Reba McEntire Mourns Country Icon With Fellow ‘The Voice’ Stars: Their Touching Tributes

Multiple stars of “The Voice,” including coach Reba McEntire, are mourning the death of country music icon Jeannie Sealy at age 85. Sealy, who won a Grammy for her 1966 song “Don’t Touch Me,” was a legend at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, where she performed more than any other artist in history, the venue revealed on August 1, 2025.

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“It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to a true icon to us here the Opry, Mrs. Jeannie Seely,” the Opry wrote in an online tribute to the singer. “Jeannie is the definition of a mentor and dear friend to many in the country music community.”

McEntire was among many country artists and “The Voice” stars who have paid tribute to Sealy in the days since her death. In an Instagram post on August 1, McEntire shared a photo of herself with Sealy and fellow country icon Dolly Parton, and wrote, “I’ve always loved this woman! She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie”

Dolly Parton, Bryce Leatherwood Remember Jeannie Sealy

Parton, who served as an advisor on “The Voice” in 2015 and 2016, also paid tribute to Sealy on social media, calling her one of her “dearest friends.”

 

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Parton wrote, “I have known Jeannie Seely since we were early on in Nashville. She was one of my dearest friends. I think she was one of the greater singers in Nashville and she had a wonderful sense of humor. We had many wonderful laughs together, cried over certain things together and she will be missed.”

Season 22 winner of “The Voice” Bryce Leatherwood also paid tribute in his Instagram Stories with two photos of Sealy, including one of them together, and wrote, “Rest in Peace…from the first time I met Jeannie at the Bluebird Cafe, she said ‘we have to get you to the Opry…I just love that voice.’ She was one of a kind and such a sweet soul. Condolences to her family and friends.”

Leatherwood also commented on the Opry’s announcement of Sealy’s passing, “She was so kind to me … so sad to hear this. RIP”

Who Was Jeannie Sealy?

Sealy died on August 1 at Summit Medical Center near Nashville due to complications from an intestinal infection, according to Billboard. Her health had been failing since the fall of 2024, the outlet reported, including multiple back surgeries and two emergency abdominal surgeries.

 

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Many who paid tribute to Sealy called her a trailblazer and a “fierce advocate for women artists and performers.” Her career began at age 11, appearing on a local radio station in Pennsylvania, and then performing regularly on a local weekend TV show there by age 16.

After moving to California, per Billboard, she made her name as a songwriter, earned a record deal, and appeared with Glen Campbell on the TV show “Hollywood Jamboree.” In 1964, the Country and Western Academy — now known as the Academy of Country Music — named her “the most promising female artist.”

After moving to Nashville, Sealy was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in September 1967 and became the first woman to regularly host Opry segments, per Billboard. Her final performance was on February 22 — her 5,397th appearance on the Opry stage.