Some songs are so timeless that you can’t get yourself to remove them from your playlist, and the 1961 hit song, “Crazy” by Patsy Cline is definitely one of them. This 7-year-old, Evan Riley, just breathed new life into the iconic hit with her stunning vocals. Performing at a local venue she quickly attracted a captivated crowd, and it wasn’t long before her video went viral. Country music lovers were amazed–––many even calling for her to get a record deal.
“Crazy” is a challenging song with a jazzy undertone but Evan give it a fresh, modern twist uniquely making it her own. Evan nailed every single note, performing the song with a level of skill that’s way beyond her age. Here at Viral Music, we love seeing new takes on old classics, and Evan is totally rocking it.
Crazy by Patsy Cline covered by 7 year old Evan Riley
Vocal coach Steve Pennington shared Evan’s fantastic performance of “Crazy” on YouTube on January 17, 2021. By then, it had already gotten 376,000 views! Evan performed in Adamsville, Alabama, a small town near her hometown of Birmingham. Now, in 2024, Evan is 11 years old and regularly shares her performances on her YouTube channel, Evan Riley.
But wait, there’s more! Evan’s most popular video on YouTube is her cover of “Crazy.” On her own channel, her biggest hit is her version of Bill Mack’s “Blue,” which she performed at a school Christmas event when she was just six. Even at that young age, her ability to handle those blue notes like a true country star was apparent.
Evan Riley – Blue
Let’s take a moment to talk about the original “Crazy.” The legendary Willie Nelson wrote it in less than an hour. He wrote it to try and make some money while working three part-time jobs. The funny thing is that Nelson had a hard time selling the song because it was more complicated than the simple three-chord country songs that were popular in the 1960s.
As he told Viral Music readers, finding someone to perform it wasn’t easy. But then, someone at Nelson’s publisher played “Crazy” for the Patsy Cline producer Owen Bradley. Bradley immediately sensed it was tailor-made for Patsy’s voice. And he was totally right! The song was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a country music classic.
Are you feeling inspired by Evan’s great journey and her amazing performances? Don’t miss out! Subscribe to her channel for more fantastic music from this rising star. And if you want to keep up with Evan Riley’s latest performances and updates, make sure to follow her on Instagram.