Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

10 Best Patsy Cline Songs

10 Best Patsy Cline Songs
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Country music won’t be the same without Patsy Cline songs. Even if she died early at the age of 30, her legacy lives on and continues to shine among the country genre.

With her rich alto voice, she’s become an influential singer of this century. Her exceptional song choices also made her one of the first country-pop stars. Let’s celebrate her musical genius by looking back at her best country songs:

10) “Faded Love”

From ‘A Portrait of Patsy Cline’ (1964)

Cline’s recording of the song “Faded Love” was a notable version. It’s an old Western swing music hit which she recorded before the plane crash that took the singer’s life. The song was only released after her death, and her memory lasted as it peaked at No.7 on the country charts.

9) “So Wrong”   

From Single (1962)

By the moment Cline released the song “So Wrong,” she has already been an icon. Her songs were always on top of both country and pop charts. Some of her biggest hits back then included “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.” 

Carl Perkins, Mel Tillis, and Danny Dill write “So Wrong,” and it was the singer’s first single in 1962. Owen Bradley produced it and it landed on the No.14 on the country charts.

8) “You’re Stronger Than Me”

“You’re Stronger Than Me” had two versions. One was a faster version, and the other one was slower. The faster one appeared on the final EP of the singer’s life. Jimmy Key and Hank Cochran wrote this single. 

A year later recording this track, Cline died tragically. The song was then covered by George Strait on his self-titled 2000 album.

7) “Always”

From ‘Always’ (1980)

By the time Cline’s rendition of the song “Always” received recognitions, the singer has been dead for about two decades. It was the title track of the album that was compiled to promote many of her legacies from the ’60s. 

This 1980 song featured background vocals and studio musicians that are overdubbed onto her original recording. Her version of this classic was originally from 1963. The song landed No.18 on the country charts. It was the song that would later inspire the title of a musical celebrating her short yet iconic life in 1993.

6) “Leavin’ on Your Mind”

From ‘The Patsy Cline Story’ (1963)

“Leavin’ On Your Mind” was released when Cline was peaking at her career. It was after a few failed singles that she scored success in both pop and country with the songs “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy.” They were followed by the single “She’s Got You.”

The song was written for her by Webb Pierce and Wayne Walker. She smashed the country charts with a hit as she landed on No.8. 

Like a number of her songs, this song was made for her next album, but it never transpired. The singer passed away the following March and this single hit the airwaves on a posthumous album.

5) “She’s Got You”

From ‘Sentimentally Yours’ (1962)

With this track’s release, Cline made a mark in her newfound success as one of the leading stars in country music. By the release of this song, she already scored with two of her classics, “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.”

The success of “She’s Got You” was almost obvious. When Hank Cochran played this song, the singer felt intense exhilaration that she sang it over the phone for her producer and manager. Right there, they agree it would become a hit. They were right as her rendition gave the singer her second No.1 hit.

4) “Walkin’ After Midnight”

From Patsy Cline’ (1957)

Since 1954, Cline has been recording songs and with her humble success, she got her first hit by chance. 

She recorded “Walkin’ After Midnight” without liking it genuinely, but she made amends with her record label. However, after receiving a positive response from singing the song on the TV show Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, the song was geared to become another one of her successful singles.

As the singer’s first-ever country music hit, it reached No.12 in the pop charts and No.2 in the country. Another hit would later make her shine in 1961.

3) “I Fall to Pieces”

From ‘Patsy Cline Showcase’ (1961)

If you’re a fan of country music, you might be familiar with how “I Fall to Pieces” has become one of the benchmarks in this genre. It was written by Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran. 

The song wasn’t originally made for her. Roy Drusky said it wasn’t fit for a man and he rejected it. The song landed on Cline, and she battled for the arrangement with her producer, Owen Bradly.

She demanded to hear the song’s studio playback before saying yes to any pop crossover touches. The result was a fantastic creation that combines the best of pop and country. It was her first No.1 and became an iconic single in pop and easy song listening, too.

2) “Crazy”

From ‘Patsy Cline Showcase’ (1961)

“I Fall to Pieces” already allowed Cline to have a massive musical success when she recorded “Crazy.” 

Willie Nelson, one of the well-received songwriters in Nashville at this time, wrote this song. At first, the singer didn’t sit well with the lush ballad arrangement. She also found the high notes challenging due to her broken ribs from a car accident. 

For some reason, the original session didn’t pan out as expected. But when the hit-maker made it back to the studio a few weeks later, she recorded a fresh iconic vocal in one take. “Crazy” peaked at No.2 in the country charts and later became an American songbook staple.

1) “Sweet Dreams”

From ‘The Patsy Cline Story’ (1963)

The song “Sweet Dreams” was already out twice before Cline made her recorded version. 

Don Gibson first recorded it and it scored high at the Top 10 country hits. Faron Young also recorded it and made it land on No.2. 

When Cline recorded it, she wasn’t as keen about the pop edge and arrangement of the strings. She did it anyway and it turned out to be one of the final recording sessions of her short life. 

After she left, this song grabbed a multi-format hit. It would then be the title of Cline’s life movie starring Jessica Lang.

Do you wish we included other Patsy Cline Songs on this list? Tell us more about your favorite singles from this singer’s discography in the comment section.

Latest Stories

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...