Patsy Cline Museum to Open in Nashville
Like many of the legends of country music, Patsy Cline’s legacy will now be enshrined in a new museum in downtown Nashville, and in a familiar location. Housed on the 2nd floor of the bustling and successful Johnny Cash Museum at 119 Third Avenue South on lower Broadway, the Patsy Cline Museum will be opening its doors to the public on April 7th.
Paying homage to her personal and professional life, the museum will house the largest collection of Patsy Cline memorabilia assembled, and will be the epicenter for preserving the singer’s legacy with the family’s blessing. Displays will include personal letters, photographs, costumes, clothing, and household furnishings from her “Rec Room” in Goodlettsville, TN, where Patsy hosted some of the most famous gatherings and musical collaborations in country music history.
“In her short nine years as a recording artist from ‘55 to ‘63, she forever changed the voice of country music, the role of female artists and influenced performers across all genres,” says Patsy Cline Museum Founder Bill Miller. “To this very day, artists still cover her hits and you’ll hear her recordings used in motion pictures and TV series. She deserved her own museum as she continues to transcend generations of fans. We are honored to work with Patsy’s children to preserve her legacy.”
Charlie Dick, Patsy Cline’s husband and the foremost champion of her music and legacy, passed away in 2015, making even more need for a museum to preserve the artifacts and memories of Patsy. She died in a plane crash at the age of 30, leaving country music haunted by her memory, and a career cut short by tragedy.
“I am very happy to speak on behalf of my brothers, Randy and Chip, and in honor of the legacy of my mother Patsy Cline,” says Julie Fudge. “Since the passing of our father, this is our first step together in continuing to share Mom’s music, life and story, as we feel Dad would have. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with and experience what Bill [Miller] will present to old and new fans alike.”
The Patsy Cline Museum will be open Daily 9 a.m to 7 p.m. Central.
March 21, 2017 @ 3:50 am
I like Patsy Cline, but a whole museum dedicated to her?
March 21, 2017 @ 6:05 am
Why not? It makes sense to me, she’s considered one of the legends of country music. Granted I haven’t listened to her music but I have read up stuff about her a while back.
March 21, 2017 @ 6:19 am
I just don’t think there is enough there to justify a museum. An exhibit in a museum, certainly. But, an entire museum? No. It is the case with people who die young and/or tragically, that we overestimate their significance.
March 21, 2017 @ 7:39 am
Oh ok, that is a good point.
March 21, 2017 @ 8:53 am
I think the fact that investors believe there is a real desire for a Patsy Cline museum speaks to the timelessness of Patsy Cline’s music and legacy. She was never a superstar, but those songs never seem to get old.
And I don’t think this is going to be on the same scope as the Johnny Cash or George Jones museums. I think this is one of the reasons it is piggy backing (quite literally) off the Cash Museum.
March 26, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
RD, I wish I could “like” this comment 1,000 times.
March 21, 2017 @ 9:31 am
I was with a bunch of 30 somethings this week when Patsy Cline came on the Jukebox. No one could name who was singing..
They did know the song..
Funny.. Same thing with Yellow Submarine.
March 21, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
“No one could name who was singing…
”
That’s why there’s a need for a museum…
March 21, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
It reads above that the Patsy Cline Museum is on the second floor in the same building as the Johnny Cash museum. So technically it’s 2 in 1 or maybe more some day. And for children who don’t know who these great American artist are it’s up to us as parents to offer up the sound of this great era. My daughter fell in love with Johnny Cash music at the age of 10 and was singing his songs at 12 with no music.
March 22, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
Patsy Cline museum? Count me on!
March 24, 2017 @ 8:22 am
I would go to Patsy Cline’s museum in a heartbeat. I think it’s very smart for Nashville to have places like this to learn more about these artist. Many people don’t realize how important it is for Nashville to preserve and document it’s history. People come from all over the world to Nashville for not only live performance but to capture its history. I cannot tell you how many Europeans we met while enjoying that great city.
March 26, 2017 @ 8:47 am
Nashville needs 367 artist museums: one for each member of the Country Music H-o-F and for each artist who’s not in the H-o-F, but maybe should be.