Her iconic indution moment took place on September 16, 1967, and she has been a vital part of the Grand Ole Opry ever since. She went on to sing her classic hit “Don’t Touch Me,” which won her the Grammy award for “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” in 1966.
Seely, affectionately known as “Miss Country Soul,” was joined by fellow Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson, as well as Grand Ole Opry General Manager Sally Williams, both of which gave her gifts, flowers and presentations.
The Grand Ole Opry’s General Manager and Sr. Vice President for “Programming & Artist Relations,” Sally Williams, shared that Seely “lives and breathes the Grand Ole Opry.” She further noted that it’s “an honor” to celebrate such a “talented, dedicated and trailblazing” member of the Opry.
On this milestone, Jeannie Seely remarked, “The Opry has been my life for more than 50 years.” “I feel so blessed to be a part of this Opry family. Tonight was just the icing on the cake,” she said.
As Digital Journal previously reported, Seely becomes the sixth woman in the genre’s history to accomplish this milestone, along with the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith and the late country songstresses Jean Shepard, Minnie Pearl and Wilma Lee Cooper.
Throughout her lengthy career in the genre, Seely has received awards from Billboard, Cashbox and Record World; moreover, she has achieved chart-topping songs as a solo artist, as a duet partner and as a songwriter, where her songs have been recorded by such late country stars as Merle Haggard, Dottie West, Ernest Tubb and Ray Price.
In her latest studio album, Written In Song, which was released earlier this year, all 14 songs on there were either written or co-written by Seely. It features collaborations with Connie Smith and Marty Stuart (“Senses”), as well as “We’re Still Hangin’ In There Ain’t We Jessi” with fellow Opry member Jan Howard and Jessi Colter.
