For many, Patsy Cline is considered the most iconic female artist of all time. Though her life was short-lived, the sound of her voice and name alone resonates with generations of country music fans. For those looking for a deeper understanding of the life and career of this incredible woman, The Patsy Cline Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, and Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, Virginia, provide experiences sure to captivate the Country music connoisseur and die-hard Patsy Cline fans. Additionally, her final home located in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, is available to rent on Airbnb.
The Patsy Cline Historic House
Cline was born in 1932 to a working-class family in Winchester, Virginia, as Virginia Patterson Hensley. Her mother was only 16 when she was born, and the two developed a very close relationship. Cline’s mother was later quoted saying they “were more like sisters than parent and child.”
The Patsy Cline Historic House at 608 S. Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia, is a 1,000-square-foot cottage that Cline occupied during her early years before her commercial success. She, her two siblings and her mother moved into this house when Cline was 16, and she remained there until her first marriage at 21. Though not her birthplace or even final residence, Cline always thought of this house as her home and lived here longer than she did any other location. It has been restored to the 1948-1953 era to reflect the years of her residency.
Visitors of the Patsy Cline Historic House will gain insight into the life of Cline as a working-class girl with only dreams of a musical career. This house is on both the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Registry and is just a few miles from Cline’s burial site in Shenandoah Memorial Park.
Hours of operation for the museum house are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Curbside street parking is available. For concerns about visitors with special needs or any other questions about visitation call (540) 662-5555. Get more info here.
Airbnb Dream Home
Cline began showing interest in music as an early teenager, singing in the church choir with her mother and teaching herself to play the piano. At 15, she was performing on the radio and for live audiences. By 1955 she had some marginal success in recording her first album, “Patsy Cline,” performing on the television show “Town and Country Time” and even made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Her debut album did not yield real commercial success, and although she was offered a job by Roy Acuff at age 16, in the mid- to late- 1950s, she continued to live in Virginia and perform regionally while working toward her breakthrough as a solo artist.
In 1957 on “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” show, Cline performed what would become her first hit, “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Audiences were enamored and the song was recorded and hit the top of the charts, leading to several Grand Ole Opry appearances and mainstream attention. Cline moved to Nashville, signed a record deal and became a member of the Opry. In the final years of her life, Cline saw success with songs such as “Crazy” and “She’s Got You” on both country and pop charts, won numerous awards and performed on television and stage with some of the biggest acts of the time.
Cline died in a plane crash in 1963 just six months shy of her 31st birthday. The final home in which the first female Country Music Hall of Fame inductee lived in Tennessee may be rented through Airbnb by searching the phrase “Patsy Cline Dream Home.” This home was depicted in the 2019 movie, “Patsy and Loretta” on Lifetime TV. While staying there, visitors can sit on the same steps that Loretta Lynn did when she wrote “This Haunted House” in the immediate aftermath of Cline’s death. Four guests can stay in the retro-restored space that’s set up with two full-sized beds, a bathroom, kitchen, laundry and sitting area. There’s a screened patio, covered parking and a private entrance with keypad access. Nashville’s Metro Historical Commission honored the house by erecting an historic marker on the lawn in 2019.
Patsy Cline Museum
Nashville’s Patsy Cline Museum is a 4,000-square-foot space in downtown Nashville above the Johnny Cash Museum and is in close proximity to many popular Nashville destinations such as Lower Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and Musicians Hall of Fame Museum. Opened in 2017, this location is an easy stop to round out the full Music City experience. This exhibit is a curation of many of Cline’s personal possessions including clothing, costumes, jewelry, instruments, awards and personal keepsakes. There are also a number of replica scenes filled in with Cline’s personal belongings. Interactive stations allow visitors to read copies of entire hand-written letters and watch never-before-seen live performances. The exhibition is arranged so the goer experiences the progression of her life chronologically.
The Patsy Cline Museum is at 119 3rd Avenue S., in Nashville and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible. The museum office can be reached by phone at (615) 454-4722. Adult admission is $18.95 with discounts available for military, students, seniors and AAA. Children ages 6-15 can enjoy the museum for $14.95, and for children 5 and under, admission is free. Any further questions can be answered by visiting the website patsyclinemuseum.com.
© Benjamin Johnson for Country Reunion Magazine