Patsy Cline (1932-1963)

The parents of Virginia Patterson Hensley named their daughter for the state where she was born in 1932. Marriage changed her name in 1953. A performance on an Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts show in 1957 showcased her first hit, "Walkin' after Midnight."

Patsy Cline moved to Nashville in 1960 and joined the Opry cast. She arrived just as the Nashville Sound was emerging, and her voice adapted perfectly to the style. Coached by Owen Bradley, she became one of its leading interpreters.

A plane crash on March 5, 1963, cut short her life, but Patsy Cline's timeless recordings had already secured her place in music history, a place confirmed by her election to the Hall of Fame in 1973.