Nashville, Tenn. — One year after the passing of Grand Ole Opry icon Jeannie Seely, her beloved Cumberland River home is continuing her legacy in a deeply personal way — by opening its doors to songwriters, storytellers and musicians who can find inspiration in the same peaceful surroundings that meant so much to her.
Known affectionately as “Pennsyltucky,” the riverfront cottage was named by Seely after her 1973 song “Farm in Pennsyltucky,” a nod to her Pennsylvania roots and her adopted Southern home. Rather than preserve the property as a static memorial or transform it into a traditional museum, “Pennsyltucky” is becoming a living tribute to Seely and her lifelong passion for music, friendship and songwriting.
“Pennsyltucky” is owned and maintained by The Jeannie Seely Trust which Seely had established as part of her estate planning. She was elated to know the cottage would be preserved and used by others.
The property will host private songwriting sessions, small gatherings and intimate events, offering artists an opportunity to create in the home and on the screened porch overlooking the Cumberland River — one of Seely’s favorite places to write and welcome friends.
One of the first songwriters to return to the cottage following Seely’s death was Erin Enderlin, who previously wrote there with Seely and Bobby Tomberlin. Their collaboration, “Like I Could,” was subsequently recorded by Rhonda Vincent and reached No. 1 on the Bluegrass chart.
“I absolutely loved writing with Jeannie,” says Enderlin. “She was so creative, and fast. She was usually talking about three or four song ideas while I was trying to write just one. The pure joy that just poured from her when she was creating was so inspiring.”
That spirit of creativity remains woven throughout the property. Seely’s piano, awards and photographs fill the cottage, while her office preserves the evolution of her recording career through vinyl records, eight-tracks, cassettes and CDs. A handwritten recipe from her grandmother remains in the kitchen, and personal mementos from decades of friendships are displayed throughout the home.
Seely’s screened porch continues to look out over the Cumberland River, a view she enjoyed while recording her weekly “Sundays with Seely” which aired on the Willie’s Roadhouse channel of SiriusXM. The show aired from 2018 to the week of Seely’s passing.
Outside the home, a red barn modeled after the Grand Ole Opry backdrop stands beside the cottage, while oversized “OPRY” letters pay tribute to the institution that was at the center of Seely’s life and career.
The home’s connection to the Grand Ole Opry is especially significant. Seely performed at the Opry 5,397 times — the most performances by any artist in the show’s 100-year history, a record that is expected to stand for generations. She purchased the river cottage in part because of its proximity to the Opry, allowing her to remain close to the institution she loved and performed at so faithfully.
The property’s former owner was Billy Davis, a songwriter himself whose credits include “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” and “Country Sunshine,” the latter of which he co-wrote with Seely’s close friend and fellow Opry member Dottie West.
Seely’s influence continues to resonate with the artists she mentored, including Lainey Wilson, who shared a special connection with the country legend.
“Jeannie Seely was one of a kind,” Wilson told The Tennessean. “She was a mentor, a friend and somebody who always had a little wisdom to share. One of the last memories that’ll stay with me forever was hearing Tanya Tucker tell her, ‘Jeannie, have the band tuned up for me.’ That reminded me that country music is family. There ain’t no doubt in my mind that Jeannie’s got the band ready.”
That sense of community is at the heart of “Pennsyltucky’s” next chapter. The property is not intended to be a tourist attraction, Airbnb or conventional walk-through museum. Instead, its purpose is to preserve the intimate atmosphere Seely created there for decades while allowing new generations of songwriters to experience the same creative environment.
The result is a home that remains unmistakably Seely.
Her quick wit and distinctive personality can still be found throughout the cottage, with some of her memorable observations displayed on shelves and walls. Her photographs with friends and fellow artists remain throughout the rooms, surrounding the piano where music was made and memories were created.
Most importantly, the songwriting continues.
“Pennsyltucky” now stands as a place where Seely’s legacy can move forward—not simply through memories of the songs she wrote, the stages she graced or the artists she mentored, but through new songs created in the same setting that inspired her.
A year after her passing, Seely’s home is still doing what it did best during her lifetime: bringing people together, inspiring creativity and keeping the music going.
Inquires for writing sessions at “Pennsyltucky” can be made by emailing Seely’s website at JSeelyWebsite@comcast.net.