By Leilani Roberts Ott
Country singer Sherrill Douglas of Dallas has played in casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, but on Saturday night, she’ll bring her show to The Plumb Theatre in Longtown, a small community east of Eufaula.
“There’s good people everywhere that like good music,” Douglas said. “I love to sing. I love to entertain. If that’s what they like, then I’m comin’.”
Douglas calls her show “Legends of Country Music.” She’ll sing the songs from female greats in the business like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Connie Smith and Patsy Cline.
“I’ll do a lot of the old classics,” she said. “I bring a lot of memories back with songs like ‘Harper Valley PTA.’ I try to pick the biggest hits. It’s like classic country music comes to life. A lot of people don’t hear that much anymore.”
Mattie Maloy, co-owner of The Plumb Theatre, said everyone is excited that Douglas is returning to perform. She did her tribute to Patsy Cline show in May.
“She sings it pretty much like them,” Maloy said of Douglas singing songs by the legends. “If they like the old women of country, they need to see this show.”
Maloy said Douglas will do a 45-minute show. Also performing will be the regular weekly band, The Uprights including Mattie and Paul Maloy, Dean Dowdy, Gene Cokeley and The Jewelltones, who are twin sisters Dale Travis and Gale Horn doing backup vocals.
Douglas called the owners and performers “real nice folks, real down-home folks.” She attended the Friday gospel night show when she performed in May and enjoyed it.
“It was like taking a step backward — like a little Grand Ole Opry. It was just great fun. We had a blast.”
Douglas, who has several country CDs, is releasing her first gospel CD, “Eternal Life,” this fall.
For those who can’t make it to The Plumb Theatre Saturday, Douglas will perform her Patsy Cline tribute at 2 p.m. Aug. 14 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at Tulsa Little Theatre in Tulsa.
Douglas said Cline was her father’s favorite. Her dad, the late Raymond Knotts, encouraged her to sing Cline’s songs for his friends when she was about 10.
“I tried to get as close as I could to singing like her,” Douglas said.
She and her twin sister grew up singing in church near their country home in Champaign, Ill. Her sister stopped singing at 16 and Douglas carried on.
“I just love it. I like seeing people smile. It’s a wonderful gift to me to be able to touch people and see them smile.”
Dolly is a lot of fun to do because Douglas gets to tell jokes. But her favorite female country music legend is still Patsy Cline.
“She’s like an old friend, I’ve been doing her so long. Dad passed 30 years ago. Hopefully he’s in heaven watching. It’s never been about the money, just about entertaining and doing what God put me here to do.”
Douglas said she performs the same show for the small crowd in Longtown as she will for a sellout crowd in Atlantic City.
“One comes the same reason as 200 — to hear good music. I’ve got the best job in the world.”
Reach Leilani Roberts Ott at 684-2908 or lott@muskogeephoenix.com.
If you go
WHAT: Sherrill Douglas presents “Legends of Country Music.”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: The Plumb Theatre, Longtown, 5 1/2 miles east of Eufaula on Oklahoma 9.
TICKETS: $10, sold in advance by calling 452-2020.
INFORMATION: 452-2020 and sherrilldouglas.com.
If you go
WHAT: “Crazy ’bout Patsy,” a musical tribute to Patsy Cline starring entertainer/impersonator Sherrill Douglas.
WHEN: 2 p.m. Aug. 14, and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15.
WHERE: Tulsa Little Theatre, 1511 S. Delaware, Tulsa.
TICKETS: $25 and can be purchased by calling 430-5364 or (972) 661-1166, or sherrilldouglas.com.
