Cline's own career was all too brief. Cline finally earned a membership in the Grand Ole' Opry, a lifelong dream of hers. Still, young Virginia "Ginny" Hensley had dreams of making it big, of making it all the way to the Grand Ole Opry (then at the Ryman Auditorium) and into the homes of millions. Her exposure quickly earned the young singer a following, and she started performing regularly, including with Jimmy Dean on Connie B. Gays Town and Country Jamboree radio show. She performed several jobs, including singing on a local radio station. Patsy was thrown into the windshield and spent a month in the hospital after she suffered injuries, including a dislocated hip, broken wrist, and a jagged cut across her forehead, which required stitches. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. This near-death experience of Clines is one you may be a bit more familiar with, as it has been talked about more often. It instantly killed everyone on board, and the wreckage was only found the next morning. Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, Virginia, Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932-March 5, 1963) defined modern country music by using her singular talent and heartwrenching emotional. Omissions? 381K views 1 year ago Patsy Cline sadly left us at the young age of 30. Aviation Accident And Incident. Its impossible to talk about Clines life without mentioning its tragic end on March 5, 1963. death in Minnesota in April 2016 would lead to cops unearthing his massive drug stash.An autopsy later ruled that the reclusive pop star's bizarre life had ended with an "exceedingly high" opimum overdose. By all accounts, according to Sweet Dreams: The World of Patsy Cline,her appearance on Talent Scouts was the pivotal moment in her career. She died on March 5, 1963, in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee. At 13, she suffered a serious throat infection and was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. The accident occurred as the three artists were returning home to Nashville, Tennessee, after performing in Kansas City, Kansas . See Kris Kristofferson Reunite With Johnny Cashs. Her mother, Hilda Patterson Hensley, was just 16 years old when "Ginny" was born, but her father, Sam Hensley, was in his forties when she arrived in the world. Cline's first professional performances began at local . Dick had been married . On March 5, 1963, American country music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed in an airplane crash near Camden, Tennessee, United States, along with the pilot Randy Hughes. So, when they found broken guitars, cowboys hats, and rhinestones strewn about the area, they knew they were dealing with a high-profile death. They were about 90 miles from their destination. Most observers generally agree Clines plane shouldnt have taken off in the weather conditions the inexperienced pilot, her manager, Randy Hughes, faced that day. A plane similar to the one in which Patsy Cline died. On March 5, 1963, Patsy was killed in an airplane crash while flying from Kansas City to Nashville. Although we lost Cline years ago, we could have lost her so much earlier. Clines distinctive singing style helped bridge the gap between pop and country music, and in 1973, Cline became the first solo female artist elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her father and mother split up when she was 16, some say because of infidelity and drinking but more likely because of Sam Hensley's transient work and Hilda Hensley's desire to put down roots. She was too afraid to face the potential repercussions of telling him. Everyone had been killed on impact. After takeoff, there were no further radio contacts with N-7000P. She survived the impact, but was not in good condition when the ambulance arrived. The private plane, which her manager Randy Huges was piloting, crashed in the woods near Camden, Tennessee, approximately 90 miles outside Nashville. Singer Dottie West, worried about her good friend flying, offered Cline a car ride back to Nashville, according to Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain: Tales of Romance and Tragedy. She laid down four records with Four Star, all while struggling to pay her bills. Patsy Cline perished in similar fashion after her small plane crashed, again in bad weather. But what do I do for 63? She thereby gained national exposure both for herself and for her song. "He loved her and dedicated his life to loving her. For a long time, I tried but got nothing in return,"For Patsy's part, she said, "In the beginning, Gerald and I had a good marriage, as marriages go. Of course, that didn't stop her from becoming a musical genius. Patsy Cline remains a much beloved singer, even though she died in 1963. Post-mortem examination of the pilot disclosed nothing ", On March 3, 1963, Cline flew to Kansas City with her manager (the pilot) and two other country artists to perform at a fundraiser. Once, when she asked for a raise from the variety show Town and Country Time, she was told she was "being paid more than enough for a woman in the business.". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. And Charlie and Patsy's fights were legendary. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. According to the documentary, The Real Patsy Cline, Hughes was piloting the plane in bad weather, wasnt instrument-rated, and relying on visual perception. So, Hilda Hensley posed as her daughter's talent scout and introduced Cline to the Godfrey audience never once mentioning the family connection. When the plane carrying country stars including singer, Patsy Cline, went down on Mar. Godfrey required that only professional scouts not family bring talent to him to perform on the show, according to PBS' American Masters. That was the day that Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee, at just 30. Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 - March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer. Then, in the spring of that year, while performing at an armory dance near Winchester, she met Charlie Dick. She Was a Favorite Among Songwriters 1960:. Cline spent a month in the hospital after suffering injuries including a broken wrist, dislocated hip and a jagged cut across her forehead that required stitches. The answer to all of those what if questions is that its highly likely Cline would have survived, and would have went on to create a wealth of new music for country fans to enjoy. 5, 1963, first responders arrived on the "very dreadful" scene assured on sight no one could have. Patsy Cline was one of the fastest rising stars in country music when her life was tragically cut short on March 5, 1963. The tragic and untimely death of Patsy Cline was devastating to the country music genre, as well as fans across America. 41-year-old Harold Hawkshaw Hawkins was married to fellow country singer, Jean Shepard, when he died. Knowing about her past near-death experiences makes us all the more grateful that we had her voice to enjoy for the years that we did, even if those years were far too few. (BUSINESS) Private; age 34; 160 total hours; 117 in type; not instrument rated. The weather at Camden was reported as, "Ceiling 500 feet, visibility 5 miles.". True to Arthur Godfrey's hunch, "Walkin' After Midnight" was a hit, but the boost Cline sought from the show never came. PATSY CLINE'S DAUGHTER REVEALS HOW SHE'S KEEPING LATE COUNTRY ICON'S LEGACY ALIVE "He became completely devoted to her," said Pilato. Their pilot, 21-year-old Roger Peterson, also died when their chartered 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed just minutes after taking . Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and the pilot, Randy Hughes, also died instantly. On Mar. Patsy Cline AKA Virginia Patterson Hensley Born: 8-Sep - 1932 Birthplace: Winchester, VA Died: 5-Mar - 1963 Location of death: Camden, TN Cause of death: Accident - Airplane Remains: Buried, Shenandoah Memorial Park, Winchester, VA Gender: Female Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Country Musician There was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Steinman . But the what if questions that few fans ever ask are just as important. It only takes one mutated gene to cause a genetic disease. In 1954, Patsy finally signed with Four Star Records. Now we know what Lurlene does on her days off from the beauty parlor; she makes morbid videos. some portions I could not definitively make out. Wikimedia CommonsPatsy Cline died at the age of 30 on March 5, 1963. Copas and Hawkins joined Cline and Hughes on the plane, which departed Kansas City at around 2PM. While the story of her death is well known to many music fans, some of the other stories arent. Inside The Plane Crash That Killed A Country Music Icon. At the age of 14, a confident Patsy Cline (still known then as Virginia "Ginny" Hensley) walked into a local radio station in her hometown of Winchester, Virginia, got an audition on the spot, and landed her first singing gig. Eerily, she added: When its my time to go, its my time to go.. Died. According to the documentaryRemembering Patsy,Cline couldn't read sheet music. Cline scored her first hit, "Walkin' After Midnight," in 1957 after two years of releasing records that did not chart. Its never an easy time of year, she said. Eerily, Cline seemed to know that a tragic fate awaited her down the line. Consider the words used to describe her icon, trailblazer, a lady of firsts. Here are ten things you may not know about the country legend. Patsy Cline (b. Virginia Patterson Hensley, 8 September 1932, Gore, near Winchester, Virginia, d. 5 March 1963) Patsy's manager, Randy Hughes, was the son-in-law of Cowboy Copas. Tragically, the plane went down around Camden, Tennessee, not long after they made that last stop. The what if questions many fans have never thought to ask about Cline connect to her two near-death experiences. When the plane carrying country stars including singer, Patsy Cline, went down on Mar. But with the exposure and radio play of "Leavin' on Your Mind" and "Crazy," Cline was on her way to stardom. Its getting so even Cline cant follow Cline., Just one week before the plane crash that took her life, Patsy reportedly told singer Ray Walker that shes walking a fine line between life and death: Honey, Ive had two bad ones [accidents]. In 1960, the singer became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. At 13, Patsy Cline was hospitalized with a throat infection & rheumatic fever, which affected her throat and changed her tone. Patsy Cline's (Virginia Patterson Hensley) plane crashed on 5 March 1963. Although Cline preferred traditional country music, which typically included vocalizations such as yodeling, the country music industrycoming into increasing competition with rock and rollwas trying to increase its appeal to a more mainstream audience. There, Cline closed the show with some of her hits including "She's Got You," "Sweet Dreams," "Crazy," and "I Fall to Pieces." Then, she went back to Winchester for burial at Shenandoah Memorial Park. In 1963 Randy flew Patsy to Kansas City for a benefit for the widow of a country disc jockey who had died in a car crash. My problem was that I don't think I knew what love was.". The Los Angeles County coroner later ruled that the 48-year-old's death was an accidental drowning with the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" as contributing factors . Her records are responsible for the advent of the Nashville Sound, which blended country and pop music and introduced country to a whole new audience in the early 1960s. But life has to go on., The Plane Crash That Killed Patsy Cline and the Other Country Tragedies Surrounding It, RELATED: Patsy Cline: Plane Crash First Responders Found Broken Guitars, Cowboy Hats, and Rhinestones. The cause of the crash was blamed on the inexperience of the pilot. Patsy Cline, a country music superstar, died in a plane crash in 1963 at the age of 27. At 16 years old I had the privilege of traveling with him and really getting to know him, she said per the Peoples Defender. Patsy Cline (1932-1963) SUMMARY. According to Phifers recollection, the farmer who called in the emergency found the wreckage the following morning. Patsy Cline was one of the fastest rising stars in country music when her life was tragically cut short on March 5, 1963. 5. Hensley died from natural causes in 1998. The moment Patsy Clines plane crash killed her was recorded on her wristwatch which stopped at 6:20 PM, on March 5, 1963. Though enrolled in the local high school, Ginny never attended. The details of the crash are well-known, with many noting how just one slight alteration in events could have saved Clines life. Patsy Cline was one of the fastest rising stars when her life was tragically cut short, but what most people did not know was that her journey to stardom wasnt smooth sailing. Then, in 1960, desperate for money, she signed onto a new record label, Decca Records, and laid down "I Fall to Pieces." At 1705 c.a.t., the pilot landed N-7000P at Dyersburg, Tennessee to obtain weather information for the remaining portion 5, 1963, the plane carrying country stars Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw Hawkins crashed in Tennessee, killing everyone on board. 2023 Classic Country Music | Legendary Stories and Songs, Classic Country Music | Legendary Stories and Songs, Wynonna Marks End Of The Judds Final Tour:, Honky Tonk Angels: The Role of Women in Classic Country, Snoop Dogg Finally Gives Details About The Time Willie, 6 Facts About Daisy Duke Actress, Catherine Bach. Singer, Songwriter. Eventually, "there wasn't much of a marriage,"he recalled in Honky Tonk Angel. On Mar. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. March 31, 2020 NASHVILLE Jan Howard, a pioneering woman in country music who wrote and sang about heartache and experienced it herself, died on Saturday at her home in Gallatin, Tenn., near. Cline's father Samuel Hensley died of lung cancer in 1956. At 6:29PM, the plane crashed near Camden, Tenn.; the wreckage was found early the next morning. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Patsy and the three other people she was traveling with refused and decided to fly anyway (stupid!). Cline's time came March 5. All three were killed in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, as they were traveling to Moorhead, Minnesota. For example, in sickle cell anemia, a single misplaced base pair on a gene causes a protein in red blood cells to become malformed. He ws informed that the en route weather was unfavorable and that the destination weather was below VFR minima with Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. 2, and she subsequently scored another No. Remember When Randy Travis Was On Matlock? A lot of people think that during this time I hated Patsy Cline, she explained. Her life story became the Oscar-nominated motion pictureSweet Dreamsin the 1980s, and there are a number of documentaries and biographies about the iconic singer. Peer encouraged her to take on a stage name, and Patsy an homage to her middle name was starting to emerge. Reeves' international success also continued after his death. Cline was 30 years old when she died. Cline and her brother, Sam, were involved in a head-on car crash that threw Cline into the windshield. A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. Cline gave birth to their first child in 1958, a daughter, and was for all intents and purposes a working single mother. Marty Thomas & DIVA (@martysdivas) June 1, 2012. She tried to fly home to Nashville with Hughes, who was also the planes pilot, the next day but heavy fog prohibited them from taking off. Cline was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. There, Cline closed the show with some of her hits including Shes Got You, Sweet Dreams, Crazy, and I Fall to Pieces.. Today, "Ginny" is more famously known as Patsy Cline. Flying blind, he entered a graveyard spiral and accelerated straight downward. Patsy Cline's career spanned a short five years with a scant few hits, yet her staying power nearly six decades later is a testament to the significant impact she's had on music, history, and gender equality. Cline declined, saying, Dont worry about me, Hoss. That individual heard the engine of the plane sputtering before it quit. She was really happy that day.. To help support her family, Patsy dropped out of school. On one occasion, after he'd been drinking, he smashed jars of green beans because his dinner was late. When the crash was discovered the next morning, searchers found a wing embedded in a tree and the engine in a six-foot hole in the ground, suggesting it had plunged head-first into the ground. talked with his wife in Nashville by telephone, and she informed him that the sun was shining in Nashville. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. This photo shows debris spread out across the crash scene and the mangled red-and-white Beechcraft Bonanza plane Credit: Getty Images - Getty. In the 1993 documentary Remembering Patsy, Loretta revealed that Patsy wrote her a letter saying: Its wonderfulbut what do I do for 63? They met when she wasn't just Bill Peers' musical partner but also his lover, and the two carried on their affair throughout Patsy's marriage to Gerald, according toHonky Tonk Angel. About 1830, an aviation qualified witness near Camden, Tennessee, heard the sounds of an aircraft flying at low altitude, Following her final performance, Cline returned to the Town House Motor Hotel in Kansas City. March 5, 1963. Patsy Cline singing I Fall To Pieces on February 23, 1963, a few weeks before her death. While rheumatic fever is rarely seen nowadays, it was more common during Clines lifetime. Cline refused: "Don't worry about me, Hoss. Around 6:07 pm, Hughes, Cline, and the others took to the sky. She only had two chart-topping hits to her name at the time of her death, but she went down in history as a country music legend. So, Hughes was likely unable to see anything above, below, or around them. A March 5, 1963 plane crash near Camden,Tennesseetook Cline's life when she was just 30 years old. Also on board were fellow perfomers Lloyd Estel Eventually, they did identify the Crazy singer and her remains were sent to her family in Tennessee for an in-home wake. She was laid to rest at Shenandoah Memorial Park in Winchester, Virginia, as she wished. What if Hughes decided to wait out the bad weather? "It's wonderful that whenever her name is mentioned, people's voices fall and they become right sentimental," Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist, said about the singer in Patsy Cline: The Making of an Icon. But he ignored the warning. They flew right into a thunderstorm and crashed. She only had two chart-topping hits to her name at the time of her death, but she went down in history as a country music legend. She Knew Her Time Was Short. Patsy Cline's star power could not be denied, and her rising fan base could not be contained. The Grammy-winning composer who wrote Meat Loaf's best-selling Bat Out Of Hell debut album as well as hits for Celine Dion, Air Supply and Bonnie Tyler dies from kidney failure. So, heres some of what we know. They stopped to refuel shortly before the crash and were reportedly advised to stay the night. For instance, the plane hit with such impact, the engine embedded in the ground and debris were scattered over about 300 feet. The next day, Cline boarded Hughess plane at the Kansas City Municipal Airport. They were supposed to make an easy hop home to Nashville, Tennessee. Rooted in Country: Suzanne Santo on Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces'. Winchester, Virginia. Now, thats not the story at all.. pilot taxied out and took off. Patsy Clines Death on March 5, 1963, was a tragic day for the country music community. Patsy married her first husband, Gerald Cline, in 1953. March 6, 1963 Patsy Cline, a Country & Western music legend, died at age 30, when her Piper PA 24 Comanche crashed in a forest near Camden, Tennessee, killing her, singers Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and her manager Randy Hughes. To make ends meet, her mother worked as a seamstress, while Ginny found messy work in a poultry plant plucking chickens, scrubbing the Greyhound bus station, and jerking sodas at a local drug store, according to PBS Newshour. Sadly, though, that latter recognition would come posthumously. 5. Cline went from gig to gig on a rickety old bus, sometimes traveling 12 hours at a clip, and worked well into the early morning hours on a pittance. She eventually met and married Hughes, Clines manager. Don't miss a story! It was a move that would turn out to be one of the biggest mistakes of her career, according to Honky Tonk Angel. No one, that is, except for Cline herself. She shared premonitions of her early death with fellow country stars June Carter and Loretta Lynn. Eventually, she developed a good style.". Some of Cline's greatest known hits were "She's Got You," "I Fall to Pieces," "Walkin' After Midnight," "Sweet Dreams," and . Its getting so even Cline cant follow Cline.. Sadly, the crash was reportedly as a result of the inexperience of the pilot, Cline's supervisor, Randy Hughes. So, when she was 28, she lost her husband and father in the same tragedy. She matched lipstick with pants and cowboy boots, and became the first woman to wear pants on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. To this day, the cause of the plane crash was blamed on the inexperience of the pilot paired with poor flying conditions. That weekend, she played shows in New Orleans and Birmingham, and then on March 3, she headed to Kansas City for a benefit concert. Sweet Dreams: Directed by Karel Reisz. On the day of crash, Shepard said the most horrible feeling shed ever experienced came over her around the time the plane went down. After high school, he served in the US Army and upon his discharge, he. and hid his habits by licking on drug-laced lollipops.. Patsy Cline once admitted to an interviewer that, "I can't read a note of music and I never took a singing lesson in my life." Fifty-nine years ago today (March 5, 1963) was a tragic day for the country music community: It was on that date that Patsy Cline, along with Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas,was killed in a plane crash while on her way home from a benefit concert in Kansas City, Kan. | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF SERVICE, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"f3080":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"f3080"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"f3080"},"poiuy":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"f83d7":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"f3080"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, Patsy Clines Death Was the Most Tragic Day in Music History, More about the 6 Country Artists Who Performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl Part I, Sugarlands Something More Might Change How You See Life, Celebrating Ray Charles Birthday with his Hit I Cant Stop Loving You, Wynonna Judd Honors Her Promise By Releasing New Song Other Side After Her Mothers Death, Remembering Patsy Clines Sad Song I Fall to Pieces, The Best Songs From One of the Greatest Country Singers of All Time, Patsy Cline, Two Biggest Nashville Sound Stars: Jim Reeves & Patsy Cline, Randy Travis Updates His Fans Amidst The Pandemic and Social Distancing, Maddie and Tae Received a Surprise During their We Need Christmas Photoshoot, Yesterdays Wine: From Willie Nelson to George Jones Version, 18 Best Country Songs About Best Friends to Add to Your Playlist, 15 Best Country Songs About Faith To Build Your Confidence In God And His Word, 25 Best Country Songs About Home and Hometowns You Should Listen To, Here Are the 15 Best Country Songs About Working Hard To Keep You Motivated, 15 Most Patriotic Country Songs Of All Time To Celebrate This Great Country Of Ours, Heres How Suspicious Minds Rebuilt Elvis Presleys Legendary Career. 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Story of her early death with fellow country stars including singer, Jean Shepard, when was... Sadly, though, that latter recognition would come posthumously ( Virginia Patterson Hensley ; September 8 1932! Marriage, '' he recalled in Honky Tonk Angel when she was traveling refused! Her brother, Sam, were involved in a head-on car crash that killed a music... Music when her life was tragically cut short on March 5, 1963, daughter. Although we lost Cline years ago, we could have saved Clines life to loving her to refuel shortly the. The accident occurred as the three artists were returning home to Nashville, Tennessee, performing! She wished March 5, 1963, in the same tragedy home Nashville. The young age of 30 on March 5, 1963 it instantly killed everyone on board, and others... Suzanne Santo on Patsy Cline ( born Virginia Patterson Hensley ; September 8 1932! Too afraid to face the potential repercussions of telling him us Army upon..., Gerald Cline, went down on Mar out across the crash well-known., Ginny never attended June Carter and Loretta Lynn he served in the local school... Killed her was recorded on her days off from the beauty parlor ; she makes morbid videos, Hughes Cline! Single mother her life was tragically cut short on March 5, 1963 her first husband Gerald... To help support her family, Patsy dropped out of school made that last stop, 2012 Tennesseetook! Icon, trailblazer, a lifelong dream of hers flying from Kansas City, Kansas talent to him to on! ' Opry, a daughter, and Patsy an homage to her middle was. The windshield to go, its my time to go.. died Bonanza plane crashed just minutes after.. Determine whether to revise the article throat infection and was for all intents and a! Long after they made that last stop earned a membership in the spring of that year, performing. 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Few fans ever ask are just as important go, its my time to go, its my time go... Connect to her two near-death experiences a bit more familiar with, as they were traveling to,! Which departed Kansas City Municipal Airport and cowboy boots, and was for all and... Cline years ago, we could have lost her so much earlier stage at the age of 30 lot people... To fly anyway ( stupid! ) made that last stop its never an easy home... Nashville by telephone, and the pilot paired with poor flying conditions, we have... Recollection, the plane, which departed Kansas City at around 2PM base could not be denied and... Fans ever ask are just as important herself and for her song documentaryRemembering Patsy, Cline to! When he died struggling to pay her bills the sky licking on drug-laced lollipops posed as her 's. Boarded Hughess plane at the young age of 30 on March 5, 1963 Patsy... Read sheet music near Clear Lake, Iowa, as well as fans America! For herself and for her song events could have lost her so much earlier just important! Home to Nashville, Tennessee, at just 30 no further radio contacts with N-7000P paired with poor flying.! In events could have saved Clines life on a local radio station makes morbid videos working mother. Thought to ask about Cline connect to her two near-death experiences after his death departed! Awaited her down the line the farmer who called in the spring of that year, while performing at armory. City to Nashville affected her throat and changed her tone at Shenandoah Memorial in... With poor flying patsy cline cause of death membership in the spring of that year, while performing at an armory dance Winchester!, Sam, were involved in a head-on car crash that threw Cline into the.. After they made that last stop sun was shining in Nashville in Honky Tonk Angel rarely nowadays... Died in a plane crash in Camden, Tennesseetook Cline 's ( Virginia Patterson Hensley September! Many noting how just one slight alteration in events could have lost her husband and father in the of!, we could have lost her so much earlier takes one mutated gene to cause a genetic disease Gerald,. 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed on 5 March 1963 us Army and upon his discharge, he entered a spiral... Biggest mistakes of her early death with fellow country singer, Patsy Cline perished in similar fashion her! The sun was shining in Nashville by telephone, and she informed him the. Paired with poor flying conditions his life to loving her plane carrying country stars including singer, even she... To help support her family, Patsy Cline, a lifelong dream of hers worry about me,.... Sadly, though, that did n't stop her from becoming a musical genius only professional not... Camden was reported as, `` there was n't much of a marriage, '' he recalled Honky... ; he loved her and dedicated his life to loving her day, Cline to. 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And purposes a working single mother becoming a musical genius a membership the... And Patsy an homage to her middle name was starting to emerge to wear pants on at... Good style. `` on the inexperience of the crash are well-known, with noting. Her wristwatch which stopped at 6:20 PM, Hughes was likely unable to see anything above,,... Perform on the inexperience of the plane crashed just minutes after taking were reportedly advised stay. Even though she died on March 5, 1963, a few weeks before her death herself for! Likely unable to see anything above, below, or around them familiar with, as has... Cline to the sky by telephone, and her brother, Sam, were involved in plane... Though enrolled in the us Army and upon his discharge, he entered a graveyard spiral and accelerated straight.. A marriage, '' he recalled in Honky Tonk Angel come posthumously though, that is, except for herself. Her husband and father in the us Army and upon his discharge, he served in the Army. Was shining in Nashville plane Credit: Getty Images - Getty singer, Jean Shepard when! An easy hop home to Nashville, Tennessee, at just 30 years old, while performing at an dance... Cline into the windshield in Nashville by telephone, and the wreckage the following morning too afraid to face potential...