Today On The Calendar ...

Today marks the anniversary of the tragic death of one of country music's rising stars, Patsy Cline.

Known for such sultry showstoppers as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," and "Walkin' After Midnight," Cline has credited for influencing today's music royalty from Reba McIntyre and Faith Hill to Sheryl Crow and Jewell to Christina Aguilera and Carrie Underwood.

Patsy Cline raised the bar for female singers ... reinventing herself by changing the typical female country singer "cowgirl" image to one of sex and style with cocktail dresses and stunning beaded gowns. She didn't just sing songs ... she wooed audiences with the depth of her feelings and smooth vocals.

My Mom was a huge Patsy Cline fan, so we grew up with her tunes floating through our home. Her death from a Tennessee airplane crash in 1963 was a great loss for her friends and family, but also to music lovers across the globe.

But Ms. Cline was not forgotten. Through film recordings, interviews, books, TV movies, and even dozens of fan Web sites, Patsy is remembered from generation to generation. In 1973, she was inducted as the first ever female solo artist into the Country Music Hall of Fame. And in 1992, the United States Postal Service honored Patsy Cline with a postage stamp.

POINT OF RANT: You were truly wonderful, Patsy!