Who doesn’t love country music?  With the twang in the voices, the various distinctive instruments, and the lyrics about enjoying the simpler things in life, there’s something about country music that resonates with everyone.  No wonder there are so many people coming to Nashville to see where all of it started!

However, Nashville is not the only place that has ties to country music and its history.  Many famous stars have called Goodlettsville home as well.  With its convenient proximity to Nashville, but with that rural feel that makes Tennessee so unique, Goodlettsville was a logical choice for many country music stars who wanted to get out of the hustle and bustle of Nashville.  Because of this, there are many spots here in our own town that have a special significance in the country music world.  So who were some of these Goodlettsville residents, and what were some of the events that happened here?

One of the famous artists who lived here was Patsy Cline.  Patsy was born Virginia Henley in the state of Virginia, and from an early age her singing abilities could be seen.  She would often sing at parties and dances and other events.  Though she had a strong personality and great skill, her life was rather troubled.  Her first marriage to Gerald Cline did not last, and she separated from him and came to Nashville.  Here she began to reach stardom with her fiery expressions and incredible voice. 

However, a haunting foreshadowing of her tragedy to come happened in 1961, only a year before she moved to Goodlettsville, when she had a terrible car accident in Nashville.  Though she survived, she received a terrible injury to her head for which she needed plastic surgery to hide.  Because of this terrible experience, she vowed that she would never ride in a car if she could help it.

In 1962 the trailblazer in country music moved to Goodlettsville and built what she called her “dream home.”  It was styled after the modern look at that time, long and sleek, and it was situated in a rural area that was not a part of the hustle and bustle of Nashville.  She lived here happily with her family. 

After she had moved past this accident there seemed to be no stopping her rise to stardom.  Every song she released became a hit, and she was continuously traveling all over the country giving shows.  One night, after a show in Kansas City, she secured a plane ride to take her home.  Though it was a stormy night, she was anxious to get home and see her family.  Another flight had been cancelled, but she was able to find a friend who agreed to take her and two other musicians home.  Sometime in the night the storm became too much for the pilot and the plane crashed in Camden, Tennessee, killing everyone aboard.

The tragedy shocked the entire country music world.  Patsy Cline had become one of the biggest names in country music.  To lose such an up-and-coming artist so suddenly was unparalleled, rivaled only by the untimely death of Hank Williams. 

The Goodlettsville community mourned for the loss of Patsy Cline and the other musicians aboard the plane, which included Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes piloting.  Patsy was buried in her hometown, but the other three aboard the plane were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens here in Goodlettsville.

Despite the many years that have passed since the tragedy, Patsy’s legacy continues to be felt in the country music world today.  She was the first female superstar in the country music world, and many artists, country and otherwise, have been touched by her influence.

 In honor of Patsy Cline and her extraordinary contributions to country music, don’t forget to drive by her dream home during your visit to Goodlettsville.

~ visitgoodlettsville