Who Were Jeannie Seely's Two Husbands? Meet The Men Who Shaped The Country Star's Life And Career

Jeannie Seely, lovingly known to music lovers as ‘Miss Country Soul,’ was much more than just a trailblazer in country music. The Don’t Touch Me singer led a loving and rich life before passing away on August 1, 2025, at the age of 85, just eight months after the death of her husband and long-time partner Eugene ‘Gene’ Ward. While the world remembers Seely for her timeless country classics and her iconic appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage, her personal life was also a deeply emotional journey with two love-filled marriages.

Throughout her legendary career, Jeannie Seely made a record 5,397 Opry appearances, an unmatched feat in country music’s 100-year history. While her public legacy needs no introduction, few know the profound emotional impact of the late singer’s twin marriages, especially her first marriage with renowned songwriter Hank Cochran. The duo shared a deeply romantic and creative bond, with Hank being a significant part of Jeannie’s music throughout the 1960s and 70s, but their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Later, the country icon found love again in Eugene Ward, whose steady companionship brought her joy and peace in her final chapter.

As the world celebrates Seely’s timeless music, here’s a look at her journey of love, partnership, and quiet emotional strength—a story that spanned two marriages and decades of personal growth.

Jeannie Seely’s first marriage to Hank Cochran, the songwriter who launched her musical career

Jeannie Seely’s first marriage was to the legendary country songwriter Hank Cochran, the creative force behind some of her iconic hits, including Seely’s breakthrough single, Don’t Touch Me. What started as a professional partnership gradually blossomed into a romantic connection, and the couple tied the knot in 1969 at Kentucky’s Renfro Valley. While Cochran was Seely’s first husband, he had already been married three times, and the singer became his fourth wife. 

The years that followed were studded with timeless musical pieces. Cochran had recognised the rebel within Seely and pushed her to shine as a trailblazer of country music. It was Hank Cochran himself who had penned the iconic single, Don’t Touch Me, which eventually landed her the Grammy. 

From before their marriage to the time it ended in a divorce, Hank Cochran played a central role in launching Jeannie as a breakthrough artist, writing a series of hits, most notably I’ll Love You More (Than You Need) and Welcome Home to Nothing. Today, both Hank and Jeannie are credited as pioneers who shaped the sound of country music during the 1960s.

It was during her marriage to Hank Cochran that Jeannie recorded numerous duets with renowned singer Jack Greene, many of which were written by Cochran himself. Some of these notable classics include Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You and What in the World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love. 

However, despite such a strong bond, their marriage eventually fell apart. After a serious car accident in 1977, Seely’s recovery took a long time, and it was a difficult chapter in both her personal and professional life. Reports state that the couple separated in 1979, and by 1981, they had ended their 12-year union in a divorce.

Even after the split, Seely remained close to her ex-husband’s children. In many of her interviews, the country icon has credited Cochran for his pivotal role in her rise to stardom. Hank passed away in 2010 at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer.

Seely’s second husband, Eugene Ward: A love that stayed till the end

After her divorce from Hank Cochran, Jeanie Seely spent her life alone until nearly three decades later, when she found love again. This time, it was not with someone from her industry, but a Nashville-based attorney and public servant, Eugene H. Ward, aka ‘Gene.’

Seely and Ward had known each other for years through community service with the Donelson Chamber of Commerce. It wasn’t until much later that their friendship blossomed into a late-life romance. At the beginning of her seventies, Jeenie decided to give love another chance, and on November 20, 2010, months after turning 70, the singer tied the knot with Gene. 

Seely and Ward’s marriage took place at Nashville’s historic Two Rivers Mansion. The duo stayed married together for 14 years, until Ward’s demise in December 2024 at the age of 92, after a long battle with cancer. The singer was by his side until the very end. After Gene’s passing, Jeenie shared a hearty tribute in People Magazine:

“My heart is broken now, but I am so grateful for the 15 years I had with Gene… My love and respect for him grew daily, and it continues as I learn how much he touched the lives of so many people.”

Just like her previous marriage, Seely heartily embraced Ward’s three children and their extended family, including his children and grandchildren. The singer maintained her role as a stepmother and later as a grandmother and a great-grandmother until her passing.

What about Jeannie Seely’s own children?

Jeannie Seely never had biological children from either of her marriages, but she was as much a mother to Hank and Eugene’s children as she would have been to her own. Throughout her life, she cherished her role as a matriarch within her blended family. Despite her broken first marriage, the singer remained close to the children of both Hank Cochran and Eugene Ward as a loving presence.

As the world mourns the demise of a country legend, here’s a tribute to the two men who stood beside Jeannie Seely at different times, helping shape the remarkable life of an iconic woman whose voice, spirit, and passion left an indelible mark on country music history. Rest in peace, Miss Country Soul.

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