Patsy Cline’s vibrant career and life were tragically cut short by a plane accident over sixty years ago. Nevertheless, her lasting legacy and immense influence shine through in a remarkable tribute concert that will air this Friday night on PBS.

“Great Performances – Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight,” set to air at 9 p.m. Friday on PBS (check local listings), is a 90-minute event featuring a lineup of talented artists performing classic songs made famous by Cline or dedicated to her.

Wynonna Judd plays a pivotal role in the tribute, filmed in April at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. She performs “Sweet Dreams (of You)” during the show and returns to wrap up the performance with “Crazy,” the hit song written by Willie Nelson that brought Cline success on both country and pop charts in 1961.

Alongside Wynonna, artists such as Ashley McBryde, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Guyton, Kristin Chenoweth, Rita Wilson, Kellie Pickler, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Grace Potter, and Beverly D’Angelo, known for portraying Cline in the 1980 film “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” will grace the stage. Mandy Barnett, who has performed Cline’s music in the 1990s jukebox musical “Always Patsy Cline” at the Ryman, is also featured.

Before singing “I Fall to Pieces,” Chenoweth, who rose to fame in the Broadway hit “Wicked” and is featured in its recent film adaptation, reflected on her inaugural appearance on the iconic Ryman stage.

Chenoweth shared her memories of discovering “the voice”: “As a young singer, hearing her for the first time was incredibly impactful,” she said. “I learned so much from listening to her.”

Pat Benatar: Patsy Cline ‘transcends’ country music

The combination of classic country stars with contemporary artists, along with rock musicians like Potter and Benatar and her husband Neil Giraldo, aligns perfectly, as Patsy Cline “transcends every genre,” according to Benatar in an interview with YSL News. “She truly is an icon.”

Benatar and her guitar-playing partner Giraldo, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, chose to perform the 1962 track “Imagine That.” “I found that song to have a certain attitude that I really enjoyed singing,” she explained.

Expressing their gratitude, Benatar said they felt really privileged to be part of the concert: “I’ve always held Patsy in high regard. It was such a joy to contribute and sing one of her songs. It was a unique experience for me.”

Who was Patsy Cline?

Patsy Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Winchester, Virginia, adopted the name “Patsy” at 20, as noted by the Country Music Hall of Fame, where she was the first female solo artist inducted in 1973.

She achieved massive success with the song “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which came out in March 1957,

Patsy Cline became a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry in January 1960. While “I Fall to Pieces” was climbing the charts, Cline and her brother, Sam Hensley Jr., endured a life-threatening head-on car accident in June 1961.

Just six weeks later, Cline took to the Opry stage to sing “Crazy,” using crutches for support.

Tragically, Cline lost her life at age 30 in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, near Camden, Tennessee, while returning from a fundraising concert in Kansas City, Missouri. Others who died in the crash included her manager, Randy Hughes, as well as musicians Lloyd “Cowboy” Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins.

Some of Cline’s other popular songs are “She’s Got You,” and after her passing, “Leavin’ on Your Mind” and “Sweet Dreams (of You).”

According to Benatar, “It’s remarkable what she achieved in such a brief period, especially in her era. It’s truly inspiring, and you really feel that connection when you listen to her music. It was an incredible night, significant and a stunning tribute to her.”

How to watch ‘Great Performances: Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight’

This program will air on local PBS stations on Friday at 9 p.m. local time. You can also view it in the PBS app or at pbs.org/gperf.

During the show, you can expect to see archival video interviews featuring Loretta Lynn, Dottie West, Roy Clark, Owen Bradley, and Charlie Dick, Cline’s late second husband.