Watch the Full Service HERE
Nashville, Tenn. — Friends, family and the music industry gathered at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Thursday, August 14, to pay tribute to the late country music legend and Opry member Jeannie Seely.
The public service, titled “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show,” was a nod to Seely’s record-setting 5,397 Opry performances throughout her career. Seely passed away Friday, August 1. She was 85.
Honoring Seely on stage with musical performances were Ricky Skaggs with Sharon and Cheryl White of The Whites, Larry Gatlin, Darryl Worley, Jamie Dailey of Dailey & Vincent, Louise Mandrell, Steve Wariner, The War and Treaty, T. Graham Brown and Seely’s favorite bluegrass outfit, Cutter & Cash. Seely’s band accompanied several of the performances.
Victoria Shaw, Charles Esten, Bobby Tomberlin, Buddy Cannon and Erin Enderlin paid tribute to Seely in a writers’ round-style performance. Seely’s friends Rhonda Vincent, Mandy Barnett, Wendy Moten and Linda Davis sang “Leavin’ and Sayin’ Goodbye” as well as her hit, “Don’t Touch Me,” which began with Seely’s very own pre-recorded vocals. It earned a standing ovation from attendees.
Video tributes included messages from Dolly Parton, Jimmy Fortune and Keith Bilbrey.
Speakers included Dan Rogers, the Opry’s Senior VP and Executive Producer; Associate Producer, Talent Gina Keltner; Robert Bailey, who served with Seely on the local SAG-AFTRA board; Springer Mountain Farms President Gus Arrendale and Hubert Cunningham, Seely‘s pastor.
650 AM WSM and Grand Ole Opry personalities Mike Terry, Bill Cody, Charlie Mattos and Kelly Sutton hosted.
Seely’s service ended with all of the artists and Opry members in attendance gathering on stage to perform “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The finale also included Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Bill Anderson, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, John Conlee, Rudy Gatlin, Riders in the Sky, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dailey & Vincent, The Isaacs, Billy Dean, Deborah Allen and Tim Atwood.