Patsy Cline impersonator performs
Sherrill Douglas got started singing Patsy Cline at her fathers request when she was 10-years-old.
“Patsy Cline was my dads favorite artist, so when I was about 10 he asked me if I would try to sound like Patsy Cline and sing for him and his friends,” she said.
Douglas, an impersonator, singer and song writer, said she cannot ever remember not singing and started playing guitar around the time when she was 10 or 12 with neighborhood friends and her cousin.
She said one day after she started singing Patsy Cline she had the idea to start dressing up and looking like Patsy Cline.
“I just thought you know it might be kind of fun for me and everybody else to dress the part and see how people like it, and everybody just loves it,” she said. “And it gives them the illusion of seeing Patsy Cline in concert.”
Robert Stoner, of Charleston, said he remembers the first time he saw Patsy Cline on TV.
“I remember when she was on the Arthur Godfrey Show, back a long time ago, and I told the wife then that girls going to go places,” he said.
Douglas said she is surprised at how well received her Patsy Cline performance is.
“It’s amazing to me how everybody loves Patsy Cline,” Douglas said.
She said the fact that she was a singer first makes her different than most musical impersonators because impersonators are usually impersonators before they learn to sing.
Douglas said of all the artist she impersonates she likes Patsy Cline the best, but she enjoys Dolly Parton quite a bit also.
“Dolly Parton’s real fun, she tells a lot of jokes and she always makes fun of herself,” Douglas said. “It’s fun to dress that character and act crazy… Patsy is my closest friend I would say.”
Douglas said the crowd was involved and attentive.
“I really, really appreciate because I know it was so hot outside, and they all sat there and they were clappingg and yee-hawing and having fun,” she said. “They were a great crowd.”
Douglas said she has had some crowds that were interested in her music, but they were too reserved and quiet. She would rather have a crowd that is more involved.
Marcus Smith can be reached at 581-7942 or masmith6@eiu.edu
Patsy Cline impersonator performs
Sherrill Douglas performs as Patsy Cline as the final performer for Red White and Blue Days Monday afternoon at Morton Park. Douglas not only plays Patsy Cline, she also performs as Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton and as herself. (Audrey Sawyer
