Earthy, sexy, and vivacious, the life of beloved country singer, Patsy Cline, who soared from obscurity to international fame to tragic death in just thirty short years, is explored in colorful and poignant detail. An innovator—and even a hell-raiser—Cline broke all the boys’ club barriers of Nashville’s music business in the 1950s and brought a new Nashville sound to the nation with her pop hits and torch ballads like “Walking After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces“ and "Crazy.” She is the subject of a major Hollywood movie and countless articles, and her albums are still selling 45 years after her death. Ellis Nassour was the very first to write about Cline and did so with the cooperation of the stars who knew and loved her—including Jimmy Dean, Jan Howard, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Dottie West, and Faron Young. He was the only writer to interview Cline's mother and husbands. This updated edition features not only a complete discography and a host of never-before-published photographs, but includes an afterword that details controversial claims about her birth, the battle between Cline's siblings for her possessions, the amazing influence Cline had on a new generation of singers and, in Cline’s own words from letters to a devoted friend, her excitement as her career soared to new heights and her marriage descended to new depths.
In 1998 People Magazine named Patsy Cline as one of the "The Most Intriguing People of the Century." In recognition of her incredible recordings, Patsy was awarded a special Grammy, has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and has been named to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Patsy ranked Number 11 in VH1's 1999 poll of the "100 Greatest Women of Rock."
Though based on Ellis Nassour's original Patsy Cline biography published in 1981, Honky Tonk Angel is actually a brand new book by author Nassour, in that he reapproached his subject with additional interviews and new insight.
Honky Tonk Angel has been one of our most consistent sellers since the publication of the hardcover Collector's Edition in 1993. The book has found thousands of fans around the world, and continues to elicit incredible praise from readers.