Some songs you sing for the audience. Some you sing to survive.
When Jeannie Seely first recorded “Don’t Touch Me” in 1966, she had no idea it would follow her through every chapter of her life. It became her signature, the song that introduced her to the Grand Ole Opry stage, and the reason she took home a Grammy. But beyond the spotlight, the song took on a meaning far more personal.
After the death of her husband, songwriter Hank Cochran, Jeannie found herself in a world that felt suddenly too quiet. Days blurred into nights, and the Opry stage—once a place of celebration—felt like a hollow echo. She tried removing “Don’t Touch Me” from her setlist, thinking it would make the nights easier. It didn’t.
One evening, during a private benefit show, someone from the audience called out for it. Jeannie hesitated, then began to sing.
By the time she reached the second verse, she realized she wasn’t just performing. She was speaking directly to Hank, as if he was still in the front row. The words—once just lyrics—now felt like a conversation, a bridge across time.
From that night on, Jeannie never removed the song again. “It became my way of keeping him close,” she said. “I sing it now for one person only.”
Even now, when she sings “Don’t Touch Me”, there’s a moment—just before the final line—where she closes her eyes and smiles. The audience hears a country classic. Jeannie hears a voice answering back.