Country music legend Patsy Cline was just honored in a big way.
Although the singer’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 30, her legacy continues to live on, as she was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame Monday (Oct. 10) morning by Trisha Yearwood.
Cline was inducted alongside Dr. Paul T. Kwami, Ed Hardy, and John Prine in a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to the stars being added to the prestigious sidewalk near Bridgestone Arena, industry icons such as Garth Brooks, Brenda Lee, CeCe Winans, and Yearwood shared a few words on their behalf.
Yearwood’s touching tribute highlighted Cline’s contributions as a woman in the industry and noted how Cline paved the path for all female musicians today and for decades to come.
She quoted fellow legend, Loretta Lynn, saying:
“I feel like it’s completely appropriate to quote one of Patsy’s best friends and biggest fans, Loretta Lynn…”
She continued:
“‘You either have to be first, best or different.’ Well, of course, Patsy was all things.”
Julie Fudge, Cline’s daughter, attended the ceremony and accepted the accolade on behalf of her late mother.
She and her brother, Allen Randolp Dick, were only two and four when they unexpectedly lost their mother in a plane crash in 1963. Cline was returning home from a benefit show in Kansas City, Missouri, with Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins.
The two fellow musicians and the pilot Randy Hughes also passed away in the tragic accident.
Yearwood shared a heartwarming photo of herself and Fudge on her social media following the event:
“Today, I had the privilege of inducting Patsy Cline into the Music City Walk of Fame. It was an honor to share this moment with her daughter, Julie, and celebrate one of the most influential vocalists in country music and beyond.
Life is crazy… (look closely, and you’ll see one of my most treasured gifts from the Cline family…a necklace that Patsy wore!)”
It’s kind of hard to believe that Patsy is just now receiving the accolade, but nevertheless, her name will forever be enshrined on Music City Walk of Fame.
This isn’t the first posthumous honor Cline has received.
After her death, the artist became the first female soloist to be initiated into the Country Music Hall of Fame, obtained the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, and had a museum dedicated in her name in Music City.
The Patsy Museum houses never-before-seen memorabilia and artifacts from her illustrious career.
