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NATCHEZ — From the golden era of country music, “Always … Patsy Cline” returns to the Natchez Festival of Music this weekend.

The show starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Natchez City Auditorium, located at 207 Jefferson St. Tickets are $35 each.

Before Taylor Swift wowed audiences with her ability to crossover genres, there was Patsy Cline, the first country music artist to successfully cross over into pop music, the first woman ever elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and top of the list of women in her profession in her time.

“The show is the story of Louise Seger, a country music-loving gal who meets Patsy Cline at a honky-tonk,” said Diana Glaze, a long-time contributor and former chairperson of the Natchez Festival of Music and the portrayer of Louise.

Throughout the show, Louise is telling her story, a moving story of friendship between the legendary singer and her greatest fan — a bond that lasted from that first meeting until Cline’s tragic death in a plane crash at age 30.

Portraying Patsy Cline for the first time in Natchez is Patricia Garner from Hattiesburg, a professional interior designer with a musical talent she has shown as a member of the Hub City Players since 2015.

Born in New York City, and her mother a Juilliard-trained opera singer, Garner has a background in the arts and has lived in and traveled throughout Europe.

Some of Garner’s other musical appearances include the “Rock of Ages,”
“LOL Netflix and Chill,” as well as the “Reel Big Movie Concert” with the FestivalSouth Orchestra. In 2019, she was in “Sister Act” and the “Woodstock 50th Anniversary” concerts and in 2023 was in “Beauty and the Beast” and sang in the FestivalSouth finale concert, “Iconic.”

The Patsy Cline show has been a returning favorite of Natchez Festival of Music lovers since it was first performed here, Glaze said.

“I think the reason it’s so popular is because people enjoy seeing Louise just having fun and also because they love the music of Patsy Cline,” she said.

Glaze has been a resident of Natchez for 44 years, retiring in 2017 from her position as Human Resources Manager for Callon Petroleum Company.

She has enjoyed a long involvement with Natchez Little Theater, performing in “Auntie Mame,” “Sylvia,” “Mississippi Medicine Show,” “Southern Exposure,” and “The Dining Room.”  Directorial credits include “The Taffetas, A Taffeta Christmas,” “G.I. Jukebox,” and “The Cemetery Club.” She has also been a long-term member of the Natchez Festival of Music Board of Directors.

“My involvement is mainly because I love music,” she said. “The Festival of Music brings musical events here that you otherwise wouldn’t hear in Natchez.”

With just two weeks left in this season, Glaze said there is still time left to see the next big production of “The Heavenly Life: A Child’s View of Heaven,” featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 performed by the Festival Chamber Ensemble, soprano Sarah Stembel and conducted by Dr. Jay Dean.

This takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Natchez City Auditorium.

Lastly, the festival season closes at the same time and place on Saturday, May 17, with a Whitney Houston tribute performed by Krista Overby, Latisha Earnest and Jessica Riley Craig.

“I heard one singer do ‘I Will Always Love You’ and it brought the house down — an exciting closeout for the season,” Glaze said.

To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit natchezfestivalofmusic.com.