I was given complimentary tickets, but all opinions are mine. 40 years before Taylor Swift left country music for pop, Patsy Cline did it first. She was a pioneer of the country music industry and has been a major influence on today’s stars. Now her life is celebrated in the Patsy Cline Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Patsy Cline Museum opened to the public in April of this year. The Patsy Cline Museum is a treat for country music fans. The museum houses the largest collection of Patsy Cline memorabilia under one roof. The Patsy Cline Museum celebrates the life of the legendary songstress and features hundreds of never before seen artifacts, personal belongings, videos and much more.
Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, VA, on September 8, 1932. The family home was in nearby Gore. Her natural talent and spirit took her to the top of the country charts in 1962. After more than 50 years, her style and popularity has never waned.
When Patsy first started out, she performed in many variety and talent shows. She also made several local radio appearances where she gained a growing following. In 1954 Patsy became a regular with Jimmy Dean on Connie B. Gay’s Town and Country Jamboree radio show.
Patsy’s big break came when she won an Arthur Godfrey Talent program in 1957 with the hit Walkin’ After Midnight. From there she pursued a recording career appearing at the mecca of country music – the Grand Ole Opry in 1958, and received national awards in 1961 and 1962. Patsy won an award for #1 Juke Box Record “Crazy”, #1 Female Artist 1961 and 1962 and #1 Song of 1962 “I Fall to Pieces.”
On September 15, 1957, Cline married Charles (Charlie) Allen Dick. Patsy always said Charlie was “the love of her life.” The two had two children, Julia Simadore (called Julie and Allen Randolph Dick (called Randy). Charlie died November 8, 2015, and was buried next to Patsy in the Shenandoah Memorial Park in Winchester, Virginia.
Patsy and Charlie bought their dream house at 815 Nella Drive. The house, built in 1962, had 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a total of 2,771 sq.ft. Patsy decorated each room herself. She loved the look of Danish inspired furniture, as can be seen in her original dining room set in the photo above. Patsy and Charlie entertained many guests in their recreational room which boasted a red leather bar with their names on the front!
Patsy had a fashion sense that was as bright as her personality. Her seamstress was none other than her mother, Hilda Hensley. Her mother was an apt seamstress who took in work from the wealthy in the Winchester area.
Patsy would sketch her ideas and her mother would recreate them. As Patsy matured, so did her style. She moved from the fringe and cowboy boots to more high fashion couture.
On March 3, 1963, Patsy, along with Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins performed at a benefit. The next day, they could not fly out because the Fairfax Airport was fogged in. Dottie West offered Patsy a ride back to Nashville, which would have been a 16 hour drive. Because Patsy had the flu, she didn’t want to have such a long car ride.
Instead, she, Copas and Hawkins, boarded a Piper PA-24 Comanche plane, piloted by Randy Hughes. In severe weather, the plane crashed in the woods near Camden, Tennessee. Everyone on board was killed instantly. After her death, the song “Sweet Dreams” was released and became a hit.
The Patsy Cline Museum
The museum is open 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday – Sunday and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas
119 3rd Ave. S
Second Level
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 454-4722
You can follow the Patsy Cline Museum on Facebook.
Adult $18.95 plus convenience fee
Child (Ages 6-15) $14.95 plus convenience fee
Ages 5 & Under Free
Please allow an hour to an hour and a half to tour the museum.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Kelly Hutchinson
mycraftingworld says
December 12, 2017 at 6:49 amI would love to see that museum. I love her music. I just received two more CDs from a friend. Thank you for telling us about it.
Joan Cajic says
December 12, 2017 at 12:55 pmThis is really nice, I wish I could be able to visit this museum.
Amber Myers says
December 12, 2017 at 4:45 pmThis would be such a neat museum to check out. I don’t listen to a lot of country music, but I know who she is.
Kitty says
December 12, 2017 at 8:50 pmI would love to visit this museum… I love country music 😀
Claudia Krusch says
December 12, 2017 at 9:46 pmI would love to go to the Patsy Cline Museum in Nashville. I have loved her music for as long as I can remember.
Susie says
December 12, 2017 at 10:11 pmI don’t listen to country music but looks like a cool museum! Love the photos
Sarah L says
December 12, 2017 at 10:41 pmI always loved her singing Walkin’ After Midnight. This would be a place I’d visit.
Anosa says
December 13, 2017 at 9:56 amWhat an impressive museums, I am not much of a country music fan but I do love museums
Irene Lirette says
December 13, 2017 at 10:45 pmI wish to visit this one day. Have always loved Patsy Cline since I was a little girl.
Mary Songer says
December 13, 2017 at 11:14 pmI love her music. Such an amazing voice. I wish she had lived longer and we had more recordings. I would love to see the museum.
Jennifer L says
December 14, 2017 at 12:18 amWhat an absolutely amazing legend. I’d love to visit her museum and see all the amazing memorabilia.
Sayantani says
December 14, 2017 at 2:58 amThis is a must go place for a country music fan! The memorabilia are so fascinating here 🙂
Rosey says
December 14, 2017 at 6:13 amI sure do love Patsy Cline music. A love handed down to me from my grandma. This is nice that there is a museum for her.
Terri Beavers says
December 14, 2017 at 2:34 pmIs was such a tragic time when they crashed. I’d love to visit this museum because I’ve always been a Patsy Cline fan even now long after the fact.
Nadene says
December 14, 2017 at 11:59 pmThank you – the post made it feel like you were actually there. a walk down memory lane
Farrah Less G. says
December 15, 2017 at 9:05 amNashville is a beautiful city so much things to do there. I have been to Nashville twice and every time we where there we always have a blast. I will add this museum on my list.
David Elliott says
December 15, 2017 at 12:30 pmit’s so bad that people of talent lose their lives so young. But she definitely had a beautiful style and a great voice. Loved learning a little more about her.
Ravmeet Oberoi says
December 15, 2017 at 2:17 pmI am not a fan of country music per say but this museum seems to be a really cool. I will have to look it up.
Kim says
December 18, 2017 at 7:03 amI love learning all of the history! What a neat place this would be to visit!
mycraftingworld says
January 24, 2018 at 7:29 amI love Patsy Cline songs. I want to go see the museum. Thank you for telling us about it.
Sarah L says
February 3, 2018 at 10:59 pmNow I can’t get her songs out of my head. Ear worms for sure (in a good way)
Sandra Watts says
March 29, 2018 at 11:02 amPatsy Cline is one of my favorites. I would love to see this museum.
Tammy says
April 4, 2018 at 8:32 pmShe will always be one of my fav singers. I have her greatest hits. There will never be another voice like that.