The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum recently held an invitation only event to reveal the new American Currents: The Music of 2018 exhibit. Country music royalty and Grammy award winning Grand Ole Opry Star, Jeannie Seely is included in the museums first exhibition of 2019 alongside her friend, Carly Pearce, and many other peers. The exhibit runs through Feb. 8, 2020.
“Anytime I can see Jeannie Seely and ‘current’ in the same sentence I’m
thrilled! It is such an honor to be represented anywhere in this
building, and to be included in this American Currents exhibit
with some of my peers is especially rewarding,” said Jeannie Seely. “It
is also very exciting to share the display with my friend, Carly
Pearce, who I believe holds the future in her hands. I appreciate so
much the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum including me in the class
of 2018.”
Carly Pearce stated, “Country music has been my life since before I can
even remember – even my parents said the only thing that would stop me
from crying as a baby was the sounds of Vince Gill, Patsy Cline, Alison
Krauss and many more legendary voices. So it is truly in moments like
these, that I have to take a deep breath before believing it’s real and
to have a mentor and friend like Jeannie alongside me in life and this
exhibit is something I only could have dreamed. I hold the Country Music
Hall of Fame® and Museum and the Grand Ole Opry in such high esteem and
am so grateful to be a part of this moment. Thank you to my dear friend
& mentor, Jeannie Seely, for completely surprising me with a sneak
peek last week of the exhibit. I love country music more than anything
in the world and can’t believe this is real.”
Each year, American Currents carefully examines the previous
year in country music, defined broadly to include country-related styles
such as Americana and bluegrass music, and offers rich detail about the
noteworthy figures and events in country music’s recent past.
The 2018 class of American Currents is composed of artists,
songwriters, broadcasters, and several class members were in attendance
at a reception held last week to see their displays for the first time.
Those attending the opening reception included: John Anderson, Dan
Auerbach, Matraca Berg, Bobby Bones, Alison Brown, Kane Brown, Becky
Buller, Brad Clawson, Rodney Clawson, Tyler Mahan Coe, Chris Eldridge,
Dom Flemons, Nicolle Galyon, John Hartford’s family, Sierra Hull,
Manuel, Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire, Justin Moses,
Missy Raines, Jeannie Seely, and Molly Tuttle.
Others featured in the exhibit include Jason Aldean, Brothers Osborne,
Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Ashley
McBryde, Carly Pearce, Pistol Annies, John Prine, Chris Stapleton,
Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.
Keep current with Jeannie Seely on her website and stay in touch with her on all of her social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Jeannie Seely:
Country music legend Jeannie Seely has achieved chart
topping songs as a solo artist, as a duet partner, and as a songwriter.
From her 1966 Top 10 Billboard album The Seely Style to her current
self–produced album, “Written In Song,” a CD project with 14 tracks all
co-written or self-penned by Seely. Jeannie’s recordings have spanned
six decades and provided enjoyment to country music fans all around the
world. Many of the songs were recorded by Hall of Fame members. Jeannie
earned a Grammy for her recording of “Don’t Touch Me” in 1967. Seely is a
weekly on-air host on SiriusXM “Willie’s Roadhouse,” where she shares
personal memories and fun stories about the songs she spins. 2018 Seely
was honored to receive recognition and a star on the famed Music City
Walk of Fame and recognized for ranking #2 in Billboard’s Top TV Songs
Chart for January 2018 for her song “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will
Understand),” written in 1964 and recorded by Irma Thomas. The song is
the trailer theme song for new “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” many
acclaimed music artists recorded their own versions, including Seal and
Boyz II Men and it has been featured in numerous episodes of the science
fiction anthology Netflix television series “Black Mirror.”
Early in her career, Jeannie’s deeply moving vocals earned her the
nickname of “Miss Country Soul”– a title that’s still used today.
Jeannie’s biggest dream came true when she was inducted as a member of
the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, becoming the first Pennsylvania native
to do so. A country music legend and trailblazer, her perseverance over
many years earned Seely the honor of being the first female to regularly
host segments of the weekly Opry and is credited for changing the image
of Opry by being the first to wear a mini-skirt on the Opry stage.
Jeannie works tirelessly behind the scenes in the music industry on
behalf of fellow artists and musicians. Known for her quick wit and
humor, she documented some of her “sayings” in her book, Pieces Of A
Puzzled Mind, which is a unique collection of witticisms. Jeannie Seely
has also starred in several major stage productions. In his 2003 book
“Finding Her Voice: 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 still holds true. Keep up with all
things Jeannie Seely at www.jeannieseely.com.
About the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects,
preserves, and interprets country music and its history for the
education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibits,
publications, and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural
importance and enduring beauty of the art form. The museum is operated
by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) educational
organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum is
accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and welcomes over one
million patrons each year, placing it among the most visited museums in
the U.S. The Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B®,
Hatch Show Print® poster shop, CMF Records, the Frist Library and
Archive, and CMF Press. Museum programs are supported in part by the
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and Tennessee Arts Commission
More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is
available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.
Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender for CMHOF