According to Outsider, while other women dressed modestly — as was custom for the ’50s and ’60s — Cline turned heads for performing in pants, heels, and red lipstick. She was also known for saying “no dough, no show.” In other words, the money she earned would go to her and no one else. Cline first performed at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in 1955 (via Patsy Cline Discography). In 1960, however, she did something that was unheard of — she asked to become a member of the Opry.
The general rule is that the Opry asked artists to join their “exclusive club,” not the other way around. Cline is and remains the only artist to join the Opry “by request.” In addition, PBS states that she was the first woman to wear pants while performing at the Opry. Cline’s career, though brief, is memorable. Her songs “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy” became instant hits and are now considered trademarks of her career (per Biography). All That’s Interesting reports that on March 5, 1963, Patsy Cline died in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee after a performance in Kansas City. She was only 30 years old.
