NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (November 2, 2022) GRAMMY® winning artist and 55-year Grand Ole Opry legend, Jeannie Seely, was surprised by Nashville Musicians Association President, Dave Pomeroy, with a proclamation and honorary membership to the Nashville Musicians Union, AFM Local 257 after her recent performance at the Opry.
“It was my honor to present Jeannie Seely with a Proclamation from the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, thanking her for all she has done for Nashville musicians over the years, including raising more than $45,000 for our Emergency Relief Fund from previous Dottie West Birthday Bash benefit concerts. She is a multi-talented force of nature, and after more than five decades in the business, she continues to be a role model and mentor for generations of female country music artists,” stated Nashville Musicians Association President Dave Pomeroy. “Our bylaws allow me to bestow honorary AFM 257 membership at my discretion, and Jeannie is the third person to receive this status after Glen Campbell and Charley Pride. We salute Jeannie and appreciate her many contributions to the Nashville musicians community and welcome her as a member of the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, Home of the Finest Musicians in the World!”
“What a wonderful surprise for me on the Opry Stage! This honor will always be very special to me as I feel like musicians are the unsung heroes and the backbone of our industry. Often an identifying ‘lick’ is as much a part of a hit recording as the ‘hook’ of the song or the unique performance of the artist,” shared Jeannie Seely. “Thank you, Dave Pomeroy and AFM Local 257 for this honorary membership, and I accept on behalf of all the incredible musicians who have contributed to my career and those who continue to support me.”
An excerpt of the proclamation reads:
“…Whereas, we are especially grateful for Jeannie’s annual Dottie West Birthday Bash fundraising concerts that raised more than $45,000 for the AFM Local 257 Emergency Relief Fund, providing much needed financial assistance to Nashville musicians in times of crisis and during the pandemic; and
Whereas, her boundless energy is an inspiration to us all, and we believe that Jeannie Seely deserves a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and look forward to celebrating that when it happens, so
Therefore, be it resolved, that on this twenty-sixth day of October 2022, the members of the Nashville Musicians Association congratulate Jeannie Seely on her many accomplishments, with much appreciation and gratitude for all she has done for so many over the years, and in accordance with our bylaws, I am proud to bestow honorary membership in AFM Local 257 to the incomparable Jeannie Seely!…”
Stay in touch with Jeannie Seely on her website and all of her social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257:
The Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, was founded in 1902. Our mission is to promote respect for musicians, the work they do, and the intellectual property they create, in a constantly evolving business environment. We represent studio musicians, touring bands, symphonic musicians, vocalists, arrangers, composers, contractors, and more. We negotiate and administer contracts, track additional uses of songs recorded under AFM union contracts, and represent musicians in all genres of music from jazz to rock, pop, bluegrass, gospel, and yes, country music. Our members range from music icons such as Vince Gill and Taylor Swift, to young bands working their way up the ladder of success, and everything in between. Let us show you what we can do for you!
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. 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. Seely first appeared on the Billboard charts in 1966, continued to score entries for 13 consecutive years on various Billboard charts, and as recently as 2022, has had a presence on the MusicRow charts. Seely also garnered a No. 1 on the Record World Country Singles chart in 1971 as well as a No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today chart in 2019. 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 still holds true. With a strong social media following and over four million views on her YouTube channel, Seely continues to expand her international presence as music sales and messages from fans worldwide pour in. She 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, Sundays with Seely on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. She also served as a disc jockey on her own Armed Forces Network Show, which launched after her tour abroad for the troops. Seely continues to receive letters of appreciation from American soldiers for her support. She is also a fierce advocate for musicians’ rights and takes much pride in her involvement and support for the cause. 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. Most recently, Seely won the Song of the Year Award at the Arkansas Country Music Awards. Keep up with all things Jeannie Seely at www.jeannieseely.com.
