Nashville, TN — The Grand Ole Opry will host a historic and emotional farewell to Jeannie Seely, the beloved “Miss Country Soul,” on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. CT. The legendary singer, who graced the Opry stage 5,397 times — more than any artist in its storied history — will take her final bow in what the Opry is calling “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show.”
The service will be open to the public, giving fans the rare chance to celebrate her life in the very place where she made country music history.
How Fans Can Watch From Home
For those unable to attend in Nashville, Seely’s celebration of life will be broadcast live on 650 AM WSM and livestreamed online, ensuring that admirers across the globe can join in saying goodbye.
A Life Steeped in Country Music
Born with a voice that could melt hearts and a personality that could light up any room, Jeannie Seely first broke through in 1966 with “Don’t Touch Me”, a song that climbed to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance.
Over the decades, she delivered a string of beloved hits, including “It’s Only Love,” “A Wanderin’ Man,” “I’ll Love You More (Than You Need),” and “Can I Sleep in Your Arms.” Her performances were infused with an authenticity and warmth that made her one of the Opry’s most enduring stars.
Seely’s career wasn’t confined to the recording studio and Opry stage. She made memorable appearances in film and theater, from Willie Nelson’s Honeysuckle Rose (1980) to the 2022 movie Changing Hearts, and took on stage roles in productions like The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Always, Patsy Cline.
Personal Loss and Her Final Days
Jeannie Seely passed away on Aug. 1, 2024, at the age of 85, due to complications from an intestinal infection. Her health struggles had spanned much of the past year and deepened after the passing of her beloved husband, Gene Ward, in December 2024.
Honoring Her Legacy
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Opry Trust Fund, which has provided more than $4.8 million to members of the music community since 1965, or to a charity that supports animals in need — a cause close to Seely’s heart.
As Nashville prepares to gather for her memorial, one thing is certain: Jeannie Seely’s influence will never fade. Her songs, her laughter, and her unshakable spirit will echo through the Opry House for generations to come.
On August 14, when the lights dim and the first notes ring out in her honor, it won’t just be a memorial service. It will be, as the Opry fittingly calls it, her final show — one more standing ovation for a life