Patsy Cline ( born Virginia Patterson Hensley ; September 8 , 1932 - March 5 , 1963 ) was a American country music singer . Patsy Cline ( September 8 , 1932 -- March 5 , 1963 ) , born Virginia Patterson Hensley , was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s .