We got the sad news on Friday (8/1) that Grand Ole Opry legend Jeannie Seely passed away at the age of 85 due to complications from an intestinal infection. Not only was Jeannie Carly Pearce’s neighbor for many years, but she was also a champion, a mentor and a friend to Carly. Backstage at her Grand Ole Opry induction, Carly talked about the impact Jeanie had on her as an artist and what Jeanie meant to her personally and professionally.

Carly Pearce – Jeannie Seely :42

“Oh my goodness, Jeannie used to put me on her backstage list when I was cleaning Airbnb’s when Carrie Underwood was playing. And it’s really cool to me to see how many parallels in our lives and in our careers. We both debuted when we were 25 – 50 years apart – and she’s just really been a great mentor to me to make me see what a woman can do. She was the first female to ever host a segment on the Opry, and I just feel like she’s continued to push boundaries that I look at and I admire her for that and I admire her boldness as an artist and as a woman in country music. And she has really, I feel like groomed me to one day have this moment where she’s looking at me as one of the next generation of females that they’re passing the torch to.”