There isn’t much Jeannie Seely hasn’t done. The 80-year-old has released more than a dozen albums, had numerous hit singles, became a member of the Grand Ole Opry when she was only 27 years old, and continues to reinvent herself, including with her latest album, An American Classic. The 13-track project, a mix of both new songs, and new versions of classic songs, pairs the country music icon with some of her favorite performers, including Bill Anderson, Rhonda Vincent, Vince Gill and Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson and more.

“I am so proud of it,” Jeannie told Everything Nash. “When Don Cusic approached me about doing it, he called me and said he was coming out the Opry, and I said, ‘Good. I’ll talk to you for a few minutes.’ I had no idea what he wanted talked about.”

It was Don who had the idea for the album that became An American Classic, a concept Jeannie fell in love with instantly.

“Don is so respected as not only a great music professional, but a great historian,” Jeannie shared. “His concept of this was, ‘I want some different things than people would expect you to be doing, and I want some talking points.’  I think pretty much we nailed that part.”

Jeannie just released “Not a Dry Eye in the House” with Willie, an idea that came to her thanks to her enduring friendship, and business relationship, with the legendary singer, since Jeannie is on Willie’s Roadhouse on SiriusXM every week.

“It was so funny; we were choosing all these different people, and had the songs lined up and everything,” Jeannie recounted. “I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, and I told my husband Gene, ‘Oh my word. It just now hit me. I’m on Willie’s Roadhouse every week, and didn’t think to invite Willie on the album!’ I knew that the song that would be perfect for him, because Dallas Wayne wrote the song, and Dallas had a great recording of it.”

The song earned high praise from everyone, including the songwriter, Dallas Wayne.

“I love what Dallas said about it,” Jeannie recounted. “When he first heard it, he called me and said, ‘I love what y’all did with it. It sounds like an intimate conversation between two old friends.’ That was great analogy.”

Jeannie might have just released a new album, but there’s still plenty more she wants to do. The 80-year-old has big plans for the future, including a surprising new project.

“We have started work on my book,” Jeannie revealed. “That’s going to be a work in progress for a while. It’s very difficult to write a book, because you’re showing a lot of consideration to the other people in your life. You have to kind of touch on some of the bad things, but I don’t dwell on them in my real life, so I don’t want to dwell on them in the book. That’s in the works.

“I’ve never done a gospel album, so that’s in the planning stages,” she continued. “I just basically want to keep doing what I’ve always done and maybe something will come up. I’m working on a children’s book. I’m not sure I got those three projects in mind, but you never know what will come up, what ideas will come up. I’m always looking for something new, that’s for sure.”

Purchase An American Classic at JeannieSeely.com.