to host a portion of the Opry. They used to tell me it was tradition. And I said, ‘But somewhere along the way, it’s turned into discrimination.’”
Artists Offer Tributes To Jeannie Seely
Numerous artists paid tribute to Seely after news of her passing was announced.
“I have known Jeannie Seely since we were early on in Nashville,” Dolly Parton says in a statement shared on social media. “She was one of my dearest friends. I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humor. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together and she will be missed.”
“I’ve always loved this woman!” Reba writes. “She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie,” says Reba McEntire.
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“If you knew ‘Seely,’ count yourself lucky,” Trisha Yearwood says. “She was a talented, smart trailblazer for all women. She knew who she was and what she stood for. She was a friend to everyone who stepped onto the Opry stage. I can’t explain how much I already miss her. I love you, Jeannie Seely.”
“Jeannie Seely was a superstar,” Alabama‘s Randy Owen says. “One of the great female voices in country music. She held the record for Grand Ole Opry performances, one that may never ever be broken. We’re all saddened by her passing, and we will certainly miss her. She was a friend to so many and if you ever met her once she never forgot you. That’s rare these days in the fast-paced world we live in. But she wasn’t from this time, she was from the ‘Good Ole School’ days when people had to remember your name, before we could write it down on our iPhones. She was a great encourager.
“She always welcomed new visiting artists who were so nervous getting to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time,” he continues. “She could make those butterflies in your stomach stop flapping their wings and bring some peace instead of fear. Not many like her anymore. I don’t know if she will ever be replaced, but we as members of the Opry can take Jeannie’s lead and be an encouragement to these younger ones when we see an opportunity. They need it and we can do it! Thank you Jeannie for a lifetime of good works and great music. Love you.”
Jeannie Seely’s Obituary
According to Seely’s obituary, she passed away at 5:00 PM at a Nashville hospital, from an intestinal infection. Seely had been battling health problems since last fall, which were exacerbated by the passing of her husband, Gene Ward, in December. She played her final Grand Ole Opry show on February 22.
Seely is survived by numerous friends, family members, and her special cat, Corrie.
Photo Credit: Absolute Publicity / Cyndi Hornsby