104 Facts About Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music.

Patsy Cline had minor success with her earliest Four Star singles including "A Church, a Courtroom, Then Goodbye" and "I've Loved and Lost Again".

In 1957 Patsy Cline made her first national television appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts.

In March 1963, Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash along with country performers Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and manager Randy Hughes, during a flight from Kansas City, Kansas back to Nashville.

Since her death, Patsy Cline has been cited as one of the most celebrated, respected, and influential performers of the 20th century.

Patsy Cline's music has influenced performers of various styles and genres.

Patsy Cline has been seen as a forerunner for women in country music, being among the first to sell records and headline concerts.

Patsy Cline was portrayed twice in major motion pictures, including the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams starring Jessica Lange.

Sam Hensley had been married before; Patsy Cline had two half siblings who lived with a foster family because of their mother's death years before.

Besides being called "Virginia" in her childhood, Patsy Cline was referred to as "Ginny".

Patsy Cline temporarily lived with her mother's family in Gore, Virginia, before relocating many times throughout the state.

At age 13, Patsy Cline was hospitalized with a throat infection and rheumatic fever.

Patsy Cline started performing with her mother in the local Baptist choir.

Patsy Cline's parents had marital conflicts during her childhood and by 1947 her father deserted the family.

Author Ellis Nassour of the biography Honky Tonk Angel: An Intimate Story of Patsy Cline reported Cline had a "beautiful relationship" with her mother.

Therefore, Patsy Cline dropped out of high school to help support the family.

Patsy Cline began working at Gaunt's Drug Store in the Winchester area as a clerk and soda jerk.

At age 15, Patsy Cline wrote a letter to the Grand Ole Opry asking for an audition.

Patsy Cline convinced concert employees to let her backstage where she asked Fowler for an audition.

Patsy Cline traveled with her mother, two siblings, and a family friend on an eight-hour journey to Nashville, Tennessee.

Patsy Cline auditioned for Opry performer Moon Mullican the same day.

The audition was well-received and Patsy Cline expected to hear from the Opry the same day.

Patsy Cline changed her first name from Virginia to Patsy.

Patsy Cline won 100 dollars and the opportunity to perform as a regular on Connie B Gay's Town and Country Time.

Patsy Cline was not officially added to the program's television shows until October 1955.

Patsy Cline's come up with a throaty style loaded with motion and E-motion.

Therefore, Patsy Cline received little of the royalties from the label, totaling out to 2.34 percent on her recording contract.

Patsy Cline's first recording session took place in Nashville, Tennessee on January 5,1955.

Patsy Cline recorded a variety of musical styles while recording for Four Star.

Patsy Cline would have never made it as a rockabilly singer, lacking the conviction of Wanda Jackson or the spunk of Brenda Lee.

In 1956, Patsy Cline received a call to perform on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a national television show she had auditioned for several months prior.

Patsy Cline accepted the offer, using her mother Hilda Hensley as her talent scout for the show.

For those reasons, Patsy Cline's mother lied in order to appear on the show.

Patsy Cline had chosen "A Poor Man's Roses " to perform on the program, but Davis preferred another song she had recorded, "Walkin' After Midnight".

Patsy Cline initially refused to perform it, but ultimately agreed to it.

Davis suggested Patsy Cline wear a cocktail dress instead of the cowgirl outfit created by her mother.

Patsy Cline performed "Walkin' After Midnight" and won the program's contest that night.

The song ultimately became Patsy Cline's breakthrough hit, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart.

Patsy Cline continued working for Arthur Godfrey over the next several months.

Patsy Cline gave all the money to her mother, which she used to the pay the mortgage on her Winchester house.

Patsy Cline was dissatisfied with the limited success following "Walkin' After Midnight".

Patsy Cline originally wished to work with Hubert Long he was busy managing other artists.

Patsy Cline organized fifty dollar bookings and got her multiple performances on the Grand Ole Opry.

In January 1960, Patsy Cline officially became a member of the Opry.

Patsy Cline had brought her mother, sister and brother to see her new Nashville home the day before.

When first responders arrived, Patsy Cline insisted the driver in the other vehicle be treated first.

Two of the three passengers riding in the car that struck Patsy Cline died after arriving at the hospital.

Patsy Cline took my hand and told me, 'No, not now.

Patsy Cline returned to her career six weeks after her 1961 car accident.

When Patsy Cline got to Bradley's studio, he convinced her to record it.

Patsy Cline listened to Nelson's version of "Crazy" and decided she was going to perform it differently.

Patsy Cline was joined by Opry stars Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Jim Reeves, Bill Monroe, Marty Robbins, and Faron Young.

Also in 1961, Patsy Cline was back in the studio to record an upcoming album.

Patsy Cline bought a ranch house located in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.

The home was decorated by Patsy Cline and included a music room, several bedrooms and a large backyard.

Patsy Cline was homesick and wanted to spend time with her children.

Patsy Cline was always giving her friends things [like] the scrapbook of clippings and mementos Patsy Cline gave me weeks before she was killed.

Patsy Cline had close friendships with several country artists and performers.

Patsy Cline heard the broadcast and sent her husband to pick up Lynn so they could meet.

Patsy Cline was a great human being and a great friend.

West stated Patsy Cline was a supportive friend who helped out in times of need.

Patsy Cline became friends with male country artists including Roger Miller, who helped Cline find material to record.

Faron Young was another male artist whom Patsy Cline befriended from working on tour together.

Patsy Cline rented out the family's childhood home on South Kent Street and lived across the street.

Hensley maintained a closet full of her daughter's stage costumes, including a sequined dress Patsy Cline wore while performing in Las Vegas in 1962.

Patsy Cline worked as a seamstress and made many of her daughter's stage costumes.

Patsy Cline's mother died in 1998,35 years after Patsy Cline's death.

Patsy Cline had two surviving children at the time of her death: Julie Simadore and Allen Randolph "Randy".

Patsy Cline has appeared at numerous public appearances in support of her mother's music and career.

Patsy Cline's family had owned a contracting and excavating company in Frederick, Maryland.

Patsy Cline assisted in producing several documentaries about Cline's career, including Remembering Patsy and The Real Patsy Cline.

Patsy Cline became involved with Hallway Productions in the 1990s and helped produce videos on other artists, including Willie Nelson and The Mamas and the Papas.

On March 3,1963, Patsy Cline performed a benefit at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, for the family of disc jockey "Cactus" Jack Call; he had died in an automobile crash a little over a month earlier.

Patsy Cline, who had spent the night at the Town House Motor Hotel, was unable to fly out the day after the concert because Fairfax Airport was fogged in.

Patsy Cline's flight crashed in heavy weather on the evening of Tuesday, March 5,1963.

Per her wishes, Patsy Cline's body was brought home for her memorial service, which thousands attended.

Patsy Cline was buried at Shenandoah Memorial Park in her hometown of Winchester, Virginia.

The Patsy Cline Story was the first compilation album the label released following her death.

The album chronicled all of Patsy Cline's recorded material for Four Star and Decca Records.

Patsy Cline appeared at the Cimarron Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma to give a one-night performance.

Patsy Cline is listed among the Recording Industry of America's "Best Selling Artists" with a total of over 14 million records sold to date.

Patsy Cline has been portrayed on film and television several times since the 1980s.

In 1985, a feature film about Patsy Cline's life was released entitled Sweet Dreams.

Patsy Cline is portrayed by Megan Hilty and Lynn by Jessie Mueller.

The first was a 1989 documentary entitled The Real Patsy Cline which featured interviews with friends and fellow artists.

Seger brought Patsy Cline home following the show and they spent the night together.

Patsy Cline was influenced by other types of performers including early rockabilly artist Charline Arthur.

Patsy Cline's voice has been praised for its display of emotion.

Patsy Cline's style has been largely associated with the Nashville Sound, a sub-genre of country music that linked traditional lyrics with orchestrated pop music styles.

Patsy Cline began her career wearing cowgirl dresses and hats designed by her mother.

For one of her performances, Patsy Cline wore a sequined cocktail dress designed by her mother.

Patsy Cline has been seen as a pioneer for women in country music.

Patsy Cline has been cited as an inspiration by many performers in diverse styles of music.

Kurt Wolff of Country Music: The Rough Guide said that Patsy Cline had an "aggression" and "boisterous attitude" that gained her the respect of her male counterparts.

Patsy Cline has been cited in both country and pop music as of one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

In 1973, Patsy Cline was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The record contained covers of Patsy Cline's songs, including "Back in Baby's Arms" and "Crazy".

In 1995, Patsy Cline received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her legacy and career.

In 1993, Patsy Cline was included on United States postal stamps as part of their "Legends" series.

In 1999, Patsy Cline was ranked at number 11 among VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll".

In 2010, Patsy Cline ranked at number 46 on Rolling Stones list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All-Time".

The home was restored to the era in which Patsy Cline lived in it during the 1950s with her mother and siblings.

In 2017, the Patsy Cline Museum opened in Nashville, Tennessee, located at 119 3rd Ave.

Original letters that Patsy Cline wrote to friends are included in the museum's collection.