NASHVILLE, TENN. – (TN Tribune) – Country music legend and soon-to-be fifty-five-year member of the Grand Ole Opry®, Jeannie Seely, was the honored recipient of the Legacy Award at The Nashville Women in Film & Television WIFT ALICE Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner presented by best selling author, film producer, and radio/television personality, Edie Hand ,on Saturday, May 21st. The event was held at the Carlocker Motorcars Bentley showroom in Brentwood, Tennessee.
The WIFT ALICE Award is named after Alice Guy-Blache, the world’s first female director. Alice’s films were noted for their energy and risk-taking while creating excitement and an attack of the senses. She experimented with sound during the silent era, with color-tinting during the black and white era, and with diverse casting when it was unthinkable. Each year, this award is given to women in the entertainment industry who exemplify the spirit of this extraordinary woman.
“It truly was an honor to receive the Legacy Award from this prestigious group of accomplished ladies. Having served on the Board of SAG/AFTRA for some 30 years, I am very familiar with the challenges women have faced pursuing their chosen careers. I appreciate the legacy handed down by the generation before me, and I am proud of the progress we have made during our era,” expressed Jeannie Seely. “Hopefully, I am earning this award by mentoring those who will be carrying the torch into the future. Thank you to WIFT for a wonderful evening, including the opportunity to meet so many inspiring women.”
“I was honored to present the Legacy Alice Award to the legendary country music artist Jeannie Seely during the Saturday night gala. Jeannie is the unofficial ambassador of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry® and enjoys sharing her talents to mentor up-and-coming artists. She has continued singing and writing hits for over sixty years with the likes Willie Nelson, Lorrie Morgan and Rhonda Vincent,” shared best selling author, film producer, and radio/television personality, Edie Hand. “It has been a beautiful highlight in this season of life to get to know the extraordinary Jeannie Seely. A class act!”
Other award recipients included Kelly Lang (Icon Award), Beverly Keel (Cornerstone Award), Gisela Moore (Leadership Award), Candace Saunders (Encore Award), Mandy Barnett (Woman of Excellence Award) and Lyn Plantinga (Luminous Woman Award).
The WIFT ALICE Awards are part of the SWIFT Summit, which provides scholarships awarded by the Nashville Women in Film & Television.About Jeannie Seely:
Jeannie Seely’s deep, moving vocals earned her the nickname of “Miss Country Soul,” a title that’s still used today. An esteemed singer, songwriter, producer, actress, author and on-air personality, Seely added another title, “Doctor,” to her resume when she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Lincoln Memorial University in 2019. The third female country artist to win a GRAMMY® is also among a select group of country artists who have scored No. 1 hits as a solo artist, duet partner and songwriter. On September 16, 1967, Seely fulfilled her lifelong dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry®, becoming the first Pennsylvania native to do so. Nearly 55 years later, Seely makes clear that it’s still a thrill and an honor each time she performs on the world-famous stage. From her 1966 Top 10 Billboard album, The Seely Style, which featured “Don’t Touch Me,” to her self-produced album, Written in Song, consisting entirely of songs she’s written and recorded for more than 10 Country Music Hall of Fame® members, Seely’s recordings have spanned seven decades and provided enjoyment to music fans all around the world. Seely is a fierce advocate for musicians’ rights and takes much pride in her involvement and support for the cause. In his 2003 book, Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music, music critic Robert K. Oermann wrote, “With her chin-out, tough/tender, heart-of-gold manner, Jeannie Seely remains one of Country’s most completely modern female personalities,” and that statement continues to hold true. Seely appeared in Willie Nelson’s movie Honeysuckle Rose and sang on the film’s RIAA® platinum-certified soundtrack, and for the past four years, Seely has hosted her own show, Sunday with Seely, on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. Nelson, along with Rhonda Vincent, Bill Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens and many more of her friends, joined Seely for her current project on Curb Records, An American Classic, which has seen rave reviews and three radio releases. Keep up with all things Jeannie Seely at www.jeannieseely.com.
