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Patsy Cline's Costume

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Cline, Patsy
Hensley, Hilda
Description

Made for country music star Patsy Cline by her mother, this Western-style performance outfit features record-shaped patches stitched with the titles of Cline's records. Cline began singing with gospel and country bands as a teenager in Virginia. With her 1957 breakout hit "Walkin' after Midnight," she became the first female country vocalist to cross over to the pop charts. In 1960, Cline achieved her childhood dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Three years later, she died in a plane crash.

ink colored western-style shirt with black piping and adorned with hot pink rhinestones and black wool 'record discs' hand-stitched with the names of Patsy Cline's hit songs including "Come On In" [left shoulder], "Poor Man's Roses" [right shoulder], "Walking After Midnight" [back], "Stop the Worlds" [left leg]. and "Yes I Understand" [right leg]. This shirt was part of an outfit worn by Patsy Cline and made by her mother, Hilda Hensley.

Location
Currently not on view
ca 1958
ID Number
2004.0008.01
accession number
2004.0008
catalog number
2004.0008.01
Object Name
shirt
Physical Description
fabric (overall material)
rhinestones (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 22 1/2 in x 19 in; 57.15 cm x 48.26 cm
place made
United States: Virginia, Winchester
Related Publication
Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History exhibition website
Related Web Publication
https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/treasures-american-history
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Music & Musical Instruments
Popular Entertainment
Clothing & Accessories
National Treasures exhibit
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1280272
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-9473-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Musical Treasures

    Smithsonian Music
Costume worn by Patsy Cline
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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