Dolly Parton Breaks Silence on Jeannie Seely’s Death: ‘She Was One of My Dearest Friends’
Grand Ole Opry Confirms Jeannie Seely, Legendary Country Musician, Dies at 85 — Fans Shocked as She Was Planning Return to the Stage This Year… and Her Final Words in a Haunting Video Left Everyone in Tears
NASHVILLE, TN — The country music world is grieving the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved voices. Jeannie Seely, Grammy-winning singer, groundbreaking Grand Ole Opry member, and cherished friend to many — including Dolly Parton — passed away on August 1 at the age of 85 due to complications from an intestinal infection. Her death has shocked fans and fellow artists alike, as Seely had recently hinted at a return to the stage later this year.
Known for her trailblazing career and over 5,000 Grand Ole Opry performances — more than any other artist — Seely’s influence on country music was profound. But it was her humor, honesty, and unshakable support for women in the industry that made her truly irreplaceable.
In a statement that left fans emotional, Dolly Parton — visibly shaken — paid tribute to her late friend:
“She was one of my dearest friends,” Parton said. “We laughed together, we cried together, and she always had a way of lifting people up. Jeannie had one of the greatest voices in Nashville — and one of the biggest hearts. I’ll miss her every single day.”
Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood also shared tearful tributes. “She was a spitfire, opinionated team player,” Reba wrote. “Rest in peace, Jeannie.” Yearwood, in her post, added, “She was a trailblazer for women, a fierce friend, and a heart I’ll never forget.”
Adding to the heartbreak, the Grand Ole Opry confirmed that Seely had been planning her return to the stage later this year, despite ongoing health struggles that had included ICU stays and emergency surgeries. Her resilience had inspired many — and made the news of her passing even more devastating.
But perhaps the most haunting moment came in a video recorded just weeks before her death — one that’s now circulating online and leaving viewers in tears. In it, Seely speaks softly, almost prophetically:
“If this is the last time I stand on this stage, I want you to remember one thing: I gave it everything I had — every time.”
Those final words, now echoing across social media and news outlets, feel like a farewell she never expected to be final.
Born in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1940, Jeannie Seely moved to Nashville in the 1960s and quickly rose to fame with her Grammy-winning 1966 hit “Don’t Touch Me.” She became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1967 and remained one of its most loyal performers. Seely was also the first woman to wear a miniskirt on the Opry stage — a small act of rebellion that spoke volumes about her refusal to conform.
Her last Opry performance took place on February 22, 2025 — her 5,397th appearance. The following night’s show on August 2 was dedicated to her memory.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, but tributes continue to pour in. And while the country music stage may now feel quieter, Jeannie Seely’s voice — and the bold, beautiful spirit behind it — will echo forever.
As Dolly Parton wrote:
“There’s a hole in country music now that no one else can fill. But I know Jeannie is up there, probably already organizing a show.”