Country singers Patsy Cline (Megan Hilty) and Loretta Lynn (Jessie Mueller) meet when the former was already a well known star.[4] The film starts in 1957, showing the two singers in their separate lives each with their own families.
They meet in 1961 after Patsy was hospitalized due to a serious automobile accident. Already a star, Patsy helped Loretta, who was just starting in her career, giving advice on contracts and even gave her tips on costumes and makeup. They develop a friendship, until the fatal airplane crash in 1963.
Loretta is seen several years later in performance with the "ghost" of Patsy.[5]
The film was shot in Nashville, Tennessee. The executive producer, Neil Meron, had also worked with Hilty on the TV series Smash in 2012-13. Co-producers were Loretta Lynn's daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and Patsy Cline's daughter Julie Fudge on behalf of Patsy Cline's Estate.[6] Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller were cast in the lead roles.[7]
Reception
Matt Roush wrote that the film is a "...brisk, sweet, touching and, naturally, tuneful tribute to female friendship... Megan Hilty ... gives a wonderfully robust performance as the outspoken and driven Patsy... It's inspiring and terrifically enjoyable watching Patsy, a force of musical nature, take the less worldly Loretta under her wing.... Still, the movie can be a bit sketchy as it races through their professional and personal lives."[8]
