Gene Watson's Peers: Jeannie Seely

Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!

All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2005 were most gracious with their time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Jeannie Seely, which she submitted to this site on Thursday 5 May 2005.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Jeannie Seely who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Jeannie Seely

Jeannie Seely
This quote was submitted on Thursday 5 May 2005

'As I have said many times when I have had the honour of introducing Gene on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, he truly is a singer's singer!

Not only does he have one of the most unique, true voices in our business, he delivers the song with so much emotion that you feel exactly what the songwriter was trying to tell you, and you can understand every word.

Other than that, I don't like him much! I'm also proud to call him my friend'.


Thank you, Jeannie Seely, for your support of Gene Watson.

Gene Watson Fan Site

About Jeannie Seely...


Jeannie Seely, on the night of 16 September 1967, marked an important milestone in her music career by joining the world-famous Grand Ole Opry. The distinctive-voiced lady referred to as 'Miss Country Soul' became the first and, to date, the only Pennsylvania native to become an Opry member.

Jeannie Seely is among a select group of country artists who have scored No. 1 hits as a solo artist, as a duet partner, and as a songwriter.

Born on Saturday 6 July 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania – the town where the world’s very first oil well was drilled in 1859 – Jeannie grew up as the youngest of Leo & Irene Seely's four children. The family's two-story farmhouse still stands along a dirt road outside of nearby Townville, a community of about 300 folks located in the north-western corner of the state.

Jeannie's interest in music was influenced strongly by her parents; Leo Seely worked hard on the family's farm & at a Titusville steel mill, but found time on weekends to play the banjo & call local square dances, while Irene Seely would sing with her daughter every Saturday morning while the two baked bread together.

When she was barely tall enough to reach the dial on her family's big Philco console radio, Jeannie was tuning in the Grand Ole Opry on station WSM 650AM. At the age of eleven, she began singing for a Saturday morning radio show on Meadville station WMGW & by the time she was sixteen, Jeannie was performing on television station WICU in Erie.

At Hillbilly Park, Jeannie had the opportunity to see performers like Bill Monroe & Ralph Stanley, as well as Josh Graves who played on her 'Life’s Highway' album.  She also obtained autographed photos of stars like Jean Shepard, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper.

A cheerleader, majorette & honour student while attending Townville High School, Jeannie sang at local amateur contests & began performing at weekend dances throughout north-western Pennsylvania.

Following high school graduation in 1958, Jeannie worked for three years at a Titusville bank.  Initially hired as a stenographer, she was later promoted to a secretarial position for the bank's auditor.

During this period, Jeannie continued her education by completing night classes (in subjects like business finance & law) that were conducted by the American Institute of Banking in Oil City.  Both the local & national American Institute of Banking organisations have since made Jeannie an honorary lifetime member for her efforts in promoting the name & spirit of the organisation.

At the age of twenty-one, Jeannie packed everything she could into her car, shipped the rest to 'General Delivery, Los Angeles' & headed west. She initially took a job at a Beverly Hills bank, but left it after a year to take a secretarial position for half the money at Liberty & Imperial Records in Hollywood.

With a foot in the door of the music business, she began writing songs for Four Star Music & became a regular act, along with an unknown Glen Campbell, on the 'Hollywood Jamboree' television series. Rhythm and blues artist Irma Thomas recorded a composition by Jeannie titled 'Anyone who knows what love is' & scored a national pop hit with it.

Jeannie Seely's song-writing led to her own recording contract on Challenge Records.  A couple of regional hits & a West Coast tour resulted, but unfortunately she received no national attention.  A young songwriter visiting California named Hank Cochran was impressed with Jeannie's talent & suggested she move to Nashville. Jeannie, however, didn't think she was ready.

Upon the encouragement of singer Dottie West who recorded one of her songs, Jeannie finally took Hank Cochran's advice & moved to Nashville in the fall of 1965.  Within a month, Porter Wagoner hired her to replace Norma Jean as the female singer for his road show & syndicated television series.

Connie Smith: 'Connie Smith' (RCA Records, 1965)

Connie Smith recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Senses' (co-written with Glen Campbell) & included the track on 'Connie Smith' (RCA Records, 1965)


Initially turned down by every record label in town, Jeannie finally got the big break she needed when a recording contract was offered by Monument Records.  On Saturday 12 March 1966, Jeannie Seely went into a recording studio & recorded a Hank Cochran ballad titled 'Don't touch me'.

Jeannie Seely: 'The Seely Style' (Monument Records, 1966)

'Don't touch me' was included on Jeannie Seely's 'The Seely Style' (Monument Records, 1966)

Within only a few weeks, the song debuted on the country music charts where it stayed for over five months.  Although it held at the No.2 position for three weeks on Billboard, the record actually went to No. 1 on all the other major charts, including Cashbox & Record World; it was also a crossover hit on the national pop charts.

Today 'Don't touch me' is considered a standard in country music.  Jeannie's recording of the song is ranked at No.97 in the book 'Heartaches by the Number: Country Music's 500 Greatest Singles' written by David Cantwell & Bill Friskics-Warren.  The book, released in 2003, was published by the Vanderbilt University Press & the Country Music Foundation Press.

'Don’t touch me' is also included in 'The Stories Behind Country Music’s All-Time Greatest 100 Songs' written by Ace Collins & published by Boulevard Books.  The author wrote, 'Cochran’s 'Don’t touch me' has stood the test of time like few other works.  Hauntingly beautiful, poetry set to meter, this composition merits particular praise for the exquisite manner in which it relates its story of love, doubt & commitment'.

The book describes how Buck Owens desperately wanted the song that Jeannie ultimately recorded & made a hit.  Country versions of 'Don’t touch me' have been recorded by Don Gibson, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price, Lynn Anderson, Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, & Dottie West, but none were charted singles.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Don Gibson: 'Great Country Songs' (RCA Records, 1966)

Don Gibson recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'Great Country Songs' (RCA Records, 1966)

Eddy Arnold: 'The Last Word In Lonesome' (RCA Records, 1966

Eddy Arnold recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'The Last Word In Lonesome' (RCA Records, 1966

Ray Price: 'Another Bridge To Burn' (Columbia Records, 1966)

Ray Price recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'Another Bridge To Burn' (Columbia Records, 1966)

Dottie West: 'With All My Heart & Soul' (RCA Records, 1967)

Dottie West recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'With All My Heart & Soul' (RCA Records, 1967)

Tammy Wynette: 'Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad' (Epic Records, 1967)

Tammy Wynette recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad' (Epic Records, 1967)

Lynn Anderson: 'Songs That Made Country Girls Famous' (Chart Records, 1969)

Lynn Anderson recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'Songs That Made Country Girls Famous' (Chart Records, 1969)

Roy Clark: 'The Incredible Roy Clark' (Dot Records, 1971)

Roy Clark recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'The Incredible Roy Clark' (Dot Records, 1971)

Lorrie Morgan: 'War Paint' (BNA Records, 1994)

Lorrie Morgan recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'War Paint' (BNA Records, 1994)

George Jones: 'It Don't Get Any Better Than This' (MCA Records, 1998)


George Jones recorded Hank Cochran's 'Don't touch me' & included the track on 'It Don't Get Any Better Than This' (MCA Records, 1998)

Gene Watson Fan Site

In June 1966, Jeannie Seely was invited to make her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.  She received 'Most Promising New Artist' awards in 1966 from all the national trade publications including Billboard, Cashbox & Record World, as well as from polls of country music fans & radio DJs across the US.

On Thursday 2 March 1967, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences honoured Jeannie Seely with the 1966 Grammy Award for the 'Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female'.

Edging out friends & fellow nominees Loretta Lynn ('Don’t come home a drinkin'), Dottie West ('Would you hold it against me'), Connie Smith (“Ain’t had no loving') & Jan Howard ('Evil on your mind'), Jeannie Seely became only the third female country artist to receive the coveted Grammy. She accepted her award from Chet Atkins.

With a successful breakthrough hit, Jeannie found herself travelling from coast to coast for concert appearances.  The new demands forced her to leave Porter Wagoner's show - today Jeannie jokes that she was replaced by Dolly Parton because Dolly’s ‘hits’ were bigger.  New opportunities for Jeannie included many concert & television appearances with the legendary Ernest Tubb.

Jeannie Seely: 'Thanks Hank' (Monument Records, 1967) Gene Watson: 'In a Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007)

In March 1967, Jeannie Seely saw the release of 'Thanks Hank' (Monument Records, 1967), an album that included her rendition of Hank Cochran's 'Don't you ever get tired (of hurting me)'.

Gene Watson recorded 'Don't you ever get tired (of hurting me)' & included the track on 'In a Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007).

In September 1967, Jeannie fulfilled her lifelong dream by joining the Grand Ole Opry.  Known throughout her career as an individualist, as well as for her infectious humour, Jeannie Seely is widely recognised for changing the image of female country performers; she is also credited with being the first woman to wear a mini-skirt on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

When at home, Jeannie made frequent guest appearances on television shows like 'Hee Haw' & 'That Nashville Music'.  On Sunday 22 March 1970, Jeannie was a featured guest on 'Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour'.

Working with distinguished producers like Fred Foster & Owen Bradley, Jeannie recorded more than a dozen albums & over two dozen singles on the Monument, Decca, MCA & Columbia labels.

Jeannie Seely placed singles on Billboard's national country music charts for thirteen consecutive years, from 1966 through to 1978.  Among her over two dozen Billboard country music hits were 'It's only love', 'A wanderin' man', 'I'll love you more', 'He can be mine', 'Welcome home to nothing', 'Little things' & 'When it's over'.

A 1969 duet recorded with fellow Opry member Jack Greene titled 'Wish I didn't have to miss you' went to No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart & launched one of the most successful duos & road shows in country music history.

Nominated for numerous Country Music Association (CMA) & Grammy awards, Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely toured together for over ten years, performing everywhere from New York's Madison Square Garden to London's Wembley Arena.

In 1973, Jeannie transformed the hobo lament 'Can I Sleep in your barn tonight mister?' into the top ten Billboard country music hit 'Can I sleep in your arms tonight mister?'.  In 1974, she adapted the Appalachian ballad 'Come all you fair & tender ladies' into another hit single titled 'Lucky ladies'.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Jeannie Seely's compositions have been recorded by a wide variety of country music artists, including Dottie West, Norma Jean, Tex Williams, Lorrie Morgan, Jack Greene, Connie Smith & Doyle Lawson.

Dottie West: 'Suffer Time' (RCA Records, 1966)

Dottie West recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Another heart for you to break' (co-written with Carl Belew & Clyde Pitts) & included the track on 'Suffer Time' (RCA Records, 1966)

Ray Price: 'Touch My Heart' (Columbia Records, 1967)

Ray Price recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Enough to lie' & included the track on 'Touch My Heart' (Columbia Records, 1967)

Johnny Carver: 'You're in Good Hands' (Imperial Records, 1968)

Johnny Carver recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Senses' (co-written with Glen Campbell) & included the track on 'You're in Good Hands' (Imperial Records, 1968)

Jack Greene: 'Greene Country' (Decca Records, 1971)

Jack Greene recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Leavin' & sayin' goodbye' & included the track on 'Greene Country' (Decca Records, 1971)

Faron Young: 'Leavin' & Sayin' Goodbye' (Mercury Records, 1971)

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Leavin' & sayin' goodbye' & included the track on 'Leavin' & Sayin' Goodbye' (Mercury Records, 1971); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1971 & earned Jeannie a BMI Songwriter Award

Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely: 'Two For The Show' (Decca Records, 1972)

Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely recorded Jeannie Seely's 'It doesn't seem to matter' & included the track on 'Two For The Show' (Decca Records, 1972)


In 1972, Faron Young took 'Leavin’ & sayin’ goodbye' to No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart, earning Jeannie Seely a BMI Songwriter’s Award.

Hank Williams Junior: 'After You, Pride's Not Hard to Swallow' (MGM Records, 1973)

Hank Williams Junior recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Name dropper' (co-written with Glenn Martin) & included the track on 'After You, Pride's Not Hard to Swallow' (MGM Records, 1973)

Merle Haggard: 'Ramblin' Fever' (MCA Records, 1977)

Merle Haggard recorded Jeannie Seely's 'My love for you' & included the track on 'Ramblin' Fever' (MCA Records, 1977)

Ernest Tubb: 'The Living Legend' (First Generation Records, 1977)

Ernest Tubb recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Sometimes I do' & included the track on 'The Living Legend' (First Generation Records, 1977)

Merle Haggard: 'I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall' (MCA Records, 1978)

Merle Haggard recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Life of a rodeo cowboy' (co-written with Hank Cochran) & included the track on 'I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall' (MCA Records, 1978)

Little Jimmy Dickens: 'Country Music Hall of Fame' (King Records, 1982)

Little Jimmy Dickens recorded Jeannie Seely's 'She always got what she wanted' & included the track on 'Country Music Hall of Fame' (King Records, 1982)


In addition to Faron Young, other Country Music Hall of Fame members who have recorded Jeannie Seely’s songs include Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Willie Nelson & Ernest Tubb.

Gene Watson Fan Site

For several years, Jeannie was married to Hank Cochran, the writer of such songs as 'Make the world go away', 'She’s got you', 'I fall to pieces', 'The chair' & 'Ocean front property'.  The marriage - the first & only for Jeannie but the fourth for Hank - finally ended in divorce.

In 1977, Jeannie's career almost ended abruptly when she was involved in a near fatal automobile accident that left her with serious multiple injuries.  It was with the help & support of best friend Dottie West that Jeannie was able to recover & get back on her feet.  Ironically, Dottie's death in 1991 was due to injuries she suffered in an automobile accident while en route to the Grand Ole Opry.

Chris LeDoux: 'Old Cowboy Heroes' (ACS Records, 1981)

Chris LeDoux recorded Jeannie Seely's 'Life of a rodeo cowboy' (co-written with Hank Cochran) & included the track on 'Old Cowboy Heroes' (ACS Records, 1981)


In 1995, Jeannie served as a consultant for the CBS television movie about Dottie’s life titled 'Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story' & Jeannie was portrayed in the movie by actress Cathy Worthington.

In the early 1980s, Jeannie performed as the opening act for friend Willie Nelson's concert dates across the country.  She also appeared in Willie's successful 'Honeysuckle Rose' movie & sang on the soundtrack recording, a contribution which earned her a platinum album.

Jeannie became the first female artist to regularly host half-hour segments of the Grand Ole Opry. Those hosting duties actually began in 1985 when she was called upon as a last minute replacement for Del Reeves, the scheduled host, who was caught in a rare Nashville snowstorm.

Lorrie Morgan: 'Shakin' Things Up' (BNA Records, 1997)

Lorrie Morgan recorded Jeannie Seely's 'I've enjoyed as much of this as I can stand' & included the track on 'Shakin' Things Up' (OMS Records, 1997)

Lorrie Morgan has credited Jeannie Seely as being a major influence in her career & often refers to the Opry cohort as her 'second mom'.

In 2000, Jeannie Seely was inducted into the North American Country Music Hall of Fame.  In 2003 she was honoured with induction into the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame, located in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas & it was also in 2003 that Jeannie received the 2003 Legend Award from Bluebird Country News.

Jeannie Seely: 'Life's Highway' (OMS Records, 2003)

In the fall of 2003, Jeannie Seely saw the release of her own acoustic & bluegrass project 'Life’s Highway' (OMS Records, 2003); the album featured musicians Josh Graves, Glen Duncan, Steve Wariner, Jesse McReynolds & Buck White - as well as harmony vocals from Charlie Louvin, the Osborne Brothers & the Whites.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Jeannie Seely

Gene Watson Fan Site Visit Jeannie Seely's Official Site

Gene Watson Fan Site