Fans and artists reflected on Jeannie Seely’s lasting influence, her record-breaking Opry appearances, and her wit, charm, and trailblazing spirit.

NASHVILLE - Country music icon Jeannie Seely, a Grammy-winning singer and longtime Grand Ole Opry member known for her soulful voice and trailblazing spirit, has died at 85. Seely died Friday in Nashville after a brief illness, according to her publicist. Her death came less than a year after the passing of her husband, Gene Ward, in December 2024.

Country star Jeannie Seely, who rose to fame in the '60s and '70s and became one of the Grand Ole Opry's most beloved performers, has died at 85.