How Patsy Cline’s Career Was Transformed by Her National TV Appearance
However, when Patsy Cline graced the stage of Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, it marked her inaugural performance on a nationally renowned show with a top twenty ranking—a broadcast not confined to regional boundaries but tailored for a widespread audience. Seizing the moment, Cline delivered a captivating rendition of “Walkin’ After Midnight,” exuding a sultry and self-assured aura.
Her performance left the studio audience spellbound, generating such an overwhelming wave of applause that it disrupted the show’s applause meter. Yet, it was this very avalanche of acclaim that propelled Cline to claim the top spot that night.
The impact of her appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts extended far beyond that memorable night. The enthusiastic response from the audience prompted Decca Records to hurriedly release “Walkin’ After Midnight” as a single in 1957.
The song became a sensation for Cline, skyrocketing to No. 2 on the Billboard country music chart and claiming the 12th spot on the pop chart—an early indicator of Cline’s potential for crossover success. While “Walkin’ After Midnight” stood as Cline’s sole hit until 1961, the single version achieved remarkable success, selling over a million copies and earning a lasting place on lists of the all-time greatest country music songs.
The lyrics weave a tale: “I go out walkin’ after midnight, out in the moonlight. Just like we used to do, I’m always walkin’. After midnight, searchin’ for you (wa-wa-walking, wa-wa-walking). I walk for miles along the highway. Well, that’s just my way of sayin’ I love you, I’m always walkin’. After midnight, searchin’ for you (wa-wa-walking, wa-wa-walking).”
Surprisingly, Cline harbored no fondness for “Walkin’ After Midnight.” The recording was a result of a compromise with her label—she agreed to record it only if she could also record “A Poor Man’s Roses (Or a Rich Man’s Gold),” a song more to her liking. Fortunately, the compromise was struck, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Even today, more than six decades later, Patsy Cline’s mesmerizing TV debut retains its captivating allure. Witness it for yourself in the video below.
