Patsy Cline impersonator to perform at Nugget this weekend

Carson Nugget hosts "Crazy About Patsy, Musical Tribute to Patsy Cline," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Impersonator Sherrill Douglas will bring the legend of country music to life, performing such hits as "Crazy," "Sweet Dreams," "Walkin' After Midnight," and more in a show that was recently invited to an extended stay at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City.

"My first love was always rock 'n' roll," Douglas said. "But I started singing Patsy Cline songs when I was 10 to entertain my dad and his buddies."

The look alone is so realistic that photos of Douglas as Cline have been posted on a Patsy Cline fan site.

"I figure if they can confuse the photos, I must be doing something right," said Douglas, who is also recording a new album, featuring songs from Cline and Loretta Lynn.

"Physically I don't think I look like either one of them, but with the wigs, make-up and costumes, the transformations are realistic," she said. "And since I've been singing Patsy's songs for so many years, she's like an old friend and I don't think about it anymore.

"I know where her breaks are, how long she'll hold a note, her movements ... I feel like she's given me permission to do this."

Douglas relies heavily on audience participation as a way to make the experience even more real to them.

"I like to bring the audience in as close to me as possible so that they feel like they've gone to see Patsy in concert," Douglas said. "This show brings back a lot of memories for people and I hope by the time they leave, we'll have made new memories together."

Throughout her life, Douglas has tried a few "day jobs," which never worked out any longer than a week or two. Her passion has always been music, something she's pursued since she was very young.

"My daytime bosses would always get upset because I'd have singing gigs at night and they would want me to give it up so I'd be a better employee," she said. "I never had it in my mind I'd do a mainstream job or that I'd quit singing; I can't get away from it because it's who I am."

Douglas attributes Cline's continuing popularity to the fact that "good music is good music and it will never go away."

Douglas travels extensively but when she's at home in Dallas she performs at the local senior center at least monthly.

"Some of these folks, we don't know if anything else is getting through, and I've seen this when I've performed for children with Down syndrome, as well," she said. "We don't know what they know or don't know, but with the music, their toes are tapping, they're smiling and they get it.

"They get the music and I am very well blessed to have a gift that can touch people."

Tickets for the shows cost $25 each (includes a complimentary drink) and are available by calling 775-882-1626 ext. 293. For more information, visit carsonnugget

.com or sherrilldouglas.com.