FROM THE (CLUTTERED) DESK
OF JEANNIE SEELY:

January 2009

Well, it is a new year and a fresh start for all of us....and I am so looking forward to it. There were some wonderful highlights this past year, but I am afraid the losses were even greater. As a lot of you know, I lost the love of my life for many years, Dennis Nelson, to massive brain tumors which took his life on July 1st. Shortly after, my sister Mary Lou developed complications from dialysis and then I lost her on September 7th. Needless to say, my whole day-to-day living took a drastic change and to be honest, it has been very difficult to accept. I do have an exceptional support group of friends, neighbors and fellow Methodist Church members and I feel very blessed indeed for that. Also, I received so many nice cards from people all over the world who understood my pain and I thank all of you. But life does go on, and we received the good news at Thanksgiving that Dennis' son Jason and wife Michelle are expecting another 'little Nelson' the end of June and so I am excited about that!

One of the real highlights this past summer was being asked to host the Midnight Jamboree to honor my friend, Jeanne Pruett, on her 35th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry...we had a time!! Several of her friends and fellow artists came to participate, including Jan Howard, Jett Williams, Ray Pillow, Jimmy C. Newman, Stu Phillips, Diane Sherill, Carol Lee Cooper, and Michelle Capps. Her son, Jack Jr., and his lady Susan, as well as Jeanne’s proud husband Eddie and her daughter Jael, all shared the evening with us. It was absolutely delightful for me to look down at Jael's face as she was beaming like a child on Christmas morning! David McCormick with the Texas Troubadour Theatre and Ernest Tubb Record Shop presented her with a beautiful plaque commemorating the date. He always does such a good job with doing those things and making us all feel like a million dollars! We can never thank him enough for all he does to support our careers. Even though Ms. Pruett insisted she was retired and would not perform, in the end we were able to get her onstage to join us on "Satin Sheets"! All in all it was a special night for a special lady and her fans all over the world.

Later in the summer I was honored to perform at the Williamson Country Fair down in Franklin, Tennessee, and I got to share another evening with Jeanne....she said after that, if I wanted to see her it would have to be at her log cabin as she wasn't leaving it again....and she meant it! I stayed pretty close to home this summer trying to make sense of where my life was going, but I did make a trip to Schafferstown, Pennsylvania, for a show with Jack Greene and his group. Spending the time with them was good for me, plus seeing old friends back in my home state was an uplifting experience at a time when I really needed it. In September I was called to fill in for an ailing Tammy Cochran at Dollywood so that was an unexpected positive thing......later I received a nice note from Tammy thanking me for covering for her. She is very nice young lady as well as a great talent. Of course I had appeared there in May, so we didn't even have to rehearse which gave me more time to have fun with the band and cast there! Much to my dismay, I understand that show will not run at the park this coming season and I will miss it terribly as we all will.

Another highlight was being able to present the Entertainer of the Year Award at the R.O.P.E. banquet in October to my good friend Jimmy C. Newman. You could not find a more deserving artist as he does put his all into the Cajun sound that he brought to the Grand Ole Opry. He has also been inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame....he has to be very proud of that honor. In November, Jack Greene and I travelled to Florida for a couple of shows and met some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet...they were so hospitable in showing us their horse ranch and extraordinary home. We will be joining them again on January 17th in Ft. Myers for another show, and we’re looking forward to seeing them again.

The holidays went well for me in spite of my losses.....My friends Lee and Becca Thompson allowed us to invade their condo in beautiful Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for a few days. Helen Cornelius and her dog Livvie, her daughter Christy and her dog Prissy and me and my dog Cheyenne made the trip together and we just had a wonderful time. We celebrated one night with my friend Ann Allen from Sevierville by having a great dinner at the Bullfish (excellent food), but mostly we just kicked back and enjoyed our leisure time in the mountains and walking the puppies! Most of my friends decided this year that we would spend time together taking in the events and parties of the season instead of shopping and stressing over exchanging gifts....we all found it to be exhilarating. Your time is definitely the best gift you can give someone I believe....most of us have too much 'stuff' and not enough 'time'!!!

I am ready to start the new year, and have already started cleaning out my office and setting up new files, planning my show and wardrobe for the cruise in February and then for Ireland and the Queens of Country Music again. Also, I signed an exclusive booking contract with my friends, Debbie and Carrie Moore at Third Coast Talent. I 'm excited about some new projects we are working on for later this season and hoping to come to your area and see you personally. To all of you who have made the trip to Nashville to see us at the Grand Ole Opry or the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre, we thank you again and hope it was a memorable trip for you.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to do a little better staying in touch with all of you, but you know how these resolutions go.............! I honestly do appreciate your continued interest in my life and career, so I promise to do my best. I hope the New Year is the best ever for all of you. Take care, be good to yourself….it will set an example to others on how to treat you!!

Love as always,
Jeannie

April 2008

Dear Friends, Fans and Relatives!

Yes, I know I am way behind on updating this home page message to you, so I won't even go there!! It’s not that I don't want to stay in touch with all of you....it is just hard to get me to sit at the computer any longer than absolutely necessary!! My summer last year was spent mostly at home, working the Opry and participating in some events here in town. For example, I had the honor of co-hosting the Source Foundation Awards again last year with Brenda Lee and Charlie Monk. As you might remember, this organization honors women who have contributed so much to our industry behind the scenes and it is a joy to see them receive this recognition.

I want to congratulate the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry who have joined since I last wrote. Mel Tillis was inducted in June, Josh Turner in October, and Charlie Daniels in January. Also congrats go out to Mel, Vince Gil, and Ralph Emery who were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last October. This year the new Hall of Fame inductees will be fellow Opry members Emmylou Harris and Tom T. Hall along with the Statler Brothers and Ernest “Pop” Stoneman….all very deserving as well. And while I’m mentioning congratulations I want to send another one out to The Time Jumpers for their two Grammy nominations earlier this year. As many of you know, my fiddle player Kenny Sears is a member of that group and if you’ve never gone to hear them on a Monday night at the Station Inn you’re really missing out on an entertaining evening!!!

Okay, now back to my activities from last summer. One memorable trip I made then was a show on August 31st in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, with Grand Ladies Jean Shepard and Jan Howard. Jan and I drove over together.....I won't go into detail, but let's just say it was a good thing she had 'Onstar'!! Later on in September the Grand Ladies flew to Hinckley, Minnesota, for a casino show with Jean, Jan and also Helen Cornelius...what a fun two days we had and I agree with Penn Pennington who lead the band for us....the night was really magic. I think we all share a lot of the same fans and they seem to really enjoy seeing us all together….but probably not as much as I do though!

My friend Diane Berry talked me into doing an acoustic set….the first one I have ever done....for a special performance at the Tennessee State Theatre. She introduced me to a very talented young man, Ben Hall, who is a student at Belmont and the three of us did the show....it was so much fun and we had so many rave reviews...we are discussing the possibility of doing a CD together…so I will keep you posted. Diane used to play guitar and sing harmony with me and I think she can do most everything!

On September 22nd of last year I hosted the Midnite Jamboree and celebrated my 40th anniversary as an Opry member. A lot of my friends came out and made it a very special evening for me. On the ‘Photo Album’ page of my website you’ll see a photo of Jan Howard and me tasting the cake…which was huge and delicious. And there’s also a photo of Jim Ed Brown presenting 40 beautiful red roses on behalf of Jack Greene who was on the road and unfortunately couldn’t attend. Later on December 8th when Jack hosted the Midnite Jamboree to celebrate his own 40th Opry anniversary, I presented him with commemorative Hatch Show Print posters and you’ll see a photo of that presentation on the Photo Album page too. And you might have seen a photo taken by Aaron Crisler that appeared in Country Weekly which shows several of us celebrating with Jack and feeding him anniversary cake….and they included a photo of the Hatch Print in the magazine as well.

Once again I was delighted to go to Dollywood during the autumn season which is my favorite time of the year...the world is beautiful then, but East Tennessee especially so. After spending two weeks there, enjoying friends, fans and everyone I work with at the park, I came back to Nashville just in time to start rehearsals for "Could It Be Love", the musical production we have done four times now…and we are still receiving questions about when we will do it again!!! The show also stars Helen Cornelius, who plays an innocent little church lady (a stretch!) opposite my rather bawdy retired actress (no stretch!) to much laughter. The songs in this show are wonderful as well and I'm very proud to be a part of it….hopefully all of you will get to experience this fun show one day!! Of course in between rehearsals you could find me at the Opry or from time to time at my favorite dinner theatre, The Nashville Nightlife. We finished the musical production just in time for Thanksgiving, exhausted but with more great memories of such a wonderful cast of actors, musicians and crew. In December some of you may have seen the photo of Helen and me from the musical in Country Weekly magazine. Thanks again to photographer Aaron Crisler for taking that great shot and being so supportive.

December was the usual rush to decorate...shop...wrap....clean....repeat, repeat, repeat!!....that’s how it always seems to be anyway. This year I tried and did manage to simplify everything and tried to remember the people in need more than those 'in want'....myself included. As part of our gift to each other Dennis and I did treat ourselves to dinner on Christmas night at the Old Hickory Restaurant in the Opryland Hotel and we both enjoyed it immensely....wonderful food, atmosphere and most of all, I got to get up and walk away without any cleanup needed!!! I do want to thank everyone for the gifts, cards and holiday letters...it is always nice to hear what others have been up to....and especially Ann Allen who does so much for me all year but is much too generous at Christmas...she does spoil me!! My thanks also to Ron Harman, without whom I would never have anything on my website!! He is always coming up with great promotional ideas too, not to mention that he is a most trusted chauffeur! So I must thank his parents, Bud and Nina Harman up in Pennsylvania, for allowing me to share part of their family.

Well even though it’s now April, I guess it’s never too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year.....we still have a lot of 2008 to go!! And so I hope your new year is going as you might have wished so far....I'm sure everyone is keeping their resolutions...you do remember them don't you?! My resolution was to not stress....so I threw out all the other ones! Seriously, I believe there are enough stressful things coming at us from the world that we can't do much about that I don't think we should add too much on ourselves. I believe in treating us gently!!!

It has been a hectic start for me this year, trying to figure out how to pack for two totally different trips. I worked the Grand Ole Opry Cruise from January 25th through February 2nd with Hal Ketchum, Craig Morgan, and Charley Pride….but unfortunately I came home with what I call the 'cruise crud'. As soon as I could get me moving again, I put away all the Caribbean clothes and repacked warm clothes for a trip to Ireland. What a super time! We did a Queens Of Country two-week tour with Billie Jo Spears, Lynn Anderson and myself from here, Philomena Begley from Northern Ireland and Louise Morrisey from Southern Ireland. I saw some of the most beautiful countryside and ocean views I've ever seen, learned a lot (okay Ireland ladies..I won't tell it all!) and I hope made some new friends. James McGarrity promoted the tour and did a great job of scheduling some fun time for us as well....so thanks James! And thanks too to all the band and crew members for their kindness and laughter....some of it at my expense. A special thank you to Carrie Moore-Reid, my agent and friend who accompanied me on the trip....I don't think I could have made it without her....and if I did....it wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable! She even sang harmony with me! So fun.....and I couldn't believe all the goodies she can pack in a bag!! Had a great time with Lynn too and I thank her for sharing her telephone, laptop and goody bag....except for the pizza and sweet roll that she carried for about a week! It was wonderful to be a part of dragging Billie Jo out of retirement!! She has always been so much fun and I was glad to see she hasn't changed.....nor has she lost her ability to hold the audience in her hand....she is amazing....it was obvious that Ireland was as glad to see her as I was! Thanks to my fans who traveled to Ireland including Sylvia from Italy and Drew from Scotland….I deeply appreciate your support! I hope to go back overseas next year, and I’ve been asked to be a part of the 2009 Opry Cruise as well….so start making plans to join us.

Before I forget, back on January 22nd and 23rd I was honored to get together with over 70 other artists to record another series of the Family Reunion tapings. I understand the nine-DVD set is to be released this spring so be sure to watch for that collection. This is the ninth in a series and I am so pleased that so many great stories and performances are being documented for future generations. There were definitely a lot of emotional moments….in the news article that was released during the tapings, Shelly West was quoted as saying she was crying when I sang “Don't Touch Me” because her mom Dottie and I were best friends and she’d heard me sing that song all her life.

And another special occasion…..along with Jan Howard, Jack Greene, Mel McDaniel, and Steve Buchanan from the Opry, I was delighted to attend the special tribute show that Dolly performed in honor of Porter Wagoner on April 12th at Dollywood. Dolly also honored her friend and manager Don Warden who played the steel guitar onstage with Dolly for the first time in 34 years. It was announced during the show that later this year Don will be formally inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame which thrilled me immensely. Dolly has dedicated wonderful new exhibits in her museum to honor both Porter and Don. Throughout the day I enjoyed visiting with Porter’s son Richard and daughters Debra and Denise, and their families, as well as many other friends. Ron Harman was able to take some time off from the Hall of Fame and join me on the trip. I’m heading back up to Dollywood to perform there the last week of May so please come and see us if you can!

Well this month I attended my first Predators hockey game and had a really great time. I definitely want to go back!!! This month was also time for me to settle up with Uncle Sam! Actually I just got finished with that .....and as always I vow I will do better at keeping my records straight so it is easier next year....some things never seem to change. And speaking of that.....I hope none of you ever do! It means so much to me that all of you stay interested in me, my life and my career.....I appreciate you. Oh, and in answer to the most often asked question, Cheyenne is doing fine!!

Take care and until next time....much love!!
Jeannie

June 2007

Well I started this New Year like every New Year with new plans about all the new things I was going to do, but.....I ended up doing the same thing I have done for most of my life and that is 'pickin & singin'!! But that’s’ okay because I love what I do and I thank all of you for letting me still do it!!

A good place to start in January is West Palm Beach, Florida, where we did the South Florida Fair with Leroy and Gladys Van Dyke and their Country Gold Show. They always assemble a great talent lineup and we had a wonderful time. A special thanks goes to the folks who cooked us a 'home cooked meal' of fresh veggies picked that morning and everything imaginable to eat! Anyone who has ever traveled knows how welcome that was. Then the next week found me in Bismark, North Dakota (what? doesn't everyone plan a trip to Bismarck in January??) with my Opry brothers Jim Ed Brown and Jack Greene. Needless to say we had fun at the Prairie Knights Casino ....but what happened there stays there!! On the personal side, this is the time of year I reorganize my office files for the coming year and start coordinating tax info.....I do not wait until the last minute anymore.....the pain does not go away! And the sooner I start the sooner I can finish and get on to something fun.

In February I spent a lot of time at the Grand Ole Opry which was at the Ryman Auditorium. Even though it is harder to go downtown, especially in inclement weather and through traffic jams of the Predators fans, it is still exciting to be back down on Broadway. It is something to walk down the street and hear music coming from everywhere you pass....Nashville is so special. However, you usually find me heading for the ice cream shop instead of the bars now!! Hey...times change! Another plus for the Ryman is the girls have to share dressing rooms there so it gives us a good chance to spend time together, hearing about families, sharing tips on everything from cooking to the latest medical finds, with some good jokes interspersed throughout. I love the Opry family.

Helen Cornelius and I were both booked on the Florida State Fair in Tampa (once again with Leroy Van Dyke) so we planned our flights together....yeah, two blondes trying to find their way around!! We had such a great time and got to visit with so many friends we have made in that area through the years as well as old friend Lacy J. Dalton who looks fabulous and sounded even better. She of course will never give up on natural things to keep me healthy and loaded my pockets with all kinds of things....I took them....don't know what they were or what they were for but they must have worked since I'm still here!! Between her advice and Helen's, I should be around for a long time!

Yeah! Its March and we are back home at the Opry House! Just no place like it to me. On the personal side I have decided to redecorate some in my own home so I have been looking through magazines and noticing everything around me for ideas. Since I live on the bank of the Cumberland River I'm thinking of going to a more relaxed 'river look'.....we'll see. Spent some time with retired Opry sister Jeanne Pruett and her wonderful husband Eddie during our trip to Pigeon Forge for the NATMA awards and show and of course had some good laughs with them. Jeanne has been working so hard (did I say 'retired'?) putting this show and the museum displays together but her work definitely paid off....they look terrific....Eddie was so impressed, he bought us breakfast after the show!!! The next morning she had us scheduled to speak at a seminar for upcoming artists and writers and that was very enlightening for me as well. Others speaking were John Conlee, Helen Cornelius, Jim Ed Brown and of course Jeanne. After seeing all of these upcoming young ladies, Helen and I hurried home to get a facial!! During these past two weeks I had been trying to rescue a little Pug that someone dropped off in our neighborhood and I finally lured her into my driveway with food and treats, then put Shadpoke's old bed in the carport....that did the trick! My friend Donna Rae was visiting Nashville and was looking to adopt another dog as a companion to hers....the match was perfect and though I cried when I had to give her up, I knew it was best and that she would have a wonderful home and life. Cheyenne was not as fond of her as I was, so she was happy to see her go....she likes being the only child!
I also bought tickets to see a concert! I wanted to sit in the audience and enjoy the ‘Last of the Breed’ show with Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Asleep at the Wheel and enjoy it I did.....they are true masters of their craft. Then back to work for me.....I went up to Branson for a show at the new RFD TV Theatre, again with Leroy Van Dyke and entourage. My friend Amber Hayes, who is a new young artist traveled with me and we got to spend some quality 'girlfriend' time. She appears this fall again in ‘Could It Be Love’, the musical comedy with Helen Cornelius and me, and is working several casinos and also on a recording project....remember her name and watch for her!! The theatre is very nice by the way and I look forward to going back again next month.

Spring finally arrived in Tennessee! So it was time to check out my lawn and gardens to see what we needed to do.....too much.....I'll think about that later!! The Opry and the Nashville Nightlife kept me busy the first of April, then on the 14th I rode up to Leitchfield, Kentucky, with Jack Greene and LeeAnn Lallone for a show at Calvin Ray's Theatre...what a nice family they are! Calvin has a great voice and personality and you can tell he is loved by everyone in that area. I wish him continued success with his theatre.....oh yes....and the food was excellent!! Thank you! I got home with just time to repack and head back to Branson, this time traveling with my good friend and neighbor, Carolyn McClain who is the crazy redheaded hostess at the Nashville Nightlife....I'm serious, check her out the next time you are in Nashville! We were accompanied by her friend from high school days Linda Gupton. Oh the stories I heard....I'm sure I didn't act that way in high school....did I??!! The shows went well again at the RFD Theatre, then it was back home to repack and fly to Monroe, Louisiana for a show in Bastrop.....what a wonderful group of people I met there! I worked with Wilfred Ray and his group from Memphis ....good fun and good food….too much good food!! Also got to see Mike Manning's folks there.....oh where did they go wrong as parents?!! Just kidding...Mike is one of my heroes...he does so much for all of us at the Country Music Hall of Fame where he is the Communications Coordinator.

A few days off, and then off to The Little Nashville Opry, Nashville, Indiana, with T. G. Shepard and Johnny Rodriquez....two handsome guys and two great singers...how did I get so lucky! The show went well and as always the folks at the theatre went out of their way to make us comfortable and again, well-fed! My traveling companion this trip was my 'adopted little brother' Ron Harman, who has a 'real' job during the week in computer software and a part-time job as a weekend supervisor at the Hall of Fame, and still finds time to keep this website updated and looking so good...I don't know how he does it....and keeps me on my toes even though I drag my feet so much of the time!! While driving up to the show, I discovered half-way there that I’d read the wrong contract (either a blonde or senior moment, or maybe both) and that the show started an hour earlier than what we had anticipated. That wasn’t a big deal, but shortly after we realized we would be changing over to Eastern Standard Time which meant we’d lose another hour. And then within just a few miles of the theater we encountered a traffic backup and sat for almost an hour there. So for awhile Ron and I were a little concerned about making the show in time, but we did make it....and the wonderful fans and friends we saw there sure made us glad we had. I had been telling Ron what fun the little town of Nashville was with all the shops, crafts, history and of course food! We had a great time and even hit a flea market on the way home.

Whew! Time for a little break to stay in town....my little dog barely knows me anymore.....just a short break....then flew to Baltimore, Maryland, for a show in Hanover, Pennsylvania, traveling with my all-time hero, Jimmy Dickens and his Road Manager, Robbie Wykowski.....thank you Robbie for all your help to me as well. We were joined by Jack Greene for the show and it is always great to share a stage with those two. Jack just keeps singing better all the time and I think Dickens just keeps getting quicker with his humor! Back home I have started making some moves on the redecorating...ordered new hardwood floors for my office... and new office furniture...pretty exciting! I finished up the month with a trip to Durant, Oklahoma, for the Magnolia Festival....my thanks to Jim Dunegan and all his fine staff there. Then I headed to the Main Street Theatre in Denison, Texas, with Shawnda Rains and her fine group....they did a wonderful job backing me up on both shows...good musicians, but a little crazy! Well of course they are...why else would anyone be a musician??!! Thanks to Ron Mason for sending us some photos and thanks to Charlie for singing a duet with me, then getting up at 4:00 a.m. to drive me to the airport...now that's a true new friend!! Shawnda, Charlie, Angie and group have a great show…if you are ever down that way, don't miss it. Of course the highlight of that trip was getting to see my 'god dog'....remember me telling you about the Pug that I rescued? Well Donna, her new Mom brought her and her sister, Merrilee to see me! We stayed at the Comfort Inn (thank you folks for allowing pets!) and we got to play, go for a walk and cuddle a little bit. By the way, her name is officially River Seely Martin....oh and yeah, it was good to see Donna too!! Got back home to CMA Music Fest, (kinda a letdown after seeing River!) and performed for the R.O.P.E. Show, The Opry Trust Fund Show, did autographs and Q&A for the Opry fan club, worked the Opry then collapsed!! It is always wonderful to see so many loyal fans year after year....we never get tired of seeing you, I hope you don't us! I will close with that and I'll try not to be so long in writing again.

A couple more dates this month and then I'm taking July off to finish up my redecorating project and to celebrate my birthday.....yeah!! Take care of yourselves….and you can celebrate my birthday too if you want to!!

Love, Jeannie

January 2007

Well Happy New Year everybody!  I hope the Christmas season was a wonderful time for you and your families.  We had a quiet but very nice one and as always I enjoyed the holiday time with my Opry family as well.  BUT…..now is the time to make those New Year’s Resolutions…..and try to figure out a way to keep them!!  We have a fun thing we’ve done for several years you might want to try (I don’t think it’s too late!).  You make a list of your resolutions, then take them outside, read them again, then burn the paper and send them drifting to the heavens.  I believe that is to confirm your commitment and maybe request a little divine assistance??  It can be a fun thing to do with friends if you have some as crazy as mine!!

Since I haven’t written a message for the website for some time, I better go back and pick up where I left off last July.  It seems as though summers come and go a little quicker than they used to!  But what a great summer it was for me.  Truly one of the highlights was my trip in August to Carthage, Texas, to host the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Awards Show.  My friend and 'adopted little brother' Ron Harman accompanied me and I think it was a toss up of who had the best time!  Since he also works at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville, it was particularly interesting to him to tour the facility in Carthage and we were both so impressed with the displays and the wonderful folks who sponsor the booths and the ones who keep it operating so smoothly.  We all owe a lot to Tommie Ritter Smith for her dedication to this foundation.  Ron and I arrived on Friday and served as judges for the Talent Showcase that evening.  There was an amazing array of talent onstage and a very enthusiastic crowd in attendance….Carissa Amberly was named the winner and received some great prizes.  The next day was pretty exciting as well, with all the booths set up on the lawn, folks performing, Maxine Brown was autographing her book "Looking Back To See" and all of us doing interviews with Tom Perryman....it reminded me so much of the old disc jockey conventions!  Then later I was honored not only to share the stage once again with Jack Greene, but we performed our #1 hit "Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You" for the first time in 25 years!!  Then we were joined by Candi Carpenter for a trio version of "Waltz Across Texas" in tribute to Ernest Tubb and the state of Texas.  It was my privilege to host this year's event and to assist in the induction of Billy Joe Shaver and The Gatlin Brothers into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.  Both acts gave incredible performances showing exactly why this honor had been bestowed upon them.  New artist and Texas native Casey Rivers also performed on the show.  The entire experience was bittersweet in that Bettie and Billy Walker had been scheduled to be there along with band members Charlie Lilly and Danny Patton, and the tragedy of their loss was weighing heavy on everyone's heart.

In September I flew to Bismark, North Dakota, to work the Prairie Knights Casino with Mel McDaniel and Jimmy Fortune.  However, during the rehearsal I started feeling bad and a virus hit me so fast, by show time I couldn’t even get up.  They later called the medics and I spent the rest of the night in the hospital as I was dehydrated.  Needless to say it was a pretty miserable trip for me, but I want to thank everyone at the Casino for their assistance and a special thanks to Mel and Jimmy for ‘picking up my slack’ by extending their portions to give the audience a great Grand Ole Opry style show.  I have been rescheduled to return Jan 20^th with Jim Ed Brown and Jack Greene so I’m looking forward to that.

I was honored to co-host the Source Foundation Awards with Charlie Monk.  This foundation honors women behind the scenes in the music industry for the incredible work they do in the offices of recording companies, studios, publishing and publicity companies etc.  Brenda Lee usually holds this position but this year she was being honored with the Jo Walker-Meador Award.  It was a lot of fun sparring back and forth with Charlie…we got some good laughs and we are all invited back next year!!  Also in September, the Humane Society of the United States asked me to do a public service video reminding people to remember their pets in case they should become incapacitated or worse.  Often our most trusted little companions get overlooked at such times so I urge you to consider that too.  Cheyenne did an outstanding job of looking cute and I’m sure they only asked me to be there so they could have her!!!  We closed out the month with a fun trip to Taylorsville, Illinois, for a show with David Frizzell and his fine group.  We surprised the audience when I came back onstage and did Shelly West’s part on “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma”….we had never done it before and it was really amazing to me after having the privilege of knowing Shelly since she was a little girl to be singing her hit song!!

October found Cheyenne and me going to Dollywood!  We always have a good time there.  We’ve made so many friends there through the years and as always Cheyenne provides the entertainment for the entertainers between shows!  She comes home with a carload of stuffed animals bigger than her every year!  The weather was great most of the time we were there and of course the mountains were alive with color.  Our Circle of Friends President Ann Allen was a wonderful host while we were there providing any kind of assistance I might need and Cheyenne and her Brittany have decided they should be playmates……Princeton sort of watches from the sidelines since he’s a little too big for the girls….but oh what great hugs he gives!!!  Later in the fall, Ann too suffered a virus of some sort that put her totally out of commission for quite awhile.  And of course as some of you know I had to have some surgery on November 6^th which definitely changed my traditional Thanksgiving so we both apologize to our fan club members for missing the last newsletter….and we will both understand if you want to vote in a new Star and President!!!!  One thing the change did for me was make me even more thankful for good health and I don’t intend to ever take it for granted again!!    I am also thankful for the wonderful friends, family and fans I have….I don’t take you for granted either.

My appreciation goes out to the R.O.P.E. organization (Reunion Of Professional Entertainers).  Although I was not able to attend their annual dinner and awards show on November 7^th due to my surgery the day before, I felt extremely honored to receive their award for “Songwriter of the Year”.  My congratulations go out to Jean Shepard whom they named their “Entertainer of the Year”.  Jean is certainly very deserving….even if she does tell blonde stories about me on the Opry.  That’s okay because of course I enjoy telling blonde jokes too…

On December 16^th I hosted the Midnite Jamboree and as always I thank David McCormick and his staff for their hospitality at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.  My girlfriends Terri Williams, Helen Cornelius, and Carol Lee Cooper joined me onstage for a holiday song.  In December I also rode in the Donelson Christmas parade with the kids from our neighborhood and we honored the brave men and women who serve in our military and to whom we all owe a great deal of gratitude.  Throughout the year, I have been working some dinner shows at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre here on Music Valley Drive.  Diana Murrell is doing a great job there and we hope you will add it to your list of places to visit the next time you are in Nashville….and of course we always look for you at the Grand Ole Opry!

Love,
Jeannie

July 2006

Happy summer everyone!

Well I've often heard folks say that when they tried to retire, it seemed as though they were busier than ever!! I believe that is definitely the case with me! I had a wonderful spring....I've been making some alterations in my yard....changing some of my flower gardens to 'bush gardens' for easier management....what does that tell you??!! In general I've just been enjoying playing with my house. I added some chair rail in my dining room that I've wanted for a long time...and of course that led to painting again....and now that leads to a new kitchen sink and counters....it's hard to find a stopping place once you get started. But my house is my hobby…so that's my story!!

Since Helen Cornelius has moved to my part of town, we've been spending a lot of time together. I told someone the other day…"No, Helen and I aren't friends, but our dogs are"!! We schedule playtime for them because they have such fun. Helen's dog is a Maltese name "Livvie", short for Olivia, and she's discovered that she has an "Aunt Lou" (my sister) who lives close enough for her to run over there every time she sees her door open to make sure she gets puppy kisses for the day. I'm not sure who enjoys that more....Livvie or Mary Lou!! As for Helen, she could have a second career as an interior decorator because she is so good at it. It's actually dangerous for me going with her to pick out paint and paper samples!!

Speaking of Helen….one Monday night in May she and I, along with friends Carolyn McClain and Ron Harman, headed down to the Station Inn to hear The Time Jumpers play. Members of this group, which include my fiddle player Kenny Sears and his wife Dawn, are all stellar musicians and vocalists….and I am always blown away by the degree of talent represented by every single member of that band. That particular night their performance was being documented for a DVD, and I was asked to participate in an interview portion. Dawn sang a spectacular version of my "Leavin' And Sayin' Goodbye" for the DVD, and really wowed the crowd for sure. My friends Jan Howard and Linda Davis were also in the audience…so we got to catch up on some 'girl talk' during the intermission break. The Time Jumpers play classic country and western swing at the Station Inn every Monday night, so make that a stop when you visit Nashville….you might just see me there in the audience too!!

I had a wonderful trip up to Kelly Crossroads, Pennsylvania, recently....I worked with the great Steve Lake and the Swingmasters Band. They picked me up at the bus and carried me to the stage on a buckboard pulled by a beautiful team of horses. The next day we traveled to the Hickory Grove Opry in Califon, New Jersey, where I followed Steve Hall and Shotgun Red onstage. Of course I had to joke then that I had followed two 'horses' butts' onstage two days in a row!! It is always fun to work with Steve.

I'm heading up to Renfro Valley tonight (July 1st) to work the Barn Dance with T.G. Sheppard and Jimmy Fortune....that should be a fun show. My friends Steve and Donna Hale, and my friend/neighbor Carolyn are driving up with me and we plan to spend the night and do a little shopping around in all the fun little places that area has to offer....I'll probably come home with more ideas!!

I'm looking forward to heading down to Texas next month when I host the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame 2006 Annual Awards Ceremony in Cartage. Several of you have already sent me notes saying you plan to attend, so it'll be good to see some familiar faces….as well as meet some new friends as well. The Gatlin Brothers and Billy Joe Shaver will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame this year, and there will be a special tribute to Miss Cindy Walker and Billy Walker, two Texas Hall of Fame members whom we lost this year. Billy and Bettie Walker were very dear friends and they are sadly missed by our entire Opry family….I hope you will continue to keep their families in your prayers….and continue to keep their memories alive as well.

Please don't forget that it's not too early to start planning a trip for this fall….and what better place to head during the autumn season than to Dollywood?? I'd love to see you there during my stay which will be from October 6th to the 21st….but if you can't make it then, remember that Jan Howard will be warming up for me in the month of September.

I'm continuing to do some lunch shows at the new Nashville Palace and also share the stage with Diana Murrell at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre whenever our schedules permit. They are both wonderful places to visit when you come to Nashville for some good food, good fun and 'up-close personal' visits with some of the legends in country music. Another good place to eat is the Santa Fe restaurant on Music Valley Drive. A group of us artists have decorated the walls of one of their dining rooms with photos and memorabilia….so be sure to check it out if you're dining there.

Thanks to everyone for the messages you post to my Guestbook, as well as the notes you send to me via e-mail through the website. I read them all and appreciate you taking the time to correspond. I just received an e-mail from Peter Harrison, a country music radio announcer on OAK 101.3 FM and he tells me that he's been playing my music on his station down in Australia. That's great!!

My home continues to be the Grand Ole Opry and that's where my heart is, so you will find me there just as often as possible. I find it hard to believe that it was 40 years ago this June that I made my very first appearance on the Opry….please do keep in mind that I started in this business at a VERY young age!!!

Have a wonderful time the remainder of the summer....whatever you chose to do for fun and relaxation....and hopefully we'll see each other soon!

Love you much,
Jeannie

P.S. Cheyenne says "Happy Dog Days"!! I checked with the resident cat, Sweet Pea, and in typical cat-fashion she fattened her ears and said she didn't care how you spent your summer!

March 2006

Well hello everyone out there.....I guess it's time I got caught up here on the website. I survived the holidays once again, and actually they were very enjoyable....just busy enough to be exciting but not enough to get stressed out over. Once again I want to thank my friend Ann Allen and all of you in the Circle of Friends Club for my Christmas gifts...the necklace especially is a nice conversation piece and provides me an opportunity to brag about our little "Circle". Hopefully all of you had a good holiday season and are doing soooooo good on your New Year's Resolutions! My main resolution this year was to take time to enjoy every day, every thing, everybody and of course every pet...and I have been doing just that! (You may notice I only make resolutions that are easy to keep.)

The beginning of every year finds me reorganizing my office, setting up my files for the new year and getting started on the dreaded income taxes. I also take this opportunity to clear out stuff that I have been hanging on to for whatever reason and LET IT GO! My friend Ann Warden says she has never regretted throwing anything away....if you miss it that much you can probably get another one!

Unfortunately I have had to deal with some health issues this year but thankfully nothing that can't be 'fixed' with meds and a good healthy diet. I was on the uphill swing after several tests and different doctor visits, and then the old fashioned intestinal flu hit and that knocked me down big time for about a week. I know many of you are familiar with that feeling! But I am back and enjoying the first buds of spring here in Tennessee.

Cheyenne got her yearly checkup and shots so she is set for some fun too. Also, I inherited a young cat that adopted our neighborhood....somehow she knew which window to look into when it was cold!! The little girl across the street named her Sweet Pea….so that's what we call her and she seems to be okay with it. She and Cheyenne have lots of fun running and playing hide and seek.

I'm delighted to be doing some "Legend Lunch Shows" at the new Nashville Palace. I've been laughing with the audience, reminding them I used to do Breakfast shows at the Palace, but now that I'm a Senior I've changed it to lunch! If any of you are coming to Nashville, be sure to check out the Palace because I know you'll like the new 'look' there. I've even joined in their line dance lessons there on Thursday nights taught by Barry and Dari Anne Amato…the dancing is not only good exercise, but a good time as well. Hopefully I'll also still be doing some dinner shows at the Nashville Nightlife as I enjoy working there with Dianna Murrell and all of her group.

Of course we are back at the Grand Ole Opry House until next fall for the Opry and I'm pretty happy about that. I love working the Ryman once I get in the building and onstage but it's not as easy to get in and out of there as the Opry House….but all of the folks down on Broadway and at Tootsie's, Jack's, and Legend's Corner make us feel so welcome.....and there is still something exciting about being Downtown!!

I'm looking forward to a good year.....you know I'm a Senior now so I don't have to work quite so hard.....but I do enjoy doing what I do. I'm always open for fun projects to be involved with. On February 25th I had the pleasure of once again performing in "The Vagina Monologues" here in Nashville at the Belcourt Theatre. And plans are for us to perform the musical "Could It Be Love" again in November.

Thanks to all of you for staying interested in me and my career. I appreciate the cards and letters that you send to me in care of the Opry. And thanks to all of you who have written me a note and sent it via e-mail from here on my website. Please know that I read each and every one of those e-mails (even though I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about computers)….and I appreciate you taking the time to keep in touch. A few of you have told me that you remember going out to your parents' car on Saturday nights and listening to the Grand Ole Opry there….just like I used to do! Others have reminded me of places they've seen me perform over the years….or even meeting me when I was out walking my puppy dogs. One woman told me about her father playing country music on the radio in the barn, and she remembers listening to my music while milking and doing chores…and now after many years she is reconnecting to those same songs. And a gentleman wrote to me, remembering me from the late '60's when he served in Vietnam and listened to my music back then. And another Veteran wrote and told me he was actually at one of the shows I performed at on a Far East tour during Vietnam. Those are all touching stories which I appreciate you sharing.

Hopefully our paths will cross somewhere along the way in 2006. Take care as you continue down your path.....and don't miss a thing!!!

Love always,
Jeannie

September 2005

Hi again....do any of you remember me??!!! It has been a very busy spring and summer....but a very good one....and I hope it was for you as well. Okay, I’ll try to pick up where my last message to you on this website page left off…

The end of April I did a show with John Conlee and Jimmy Dickens that was booked by our "old boss" Bob Whittaker, former Manager of The Grand Ole Opry in Jim Thorpe, PA, a very historic town from the early mining days. We had such a wonderful time, flew up a day early and got to see some of the area, stayed at an old hotel downtown and ate wonderful food....I've got a rough job don't I??!! (Unfortunately not all of my jobs are that enjoyable.) It was really great to work with Bob again.

I attended the Medallion Ceremony at the CMA Hall of Fame the 1st of May and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like it was one of the best organized events ever held there. Of course anytime I get invited to the Hall I am thrilled...sometimes it is still amazing to me that I know these people. I am certainly still a fan and have so much pride in our industry...and of course I enjoyed seeing Kris Kristofferson. I never got to work with Jim Fogelsong but have the utmost respect for him and know he is very deserving of this honor.

Once again we flew to Billings, MT, for the annual Mother's Day Fundraiser for the DARE Organization and got to express again to the young people that the greatest gift to their Mothers and Grandmothers is to be clean and sober!! As always it was good to see Bill Raines and all of his family and friends who do so much to make sure we enjoy our trip to their community. My sister Mary Lou was able to go again this year and visit her son Keith and his family...of course "Aunt Jeannie" enjoyed that part too!!

I got to do a benefit show that Leona Williams was helping to organize for Lymphedema research held at the Wildhorse Saloon. They auctioned my earrings and raised $1,000...I was proud of that! Of course Lorrie Morgan had to top me by auctioning off her blouse...which brought $1,100! All in all we had such fun. Fan Fair (now called the CMA Music Festival) brought the usual hectic times, including the SuperStar Spectacular which was held at the Ryman again this year....I finally got on about 1:00 a.m.!!!!! But that was good! Other years it’s been even later. That event is always special also and the money goes to the Opry Trust Fund which is able to assist so many industry people. I'd like to personally thank the staff who takes care of that fund along with the artists who so generously give their time and talent every year.

And back by popular demand!!!! The Grand Ladies did an autograph and photo session at the Hall of Fame again this year. Jan Howard, Jean Shepard, and I laughed and joked our way through another one! Thanks to Shannon also for allowing us to interrupt her XM radio show for a little bit!! Then for me it was “pack up and head out” to Dollywood for a two week run in the production show there called "Back Where I Come From". It is always fun for me to work with this cast of talented young singers and dancers. Sharing a dressing room with these girls brings me up to date on all the latest everything! I come home at least feeling like I'm "hip and cool"!! It is always good to see folks who have been fans for many years come to see us, and I always feel like I have made some new fans and friends as well. My thanks to all the staff at Dollywood Park for making me feel welcome there and helping me find my way around again!

Of course nothing that happens in July is as important as my birthday….well mine and the United States of America! A group of my wonderful friends took me to lunch for my birthday and surprised me with a lunch party at the Senior Center! My sister baked a special cake for me and brought that…it was delicious. There is a wonderful Palm Tree Cafe in the Senior Center and I love their food so that was also a nice treat.

Another surprise was being invited to New York City to audition for a Broadway show! Since I hadn't been to New York in a long time, I asked my friend Kaine Riggan to fly up there with me. He knows all the ropes and made the trip considerably easier for me, plus we had a great time. We got to go to the hit show Hairspray, had lots of good food, a little shopping, lots of walking and gawking, and some famous New York Cheesecake!! I didn't get the part, but it was a wonderful experience and....there's always next time! When I walked back in my door, looked first at the sweet face of my Cheyenne and then at this wonderful Cumberland River view.....well I think I would have to think long and hard about leaving for New York anyway!

Speaking of Kaine Riggan, most of you know he is the writer and director of "Could It Be Love" the play we did here in Donelson last fall. As I write, we are rehearsing for a special show of this production at the Ryman Auditorium on September 15th to benefit Hospital Hospitality House and the area Senior Centers. Go to www.CouldItBeLove.com for more details or call 615-883-8375. My co-stars are Helen Cornelius, Gordon Dillingham, and Dennis Nelson along with an incredible cast including Amber Hayes who will be joining us. Hope to see you there!!

Speaking of Helen, she booked a show in Salem, IN, and included Jan Howard and myself. Not only did we have a great time on the show.....the trip up and back provided some great laughs! And we made some "time out" plans for ourselves...we will talk about that next time!

A few of the other things that happened this summer were that I had the pleasure of hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree on July 30th…it is always a pleasure to be part of that tradition. I also worked a show in early August up in Middletown, OH, and on August 18th my band and I played in downtown Nashville at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. I also performed a fun show hosted by my friend Melvin Sloan at the Wilson County Fair near Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville…and I enjoyed some of their good fair food...corn on the cob and ice cream!

I’ve got to run to a rehearsal so I have to cut this off now...please know that I appreciate every one of you more than I can ever say. Take care and make some "time out" plans for yourself!!!!

Love and hugs,

Jeannie

April 2005

Happy Spring Everyone!

I guess I need to go back and pick up where the last message on this page left off. That means I first need to wish a Happy New Year to all of you! I hope your holiday season was as enjoyable as mine. Thank you to the Circle of Friends for the wonderful gift of therapeutic massages that do so much for me…..that is truly a gift that keeps on giving! I highly recommend it to anyone who has pain. My family got together Christmas Eve and went to the candlelight service at church, then came to my house to eat, and then on to the Grand Ole Opry. Christmas day we all just kicked back and enjoyed a day of rest and remembering fondly all the hectic Christmas days of the past….happy that we had them…and happy we don't have to do it now! Of course I was back at the Opry Christmas night which I am always glad to share with my "Opry Family" as they are so special to me. I did do something new and fun this year for gifts. I bought the tollhouse cookie dough packets, put them in a cylinder gift box and gave them to everyone with the message that realizing I have to pump my own gas, swipe my own credit card, scan my own groceries….I decided that for Christmas 2004 everyone could bake their own Christmas cookies! It was probably the best gift I have ever given…..everyone had a great laugh and most everyone said they were going to steal the idea! I told them they couldn't steal it…..that was part of their gift!

In January I worked a show with Diana Murrell and her band, along with Steve Hall and Shotgun Red up in Champagne, Illinois. We had a great time and got to visit with a lot of fans in that part of the country. Diana is the proprietor, along with her husband Kenny, of the Nashville Nightlife Theatre where Steve and I perform here in Nashville quite often. She is a great entertainer and singer and makes sure everyone has a good time there. Be sure to add this wonderful dinner show to your next trip to Nashville. By the way, my friend and neighbor Carolyn McClain is the hostess who will greet you and show you to your seat…be sure and ask her "how old Jeannie really is"….she loves to answer that…but not always honestly!

I know many of you are aware of my many losses so far this year. All I could think of the other day were the lines from Skeeter's song "The End of the World"….it doesn't seem like the world should go on as though nothing has happened. I am truly treasuring all the wonderful memories I have of my brother Don, my friend and neighbor Bob McClain, and of course my beloved companion Shadpoke who was always at my side for almost 16 years. Thank you to all of you for your condolences, prayers and for understanding.

In February I had a wonderful, learning time performing a role in The Vagina Monologues, which if you are familiar with the show sounds a bit scary!! The show is a collection of monologues written from actual interviews with women all over the world about some very personal experiences…some tragic, some funny that shaped their lives. I was privileged to meet and work with some of the most intelligent, talented and vibrant women that I have ever met during the way too short run of this show. Hopefully they will ask me to participate again next year. Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea and Mandy Barnett were also members of the cast.

March found me back on the road again with fellow Grand Ole Opry Star, Hall of Fame Member Jimmy Dickens working a show at the Avi Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, with Tommy Overstreet and his fine band. Tommy makes his home in Oregon now so we don't see each other that often and we all had a good time …swapping stories of course! My nephew Bernie Seely and his wife Penni also came over from California so we had a good visit with them too.

Later in the month my adopted brother Ron Harman's 'real family' came down from Pennsylvania for Easter weekend. Ron took us all on the Nash Trash Tour, which was so much fun. Two sisters Brenda Kay and Sheri Lynn take you on a tour of downtown Nashville in a pink bus…singing songs and telling stories and spotting 'pretend celebrities' along the way. It is something you definitely want to add to your itinerary the next time you visit Nashville! Tell them I sent you and you will get a seat just like everybody else!!! We all went to church with my sister Mary Lou on Easter and then went to brunch. This extended family means a lot to Mary Lou and me both….don't know what we would do without Ronnie!!

Then my brother Bernie and his wife Barb came motor-homing into Nashville. They have a rough life following all the bluegrass festivals around the country! Their son, Bernie and his wife Penni, a granddaughter Brittany flew in from California and we played tourist some more! Besides the Grand Ole Opry with me when I was working, we had a cookout at my house (my sister-in-law did the cooking!) and went on the Sunday cruise on the General Jackson. It was a perfect day to sail the beautiful Cumberland River and as always I enjoyed my visit with the Showboat belle Miss Sarah.

What can I say about April? The taxes are paid…forget about it and go on….get over it….its done until next year! Hurrah!! Have a great spring and enjoy each day, each sunset and smell every flower you see! And don't forget to hug and pet every 'littlebody' you can!!

Until next time….Love, Jeannie

December 2004

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written you a message on my website but here it is finally!

I guess the last message was posted back in June. Besides celebrating my birthday during July I was able to be at home and at the Opry most of the time….two of my favorite places to be. I also began doing some dinner shows at the Nightlife Theater again. My friends, Diana Murrell and her husband are managing it now and doing an excellent job. It is so close to home....I don't have to cook....and I have a good time there as well as keeping my "chops" up and trying out new jokes. It's a great place for the fans to see some of us "up close" as they say. Mel McDaniel, Steve Hall and Tommy Cash also play the theater quite often. Hopefully you'll check us out there when you come to Nashville.

I made a trip to Hiawassee, Georgia to work the Georgia Mountain Fair, and it was wonderful! I worked with the staff band and ran into Jerry Braswell, who used to play bass with Jim Ed Brown and Del Reeves several years ago….we had some good laughs recalling old times. It is a beautiful drive down there and it was even more beautiful driving my new vehicle! I purchased an Infiniti FX, which is a luxury SUV, but not as big as most. It has 20' wheels and looks very European. I'm liking it more all the time. Cheyenne can see better and Shadpoke thinks it sleeps just as well as the Riviera did!!!

August started out pretty exciting for me....I got to see my godchild Mackenzie in the production of "Annie". She told me she didn't get the part she wanted, but she was an orphan and she was all right with that. Of course, to me, she was the very BEST orphan!!!

In August I flew up to Providence, RI and worked the fair at Wyoming, RI with Bill Anderson and his group. We had really good time and of course some pretty good fair food....yes, including those yummy french fries! Several folks requested that Bill and I perform a duet, so on the night show we sang "When Two Worlds Collide" which Bill and Roger Miller wrote. I was thrilled....I thought it came off very well on our first try, but I also teased Bill and told him it was hard to harmonize with a whisper!

Later in the month, I flew to Minneapolis, MN, and met my friends Steve and Coleen and they took me to see Faith who is my new 'dog girlfriend'. She is a rescued greyhound and absolutely delightful. These dogs never see so many things our dogs take for granted....like stairs, hardwood floors, etc. not to mention any other dogs other than the greyhounds she raced with. She is learning very quickly and knows who is a pushover for a treat in the neighborhood.

They drove me up to Sandstone for the Midwestern Country Jubilee the following day. This year we tried something different....they booked some area acts and had me host a "Grand Ole Opry" type show. I really enjoyed meeting all the artists and was impressed with the talent.

September was an exciting, fun, and very busy month. I started off flying to Detroit and then being driven to Harrow, Ontario, Canada, to work their fair with Bill Anderson and his group again. It was an outside arena and the area was just packed with enthusiastic country fans…of course that just makes us work harder….we both got standing ovations which we of course appreciated! It has nothing to do with ego, it just lets you know that you did your job well. I didn't sleep very well that night, however, as I spent most of the night worrying about whether I would be able to get back into the United States….you see this blonde forgot she was actually leaving the country and didn't take her passport. It wasn't until we were driving through the Canadian border that I realized that the short drive from the airport was actually taking us into another country. Thank goodness they accepted my identification and permitted me to return home. It was a frightening feeling though. All of the folks in Canada treated me so great….the volunteers that picked me up, the people that run the fair, and all the wonderful fans.

The next weekend I flew to Dayton, OH, and worked with my friends, Steve Lake and the Swingmasters on a Saturday night in Franklin, Ohio, for the Ben Franklin Festival. Then we left bright and (way too) early Sunday morning on their bus for Salem, Ohio, to perform at Ponderosa Park for a show with Mel McDaniel and his band along with Billy "Crash" Craddock and his group. It was a beautiful day and I was very happy that some of the "kids" I graduated from school with drove over from PA. My friends, the Harman family from Tionesta, were there as well as my 7th grade teacher, Mr. Harold Sargent and his beautiful wife.

Mr. Sargent always believed in me, as he did all his students. When I told him I was going to Nashville one day and sing on the Grand Ole Opry, he didn't laugh. He said I could do anything I wanted to as long as I worked hard and had a plan. He also gave me my first acting experience that year when we did a production of "The Camel and the Vampire"….of course I was the vampire!

Speaking of acting, I performed in a new musical comedy the last two weekends of October here in Donelson, TN. It's a totally new show written and directed by Kaine Riggin, a very talented young man. The show is called "Could It Be Love?" and premiered at the Donelson Senior Center for the Arts. It's a win-win situation for all of us because we could rehearse a new show and the Center received much needed funding. Helen Cornelius also played a role as well as my friends, Dennis Nelson and Gordon Dillingham. We had an absolute ball and possibly we'll be performing it at other venues.

September was a sad month in having to say goodbye to Grand Lady Skeeter Davis and fellow Grand Ole Opry star Roy Drusky….I was a huge fan of both and personally consider it a privilege to have known them as friends. I know a lot of you were their fans as well….and I can tell you they appreciated you so much….please cherish your memories of them as I will. The Whites and I, along with backup from the Carol Lee Singers, honored Skeeter by performing "The End of the World" on the stage of the Opry that she loved so much.

I drove to West Plains, MO, for "Jan Howard Homecoming Day" in late September. I was pleased to be asked to do a short performance and to host the rest of the show, introducing many dignitaries and reading messages from many of Jan's friends. Bill Anderson and his group were also there with his great show. As most of you remember, Jan starred on Bill's TV show, recorded many hits with him, and toured extensively during those years. Bill and I had some little jabs and stories to kind of 'roast' Jan a bit!

I hosted the Midnight Jamboree on November 20th, have been performing on the Opry quite a bit…and of course am trying to prepare for Christmas. Please have a safe and happy holiday season and as always, thanks for being my friends.

Much love, Jeannie