{"id":1616,"date":"2026-05-17T15:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T15:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1616"},"modified":"2026-05-17T15:43:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T15:43:02","slug":"reba-mcentire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1616","title":{"rendered":"Reba McEntire"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Reba McEntire<\/div>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
McEntire in 2022<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Born<\/th>\n\n
Reba Nell McEntire<\/div>\n

March 28, 1955\u00a0(age\u00a071)<\/span><\/p>\n

McAlester, Oklahoma<\/a>, U.S.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Other\u00a0names<\/th>\n\n
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  • “The Queen of Country”<\/li>\n
  • Reba<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alma\u00a0mater<\/th>\nSoutheastern Oklahoma State University<\/a>\u00a0(BSc<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Occupations<\/th>\n\n
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    \n
  • Singer<\/li>\n
  • actress<\/li>\n
  • television personality<\/li>\n
  • producer<\/li>\n
  • businesswoman<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Years\u00a0active<\/th>\n1975\u2013present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Works<\/th>\n\n
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Spouses<\/th>\n\n
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    \n
  • \n
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    Charlie Battles<\/div>\n
    \u200b<\/div>\n
    \u200b<\/div>\n

    (m.<\/abbr>\u00a01976;\u00a0div.<\/abbr>\u00a01987)\u200b<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    Narvel Blackstock<\/div>\n
    \u200b<\/div>\n
    \u200b<\/div>\n

    (m.<\/abbr>\u00a01989;\u00a0div.<\/abbr>\u00a02015)\u200b<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Partner(s)<\/th>\nAnthony Lasuzzo (2017\u20132019)
\nRex Linn<\/a>\u00a0(2020\u2013present; engaged)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Children<\/th>\nShelby Blackstock<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Relatives<\/th>\n\n
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Awards<\/th>\nFull list<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Musical career<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genres<\/th>\n\n
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Instruments<\/th>\n\n
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  • Vocals<\/li>\n
  • piano<\/li>\n
  • guitar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Labels<\/th>\n\n
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Formerly of<\/th>\nThe Singing McEntires<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Website<\/th>\nreba.com<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Reba Nell McEntire<\/b>\u00a0(\/\u02c8<\/span>r<\/span>i\u02d0<\/span>b<\/span>\u0259<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u02c8<\/span>m<\/span>\u00e6<\/span>k<\/span>\u026a<\/span>n<\/span>t<\/span>a\u026a\u0259r<\/span>\/<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0REE-b\u0259\u00a0MAK-in-tire<\/i><\/a>; born March 28, 1955),[<\/span>1]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>2]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0or\u00a0simply<\/a>\u00a0Reba<\/b>, is an American\u00a0country<\/a>\u00a0singer and actress. Dubbed “The Queen of Country<\/a>“, she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.[<\/span>3]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Since the 1970s, she has placed over 100 singles on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0Hot Country Songs<\/a>\u00a0chart, 25 of which reached the number-one spot.[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0An actress in both film and television,[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire starred in the television series\u00a0Reba<\/a><\/i>, which aired for six seasons. She also owns several businesses, including a restaurant and a clothing line.[<\/span>6]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

One of four children, McEntire was born and raised in Oklahoma. With her mother’s help, she and her siblings formed the Singing McEntires, who played at local events and recorded for a small label. McEntire later enrolled at\u00a0Southeastern Oklahoma State University<\/a>\u00a0and studied to become a public-school teacher. She also continued to occasionally perform and was heard singing at a rodeo event by country performer\u00a0Red Steagall<\/a>. Drawn to her singing voice, Steagall helped McEntire secure a country music recording contract with\u00a0PolyGram<\/a>\/Mercury Records<\/a>\u00a0in 1975.<\/p>\n

Over the next several years, PolyGram\/Mercury released a series of McEntire’s albums and singles, which amounted to little success. In the early 1980s, McEntire’s music gained more momentum through several top-10 country songs, including “(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven<\/a>“, “I’m Not That Lonely Yet<\/a>“, and her first number one “Can’t Even Get the Blues<\/a>“. Yet McEntire became increasingly unhappy with her career trajectory and signed with\u00a0MCA Records<\/a>\u00a0in 1984. Her second MCA album titled\u00a0My Kind of Country<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1984) became her breakout release, spawning two number-one\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country singles and pointed toward a more traditional musical style. Through the 1980s, McEntire released seven more studio albums and had ten more number-one country hits. Her number-one singles included “One Promise Too Late<\/a>“, “The Last One to Know<\/a>“, and the\u00a0Grammy Award<\/a>-winning “Whoever’s in New England<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

In 1991, McEntire lost eight of her band members in a plane crash in\u00a0San Diego<\/a>, California. The experience led to McEntire’s critically acclaimed album\u00a0For My Broken Heart<\/a><\/i>, which is her highest-selling album to date. She followed it with several commercially successful albums during the 1990s, including\u00a0Read My Mind<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1994),\u00a0What If It’s You<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1996), and\u00a0If You See Him<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1998). These albums featured the number-one country singles “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter<\/a>“, “How Was I to Know<\/a>“, and a duet with\u00a0Brooks and Dunn<\/a>\u00a0called “If You See Him\/If You See Her<\/a>“. McEntire’s acting career began in January 1990 when she made her film debut in\u00a0Tremors<\/a><\/i>. In 2001, she played the role of\u00a0Annie Oakley<\/a>\u00a0in the Broadway musical\u00a0Annie Get Your Gun<\/a><\/i>. In the same year,\u00a0The WB<\/a>\u00a0launched the TV series\u00a0Reba<\/a><\/i>, in which she starred. More recently, she has guest-starred on\u00a0Young Sheldon<\/a><\/i>\u00a0as June Ballard and had a main role in the third season of\u00a0Big Sky<\/a><\/i>. From 2023 to 2025, McEntire was featured as a coach on four seasons of the reality competition show\u00a0The Voice<\/a><\/i>. She currently stars in the\u00a0NBC<\/a>\u00a0sitcom\u00a0Happy’s Place<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n

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Early life<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

McEntire was born in\u00a0McAlester, Oklahoma<\/a>, in 1955[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0but was raised on a ranch in\u00a0Chockie, Oklahoma<\/a>.[<\/span>8]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>9]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She was the third of four children born to Clark (1927\u20132014) and Jacqueline McEntire (1926\u20132020).[<\/span>10]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her grandfather, John Wesley McEntire, was a world-champion\u00a0steer roper<\/a>\u00a0in 1934, while her father held the same title three times (1957, 1958, and 1961).[<\/span>11]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Jacqueline McEntire had aspirations of becoming a country singer,[<\/span>10]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0but instead became a public-school teacher, librarian, and secretary.[<\/span>12]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0While her mother was tender and loving, her father had trouble showing affection. “When we were growing up, I used to regret that Daddy never told us that he loved us,” she recalled in her autobiography.[<\/span>13]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The McEntire family owned a cattle ranch. Each family member contributed to running the cattle operation. The McEntire children helped with ranch chores before and after school. This included\u00a0castrating<\/a>\u00a0bulls and giving them worm medicine.[<\/span>14]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

The McEntire siblings also developed an interest in singing, which was encouraged by their mother. On car trips to their father’s rodeo dates, Jacqueline McEntire taught her children to sing in harmony with one another.[<\/span>15]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Young Reba then started performing at school, beginning in first grade when she sang “Away in a Manger<\/a>” at an elementary-school Christmas pageant. In fifth grade, she joined the\u00a04-H club<\/a>\u00a0and won first place in the Junior Act Division for singing “My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown”. She also played basketball and ran track. For several summers, she attended a basketball camp.[<\/span>16]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She also learned\u00a0piano<\/a>[<\/span>17]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and\u00a0guitar<\/a>.[<\/span>18]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She also developed an interest in the rodeo and trained to become a\u00a0barrel racer<\/a>.[<\/span>19]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/a>
McEntire in her 1974 college yearbook: She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education before pursuing country music full-time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By high school, the McEntire siblings had been frequently performing. Together, they formed a trio which they called the Singing McEntires.[<\/span>20]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1971, the trio released a\u00a0single<\/a>\u00a0about their famous grandfather called “The Ballad of John McEntire”. It was pressed as a\u00a0single<\/a>\u00a0by a local label and was issued in small numbers regionally.[<\/span>15]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The trio eventually included a backing band, who performed at local functions. The group was later named the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band. They also had paying gigs at bars at dance halls in nearby\u00a0Oklahoma City<\/a>. “We were a bunch of kids barely in puberty who didn’t get to bed until almost daylight after some of our shows,” McEntire remembered.[<\/span>14]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The band parted ways once Reba’s brother graduated from high school.[<\/span>21]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1973, McEntire graduated from Kiowa High School.[<\/span>22]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Once finishing high school, McEntire enrolled in college at\u00a0Southeastern Oklahoma State University<\/a>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>22]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She majored in\u00a0elementary education<\/a>\u00a0with a minor in music. She completed student teaching and later graduated with a\u00a0bachelor’s degree<\/a>.[<\/span>23]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She also continued to help out on her family’s ranch during her college years.[<\/span>24]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1974, McEntire’s father encouraged her to take a job opportunity singing “The Star-Spangled Banner<\/a>” at the\u00a0National Finals Rodeo<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Oklahoma City<\/a>.[<\/span>25]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She contacted family friend and rodeo announcer\u00a0Clem McSpadden<\/a>, who helped her get hired for the gig.[<\/span>24]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Following one of her performances, McEntire was heard by country artist\u00a0Red Steagall<\/a>\u00a0who was impressed by her singing.[<\/span>25]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>20]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Reba, her siblings, and her mother later joined him at a hotel party the same week. At the hotel, Reba performed an\u00a0a cappella\u00a0<\/i>version of\u00a0Dolly Parton<\/a>‘s “Joshua<\/a>“.[<\/span>26]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Jacqueline McEntire asked Steagall if he was able to help get all her children a recording contract. After going back to Nashville, Steagall contacted her in early 1975, and said, “I can’t take all three. But I could take Reba. She’s got something a little different.”[<\/span>27]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>28]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In March 1975 and accompanied by her mother, McEntire embarked on a trip to\u00a0Nashville, Tennessee<\/a>, to record a demonstration tape that Steagall hoped to pass along to record labels.[<\/span>27]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0At the start of the trip, she was unsure about pursuing a professional country music career. McEntire recalled in her memoir continually making excuses for her mother to stop the car instead of traveling to Nashville. After noticing her daughter’s fear, Jacqueline McEntire told her, “Now, Reba, let me tell you something. If you don’t want to go to Nashville, we don’t have to do this. But I’m living all my dreams through you.” The conversation changed her mind and they continued on to Nashville.[<\/span>29]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

After recording a demo, McEntire’s tape was heard by Glenn Keener of\u00a0PolyGram<\/a>\/Mercury Records<\/a>, who was interested in signing her to a Nashville contract. Keener brought McEntire’s tape and another woman’s tape to PolyGram’s Chicago headquarters. The label informed Keener that he could only sign one female performer. “He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed \u2019em mine,” McEntire told\u00a0Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>30]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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Music career<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/span>1976\u20131983: Career launch at Mercury<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In November 1975, McEntire signed a country music recording contract with PolyGram\/Mercury Records.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>31]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She made her first recordings for the label in January 1976. She was produced by Glenn Keener and was backed by a\u00a0Countrypolitan<\/a>\u00a0arrangement that included a string section. McEntire’s debut single released in 1976 was titled “I Don’t Want to Be a One Night Stand”. The track failed to become a major hit, only peaking at number 88 on the\u00a0Billboard<\/a><\/i>\u00a0Hot Country Songs<\/a>\u00a0chart that May.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was followed by the low-charting\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country singles “(There’s Nothing Like the Love) Between a Woman and Man” and “Glad I Waited Just for You”. Mercury issued her\u00a0self-titled debut album<\/a>\u00a0in 1977.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In his album review, Greg Adams of\u00a0AllMusic<\/a>\u00a0compared it to the country crossover style of\u00a0Barbara Mandrell<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Tammy Wynette<\/a>.[<\/span>33]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire also began touring and performing more frequently. Without a band of her own, she often relied on house bands to accompany her. In some instances, the backing bands did not know country music and McEntire would have to fill her time onstage with jokes.[<\/span>34]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire’s career gained more momentum by 1978. That year, she collaborated on two singles with country artist\u00a0Jacky Ward<\/a>. The duo’s double-sided release of “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight<\/a>“\/”Three Sheets in the Wind” became her first top-20 hit on the country chart.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0When Glenn Keener left the PolyGram\/Mercury roster, McEntire inherited producer\u00a0Jerry Kennedy<\/a>.[<\/span>34]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Kennedy produced her second studio album titled\u00a0Out of a Dream<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1979). The album’s cover of\u00a0Patsy Cline<\/a>‘s “Sweet Dreams<\/a>” became her first top-20 hit as a solo artist.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Four additional top-40 country singles were spawned from the album, as well.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0By 1980, McEntire had formed her own band, which included sister Susie and brother Pake McEntire. She also hired a new manager. McEntire and her band toured to dates in a three-car caravan, which included a horse trailer for transporting instruments.[<\/span>35]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She later upgraded to a bus nicknamed\u00a0Silver Eagle<\/i>, which routinely broke down.[<\/span>36]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Also in 1980, “(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven<\/a>” became her first top-10 hit on the country songs chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was included on her third studio album,\u00a0Feel the Fire<\/a><\/i>, which was released in October.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

By this point, McEntire’s label pushed her to record music in a soft country-pop style with which she often disagreed.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Future material (which included her next album) was recorded in this format.[<\/span>37]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her fourth album,\u00a0Heart to Heart<\/a><\/i>\u00a0was issued in 1981 and became her first disc to chart the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0Country Albums list.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It received only a 2.5 star review from AllMusic’s William Ruhlmann, who described McEntire as being “a promising, but not yet accomplished country artist.”[<\/span>38]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Its lead single, “Today All Over Again<\/a>“, became her highest-charting country single yet, reaching number five.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1983, McEntire’s bus had broken down when she was informed that her latest single “Can’t Even Get the Blues<\/a>” reached the number-one spot on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country chart.[<\/span>39]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was followed by her second number-one song “You’re the First Time I Thought About Leaving<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The track also became her second to reach the top 10 of Canada’s\u00a0RPM<\/a><\/i>\u00a0country songs chart.[<\/span>40]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Both singles appeared on her 1983 album\u00a0Unlimited<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The following year, the single “Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can’t Have)<\/a>” reached the top 10.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0With increased success in the country music industry,[<\/span>37]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0she was able to arrange an early release from PolyGram\/Mercury in 1983.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0“Let me put it this way, I’ve sorta taken my career into control myself,” she explained of the decision.[<\/span>37]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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<\/span>1984\u20131990: Breakthrough<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

McEntire signed with\u00a0MCA Records<\/a>\u00a0in 1984 and released her seventh studio album\u00a0Just a Little Love<\/a><\/i>.\u00a0Harold Shedd<\/a>\u00a0was originally intended to produce the disc, but McEntire rejected his desire for a country-pop arrangement. Instead,\u00a0Norro Wilson<\/a>\u00a0produced the project.[<\/span>41]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Despite spawning a top-10 hit,[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire was still dissatisfied with the record’s production and the lack of control over material.[<\/span>42]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Instead, she turned to MCA president\u00a0Jimmy Bowen<\/a>[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0who suggested that she find her own songs to record. Accompanied by Don “Dirt” Lanier, McEntire spent several days listening to various songs from publishing companies. Eventually, she found a song written by\u00a0Harlan Howard<\/a>\u00a0titled “Somebody Should Leave<\/a>” and a song by Jon Moffat titled “How Blue<\/a>“.[<\/span>43]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Released as singles, they reached the number-one spot on the country songs chart and later appeared on 1984’s\u00a0My Kind of Country<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The collection also included several covers of classic country songs by\u00a0Ray Price<\/a>,\u00a0Charley Pride<\/a>, and\u00a0Connie Smith<\/a>.[<\/span>44]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0AllMusic’s William Ruhlmann gave the disc 4.5 stars.[<\/span>45]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0magazine described McEntire on the album as being “the finest woman country singer since\u00a0Kitty Wells<\/a>.”[<\/span>46]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0United Press wrote that the album “represents a victory for McEntire. She has pulled in the reins of her career, regained control of her music and her life.”[<\/span>47]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album became her breakthrough recording, leading McEntire to winning 1984’s Female Vocalist of the Year accolade from the\u00a0Country Music Association<\/a>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>48]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Along with music by\u00a0George Strait<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Randy Travis<\/a>, the album also brought forth a stylistic change in country towards traditional arrangements and sounds.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>37]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Her next MCA album was 1985’s\u00a0Have I Got a Deal for You<\/a><\/i>. The project followed the same traditional country format of its predecessor.[<\/span>49]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was produced by\u00a0Jimmy Bowen<\/a>, along with co-production credits from McEntire herself.[<\/span>50]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album’s\u00a0title track<\/a>\u00a0reached the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country top 10 along with “Only in My Mind<\/a>“, a song composed by McEntire herself.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Just a few months later, on October 19, McEntire performed the National Anthem at game one of the\u00a01985 World Series<\/a>. In February 1986, her ninth studio album was released named\u00a0Whoever’s in New England<\/a><\/i>. On the record, McEntire and co-producer Jimmy Bowen mixed a traditional country style with a modern, contemporary sound. Author Kurt Wolff described the\u00a0title track<\/a>‘s production as being “bigger and sentimentalism more obvious, even manipulative”.[<\/span>41]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Issued as the lead single, the title track peaked at number one on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country chart[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and won McEntire the\u00a0Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance<\/a>.[<\/span>51]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album itself became her first to top the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0Country Albums survey.[<\/span>52]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and later certified platinum by the\u00a0Recording Industry Association of America<\/a>\u00a0for sales of one million copies.[<\/span>53]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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“Whoever’s in New England”<\/a><\/div>\n
Duration: 22 seconds.<\/span>0:22<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
McEntire’s 1986 single helped establish her as a more contemporary artist that continued to exhibit traditional country music styles. The song later won her a Grammy award in 1987.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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By this point McEntire had reached the height of her commercial stardom.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Following this, McEntire made changes to her stage show. She began implementing choreography and experimented with stage lighting.[<\/span>54]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Also in 1986, McEntire’s twelfth studio album appeared titled\u00a0What Am I Gonna Do About You<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0AllMusic found that it lacked the features that had made\u00a0Whoever’s in New England<\/i>\u00a0unique.[<\/span>55]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The\u00a0title track<\/a>\u00a0was the lead single from the release. It became her next number one song on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country chart[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and her first number one on the\u00a0RPM<\/i>\u00a0Canadian country chart.[<\/span>40]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Its second single, “One Promise Too Late<\/a>“, also topped the country chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her 13th studio project,\u00a0The Last One to Know<\/a><\/i>, was released in 1987 and reached number three on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country albums chart.[<\/span>56]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Reviewer Tom Roland noted that McEntire chose material that reflected her recent divorce from first husband Charlie Battles.[<\/span>57]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Both the\u00a0title track<\/a>\u00a0and “Love Will Find Its Way to You<\/a>” topped the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country songs chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In late 1987, McEntire released her first Christmas collection called\u00a0Merry Christmas to You<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>58]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Also in 1987, she played\u00a0Carnegie Hall<\/a>\u00a0in New York City for the first time.[<\/span>59]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In the late 1980s, McEntire took more control of her career. She fired her manager and formed her own entertainment company that helped further promote her material.[<\/span>60]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Other new changes included her 1988 pop-inspired release\u00a0Reba<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her fifteenth studio disc included covers of the former pop hits “Respect<\/a>” and “A Sunday Kind of Love<\/a>“.[<\/span>61]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It produced the number-one\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country singles “New Fool at an Old Game<\/a>” and “I Know How He Feels<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was followed by 1989’s\u00a0Sweet Sixteen<\/a><\/i>, which was noted to be a more of a “return to the neo-traditionalist fold”, according to reviewer William Ruhlmann.[<\/span>62]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album featured the country hits “‘Til Love Comes Again<\/a>“, “Little Girl<\/a>“, “Walk On<\/a>” and a cover of “Cathy’s Clown<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her first live project titled\u00a0Reba Live<\/a><\/i>\u00a0was also released in 1989.[<\/span>63]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Rumor Has It<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1990) was another pop-oriented album release featuring a mix of ballads and uptempo numbers.[<\/span>64]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was the first disc in McEntire’s career to reach the top 40 of the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200<\/a>\u00a0albums chart.[<\/span>65]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The disc would become McEntire’s highest-selling album, certifying three-times platinum from the RIAA.[<\/span>53]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Four hit country singles came from the release, including “You Lie<\/a>“[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and her cover of Bobbie Gentrys’ 1969 single\u00a0“Fancy<\/a>“. The latter single eventually became one of McEntire’s signature songs.[<\/span>66]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>67]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

1991: Plane crash and\u00a0For My Broken Heart<\/i><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cImproper planning\/decision by the pilot, the pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance over mountainous terrain, and the copilot’s failure to adequately monitor the progress of the flight. Factors related to the accident were: insufficient terrain information provided by the flight service specialist during the preflight briefing after the pilot inquired about a low-altitude departure, darkness, mountainous terrain, both pilot’s lack of familiarity with the geographical area, and the copilot’s lack of familiarity with the aircraft.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014\u200aThe findings from the\u00a0National Transportation Safety Board<\/a>\u00a0following their 1991 investigation of the plane crash.[<\/span>68]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In the late 1980s, McEntire’s touring schedule became increasingly busy. To avoid long bus trips, she and her band began traveling by private planes to concerts.[<\/span>69]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire and her touring band started the 1991 leg of their tour with dates in Alaska;\u00a0Saginaw, Michigan<\/a>;\u00a0Fort Wayne, Indiana<\/a>, and a private gig for\u00a0IBM<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0San Diego<\/a>, California. Two planes which would carry McEntire’s band were scheduled to leave San Diego. McEntire, her husband, and her stylist were to take a different aircraft the next day.[<\/span>70]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In the early hours of March 16, 1991, McEntire was awakened by a phone call from Roger Woolsey, pilot of the second plane. McEntire’s husband took the call and discovered that one of the planes had crashed.[<\/span>71]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Following the successful takeoff of both planes, one plane’s wing hit the side of\u00a0Otay Mountain<\/a>\u00a0in San Diego, killing everyone on board.[<\/span>72]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>73]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In total, eight members of her band were killed: guitarists\u00a0Chris Austin<\/a>\u00a0and Michael Thomas, keyboardists Kirk Cappello and Joey Cigainero, vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, road manager Jim Hammon, bassist Terry Jackson, and drummer Anthony Saputo. Pilot Donald Holmes and co-pilot Chris Hollinger were also killed.[<\/span>74]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The first plane was a\u00a0Hawker Siddeley DH-125-1A\/522<\/a>\u00a0charter jet that took off at 1:40 am from\u00a0Brown Field Municipal Airport<\/a>, located near the\u00a0Mexico\u2013United States border<\/a>. After reaching an altitude of 3,400 feet (1,040\u00a0m) above sea level, the aircraft crashed on the side of Otay Mountain, located 10 miles (16\u00a0km) east of the airport.[<\/span>75]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The\u00a0National Transportation Safety Board<\/a>\u00a0(NTSB) determined the probable cause of the accident was related to “improper pilot planning”.[<\/span>68]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the second plane carrying the rest of her band made it successfully to an airport in Nashville. McEntire, her husband, and hair stylist returned on their own plane following the accident. “By the time that long, terrible weekend was over, we were emotionally and physically exhausted,” McEntire stated in her autobiography.[<\/span>76]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The news was reported nearly immediately to McEntire and her husband, who were sleeping at a nearby hotel. A spokeswoman for McEntire made a statement to\u00a0The Los Angeles Times<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on her behalf: “She was very close to all of them. Some of them had been with her for years. Reba is totally devastated by this. It’s like losing part of your family. Right now, she just wants to get back to Nashville.”[<\/span>77]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Two days after the crash, McEntire conducted an interview with\u00a0People<\/a><\/i>\u00a0and scheduled a memorial service for the families of the victims.[<\/span>69]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Nine days following the accident, McEntire performed at the\u00a063rd Academy Awards<\/a>\u00a0ceremony, singing the\u00a0Best Original Song<\/a>\u00a0nominee “I’m Checkin’ Out” from the film\u00a0Postcards from the Edge<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>78]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In addition,\u00a0Vince Gill<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dolly Parton<\/a>\u00a0offered their help in reorganizing her touring band.[<\/span>79]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>80]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire dedicated her 16th album,\u00a0For My Broken Heart<\/a><\/i>, to the deceased members of her road band. Released in October 1991, it contained songs of sorrow and lost love about “all measure of suffering”,[<\/span>81]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0according to Alanna Nash of\u00a0Entertainment Weekly<\/i>. Nash reported that McEntire “still hits her stride with the more traditional songs of emotional turmoil, above all combining a spectacular vocal performance with a terrific song on ‘Buying Her Roses’, a wife’s head-spinning discovery of her husband’s other woman.”[<\/span>81]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The disc peaked at number three on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0Top Country Albums chart.[<\/span>82]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It also became her highest-charting release on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200 yet, peaking at number 13.[<\/span>83]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It later sold over four million copies in the United States, becoming her best-selling album to date.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Its\u00a0title track<\/a>\u00a0and “Is There Life Out There<\/a>” both became number one\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country singles. In addition, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew<\/a>” and McEntire’s cover of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia<\/a>” both became major country hits.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span>1992\u20132002: Continued country success<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In December 1992, McEntire’s 17th album\u00a0It’s Your Call<\/a><\/i>\u00a0was released. A sign of her increased mainstream success, the album was her first to reach the top 10 of the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It spawned the country hits “Take It Back<\/a>“, the\u00a0title track<\/a>\u00a0and a number one duet with\u00a0Vince Gill<\/a>\u00a0called “The Heart Won’t Lie<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Critic Brian Mansfield compared the disc to\u00a0For My Broken Heart<\/i>, concluding that “only casual or partial listeners will be moved as much.”[<\/span>84]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Christopher John Farley of\u00a0Time<\/a><\/i>\u00a0wrote that the album ranged from being “relaxing” to “cathartic”, and “these vocals from one of the best country singers linger in the mind”.[<\/span>85]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0For her next release, McEntire collaborated with up-and-coming artist\u00a0Linda Davis<\/a>\u00a0on the single “Does He Love You<\/a>“.[<\/span>86]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0MCA Records encouraged McEntire to record the track with more established acts like\u00a0Wynonna Judd<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Trisha Yearwood<\/a>, but ultimately finalized the track with Davis.[<\/span>87]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>88]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It became her 18th number-one hit on the Country Songs chart and her 16th topper on the Canadian country chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>40]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was later included on her 1993 compilation\u00a0Greatest Hits Volume Two<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>86]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Later that year, Davis and McEntire performed the duet at the CMA Awards. For her performance, McEntire wore a red dress with a plunging neckline that created controversy among the Nashville community.[<\/span>89]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>90]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Her 18th studio release was 1994’s\u00a0Read My Mind<\/a><\/i>. The disc reached number two on both the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200[<\/span>65]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and the Top Country Albums chart.[<\/span>52]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The disc later reached sales of three million copies in the United States and certified three times platinum from the RIAA.[<\/span>53]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Five major hits came from the release, including “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter<\/a>“, “Till You Love Me<\/a>“[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and a song about a woman contracting\u00a0AIDS<\/a>\u00a0called “She Thinks His Name Was John<\/a>“. The last recording only reached a top-20 charting position due to its controversial lyrics.[<\/span>91]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire’s 19th studio album,\u00a0Starting Over<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1995) is a collection of her favorite songs originally recorded by others. The album was made to commemorate McEntire’s 20 years in the music industry. The album received a less favorable response from critics than that of her previous releases.[<\/span>92]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>93]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0While the project spawned three charting singles, only McEntire’s cover of “Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands<\/a>” became a top-10 country song.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Starting Over<\/i>\u00a0was certified platinum by the RIAA within the first two months of its release.[<\/span>53]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/a>
McEntire in Washington, DC, November 2000<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McEntire’s next album release\u00a0What If It’s You<\/a><\/i>\u00a0was issued by MCA in November 1996. The record was a return to a contemporary country sound.[<\/span>94]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It debuted at number 15 on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200[<\/span>95]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and eventually topped the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country albums list.[<\/span>96]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It received a more favorable response from radio programmers than that of her 1995 album and received greater promotion.[<\/span>95]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Critic Thom Owens noted that the project “[didn’t] offer any new tricks from Reba McEntire, but it is nevertheless an excellent reminder of her deep talents as a vocalist.”[<\/span>97]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Its first single, “The Fear of Being Alone<\/a>” became a top-five hit, while “How Was I to Know<\/a>” reached the number-one spot on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country songs survey.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire began touring with country duo\u00a0Brooks & Dunn<\/a>\u00a0during the mid 1990s. Their touring collaborating led to the recording of a duet titled “If You See Him\/If You See Her<\/a>” in 1998.[<\/span>98]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The track topped both the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country songs chart and the Canadian\u00a0RPM<\/i>\u00a0country chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>40]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Their initial collaborations would lead to several more professional endeavors over the years, including a joint Las Vegas residency.[<\/span>99]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The duet was included on McEntire’s\u00a0If You See Him<\/a><\/i>\u00a0album and Brooks & Dunn’s\u00a0If You See Her<\/a><\/i>\u00a0album, both of which were released in June 1998.[<\/span>100]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Thom Owens found that both album titles were named nearly the same as “a way to draw attention for both parties, since they were no longer new guns\u2014they were veterans in danger of losing ground to younger musicians”.[<\/span>101]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0If You See Him<\/i>\u00a0produced three more top-10 country hits, including “Forever Love<\/a>” and “One Honest Heart<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 1999, McEntire released two albums. In September she issued her second Christmas album,\u00a0The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>102]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In November, her 22nd studio album,\u00a0So Good Together<\/a><\/i>\u00a0was released.[<\/span>103]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Entertainment Weekly<\/i>\u00a0commented that most of the album’s material was “an odd set\u2014mostly ballads, including an English\/Portuguese duet with\u00a0Jose e Durval<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Boz Scaggs<\/a>‘ ‘We’re All Alone'”.[<\/span>104]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It featured the top-five country songs “What Do You Say<\/a>” and “I’ll Be<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire focused on an acting career in the early 2000s and took a temporary musical hiatus.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0One exception was 2001’s “I’m a Survivor<\/a>“. The single became a top-five country hit and the theme song to McEntire’s 2001 television series.[<\/span>105]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span>2003\u20132015: Country music comeback, record label switch, and continued music success<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

McEntire returned to her recording career in August 2003 with the release of the MCA single “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain<\/a>“.[<\/span>106]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The song was included on her first studio album in four years titled\u00a0Room to Breathe<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(November 2003). “The reason I named the album\u00a0Room to Breathe<\/i>\u00a0is because I needed a little room to breathe,” McEntire told\u00a0Billboard<\/i>.[<\/span>107]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The 12-track disc was produced by\u00a0Buddy Cannon<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Norro Wilson<\/a>. It also featured a guest appearance from Vince Gill.[<\/span>106]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Room to Breathe<\/i>\u00a0debuted at number four on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country chart and later certified platinum in the United States.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It spawned McEntire’s first number-one song in six years titled “Somebody<\/a>“. Also featured was the top-10 single “He Gets That from Me<\/a>“.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2004, she embarked on her first tour in several years, also titled Room to Breathe, which included 36 cities in the United States.[<\/span>108]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2005, MCA released the double-disc compilation titled\u00a0Reba #1’s<\/a><\/i>\u00a0while she was between albums.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In September 2007, McEntire’s next studio disc was released titled\u00a0Reba: Duets<\/a><\/i>. The album was a collection of duets with various music artists,[<\/span>109]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0including\u00a0Kenny Chesney<\/a>,\u00a0LeAnn Rimes<\/a>,\u00a0Trisha Yearwood<\/a>,\u00a0Carole King<\/a>, and\u00a0Justin Timberlake<\/a>.\u00a0Reba: Duets<\/i>\u00a0topped the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country chart and the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200, becoming her first album in her career to reach the top of both lists.[<\/span>110]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Reba: Duets<\/i>\u00a0was later certified platinum by the RIAA.[<\/span>53]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album was given high critical praise from magazines such as\u00a0PopMatters<\/a><\/i>, which compared McEntire to artists like\u00a0Janis Joplin<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Tina Turner<\/a>.[<\/span>111]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0AllMusic’s Thom Jurek gave it 3.5 stars, commenting that “it’s full of good to great songs delivered in mostly interesting ways.”[<\/span>112]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The first single was a duet version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You<\/a>“, which reached number two on the American country chart[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and topped the\u00a0Canadian country songs<\/a>\u00a0chart.[<\/span>113]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/a>
McEntire attending the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2008, McEntire announced that she would be departing her label of 25 years and signing with the Valory Music Group, an imprint of\u00a0Big Machine Records<\/a>.[<\/span>114]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The switch to Valory reunited McEntire with the label’s president,\u00a0Scott Borchetta<\/a>, with whom she had worked previously.[<\/span>115]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her first Valory single was 2009’s “Strange<\/a>“.[<\/span>116]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The song debuted at number 39\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country songs chart, giving McEntire the highest single debut of her career and peaked at number 11. Her 26th studio album,\u00a0Keep on Loving You<\/a><\/i>, was released in August 2009[<\/span>117]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and also topped both the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0Country and 200 charts.[<\/span>118]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2009, “Consider Me Gone<\/a>” (spawned as the record’s second single) became her 24th number-one on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0chart in December.[<\/span>119]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>120]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0At age 54, McEntire became one of the oldest women to have a number-one single on the country songs chart.[<\/span>32]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire’s 29th studio album,\u00a0All the Women I Am<\/a><\/i>, was released in November 2010.[<\/span>121]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>122]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Steve Morse of\u00a0The Boston Globe<\/a><\/i>\u00a0called the project “one of her best efforts”,[<\/span>123]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0while Thom Jurek at AllMusic only gave it a 2.5 star rating, calling it “awkward” and lacking a “center”.[<\/span>124]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0“Turn On the Radio<\/a>” was issued as the lead single prior to the album,[<\/span>125]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0eventually becoming her twenty-fourth number one on the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country survey.[<\/span>126]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Three additional charting singles were spawned from\u00a0All the Women I Am<\/i>\u00a0that peaked outside the top 20.[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her\u00a0All the Women I Am Tour<\/a>\u00a0followed shortly after featuring country acts\u00a0the Band Perry<\/a>,\u00a0Steel Magnolia<\/a>, and\u00a0Edens Edge<\/a>.[<\/span>127]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>128]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2014, McEntire moved to Big Machine’s new imprint for veteran artists titled\u00a0Nash Icon Music<\/a>.[<\/span>129]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her first Nash Icon single was 2015’s “Going Out Like That<\/a>“,[<\/span>130]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0which reached the top 25 of the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0country songs chart.[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was included on her 2015 Nash Icon album\u00a0Love Somebody<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>131]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The album topped the country albums chart and charted the top five of the\u00a0Billboard<\/i>\u00a0200.[<\/span>132]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2016, McEntire released a third Christmas-themed studio album called\u00a0My Kind of Christmas<\/a><\/i>. The album was exclusively sold at\u00a0Cracker Barrel<\/a>\u00a0and online. She also announced she would soon be selling her own line of clothing, home decor, jewelry, and other things under the “Rockin’ R by Reba” line, also at Cracker Barrel.[<\/span>133]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>134]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span>2017\u2013present: New beginnings in her 60s<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

After her split from ex-husband Narvel Blackstock, McEntire took control of her career as her own manager. She recruited Justin McIntosh of Starstruck Entertainment, Leslie Matthews serving as brand manager, and Carolyn Snell who had been with McEntire for nine years. They formed Reba’s Business Inc. (RBI).[<\/span>135]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She moved out of the building where Blackstock and she had worked, and moved her company to Green Hills, Nashville.[<\/span>136]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

On December 15, 2016, McEntire announced that she was releasing her first\u00a0gospel<\/a>\u00a0album titled\u00a0Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope<\/a><\/i>. It was released by Nash Icon\/Rockin’ R Records on February 3, 2017, and consists of two discs. Disc one contains traditional hymns, while disc two contains original tracks. “Softly and Tenderly<\/a>“, featuring Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood, was the first track off the album released. Another track on the album, “In the Garden\/Wonderful Peace”, features\u00a0the Isaacs<\/a>.\u00a0Jay DeMarcus<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Rascal Flatts<\/a>\u00a0produced the album.[<\/span>137]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The first single off the album is “Back to God”.[<\/span>138]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In January 2018, McEntire won the\u00a0Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album<\/a>, her first nomination since 2007, and her first Grammy Award win in more than 20 years, since 1994. She also headlined the\u00a0C2C: Country to Country<\/a>\u00a0festival in the UK alongside\u00a0Brad Paisley<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Zac Brown Band<\/a>\u00a0in March. Because of its limited release in 2016, on October 13, 2017\u00a0My Kind of Christmas<\/i>\u00a0was re-released – this time including songs with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, and Lauren Daigle – on her website and through iTunes.[<\/span>139]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In July 2018, it was announced that McEntire would be one of four honorees for the 41st annual\u00a0Kennedy Center Honors<\/a>, along with\u00a0Cher<\/a>,\u00a0Philip Glass<\/a>, and\u00a0Wayne Shorter<\/a>. The ceremony was held December 2, 2018, and broadcast on\u00a0CBS<\/a>\u00a0December 26, 2018.[<\/span>140]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire released her 29th studio album\u00a0Stronger Than the Truth<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on April 5, 2019.[<\/span>141]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire also returned to host the 54th\u00a0Academy of Country Music Awards<\/a>\u00a0on April 8, 2019.[<\/span>142]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On February 20, 2020, during a surprise appearance at the\u00a0Country Radio Seminar<\/a>, McEntire announced she had signed a new record deal with\u00a0MCA Nashville<\/a>, returning to the label after leaving in November 2008.[<\/span>143]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire hosted the\u00a054th Annual Country Music Association Awards<\/a>\u00a0alongside\u00a0Darius Rucker<\/a>\u00a0in November 2020. McEntire previously hosted in 2019 with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton, 1992 with Vince Gill, 1991 by herself (the second solo female host), and 1990 with Randy Travis. On October 3, 2022, Reba revealed that she would continue her Reba: Live in Concert tour going through 2023 and play New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the first time.[<\/span>144]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2021, a duet version of the song “Does He Love You<\/a>” with Dolly Parton was released.[<\/span>145]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 2024, McEntire sang the national anthem during\u00a0Super Bowl LVIII<\/a>, and she was accompanied by deaf actor\u00a0Daniel Durant<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0American Sign Language<\/a>.[<\/span>146]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Acting career<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

<\/span>1989\u20131999: Entry into film and television acting<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In 1989, she obtained her first film role playing Heather Gummer in the horror comedy\u00a0Tremors<\/a><\/i>, along with\u00a0Kevin Bacon<\/a>. The film told the story of a small group of people, living in Nevada, who were fighting subterranean worm-like creatures. After the film’s release in 1990, McEntire developed a strong interest in acting and made it her second career. The film earned McEntire a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991\u00a0Saturn Awards<\/a>.[<\/span>147]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>148]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The following year, she starred along with\u00a0Kenny Rogers<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Burt Reynolds<\/a>\u00a0in the made-for-television movies\u00a0The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw<\/a><\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0The Man From Left Field<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0In 1994, McEntire worked with director\u00a0Rob Reiner<\/a>\u00a0in the film\u00a0North<\/a><\/i>, playing Ma Tex.<\/p>\n

In 1994, McEntire starred in\u00a0Is There Life Out There?<\/a><\/i>, a television movie based on her\u00a0song of the same name<\/a>. The following year, she appeared in\u00a0Buffalo Girls<\/a><\/i>, which was based upon the life of western cowgirl\u00a0Calamity Jane<\/a>\u00a0(played by\u00a0Anjelica Huston<\/a>). Playing Jane’s friend\u00a0Annie Oakley<\/a>,\u00a0Buffalo Girls<\/i>\u00a0was nominated for an\u00a0Emmy award<\/a>.[<\/span>149]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1996, McEntire was cast by director\u00a0James Cameron<\/a>\u00a0as\u00a0Molly Brown<\/a>\u00a0in his film\u00a0Titanic<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0However, when it became apparent production for the film would extend well beyond its original length, McEntire had to turn down the part, as she had already scheduled prior concert engagements. The role was recast with\u00a0Kathy Bates<\/a>.[<\/span>150]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In 1998, she starred as Lizzie Brooks in\u00a0Forever Love<\/a><\/i>, which was based upon McEntire’s hit single of the same name.[<\/span>151]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span>2000\u20132007: Broadway and television series<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In early 2001, McEntire expanded into theater, starring in the Broadway revival of\u00a0Annie Get Your Gun<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Playing\u00a0Annie Oakley<\/a>\u00a0(whom she had previously portrayed in\u00a0Buffalo Girls<\/i>), her performance was critically acclaimed by several newspapers, including\u00a0The New York Times<\/i>, which commented, “Without qualification the best performance by an actress in a musical comedy this season.”[<\/span>152]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire personally called the musical “some of the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life”.[<\/span>153]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2005, McEntire starred as Nellie Forbush in the\u00a0Carnegie Hall<\/a>\u00a0concert production of the Broadway musical\u00a0South Pacific<\/a><\/i>\u00a0with\u00a0Alec Baldwin<\/a>\u00a0as Luther Billis and\u00a0Brian Stokes Mitchell<\/a>\u00a0as Emile de Becque, directed by\u00a0Walter Bobbie<\/a>, and with an adapted script by\u00a0David Ives<\/a>. The concert was broadcast as part of the\u00a0Great Performances<\/a><\/i>\u00a0series in 2006.[<\/span>154]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In October 2001, McEntire premiered her half-hour television sitcom\u00a0Reba<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on\u00a0The WB<\/a>. The show was based around divorced mother Reba Hart, who learns how to handle life situations after her husband divorces her to marry his dental hygienist\u2013\u2013with whom he had been cheating and gotten pregnant\u2013\u2013and then their teenaged daughter becomes pregnant, as well.[<\/span>155]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Reba<\/i>\u00a0garnered critical acclaim and success, becoming the network’s highest-rated television show for adults ranging from the ages of 18 to 49. The show ran for six seasons and earned McEntire a nomination for a\u00a0Golden Globe award<\/a>.[<\/span>148]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was canceled on February 18, 2007; the series finale had 8.7 million viewers.[<\/span>156]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Since 2011: Brief television return and current projects<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In September 2011, McEntire confirmed on her website that ABC had ordered a pilot for her second television series\u00a0Malibu Country<\/a><\/i>.[<\/span>157]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire played a divorced mother of two who moves to Malibu, California, to restart her music career.[<\/span>157]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The pilot was filmed in April 2012 and began production on its first season in August. The pilot for\u00a0Malibu Country<\/i>\u00a0was to premiere November 2, 2012. The show was broadcast Friday nights at 8:30\/7:30c on ABC.[<\/span>158]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On May 11, 2012, McEntire tweeted that the show had been picked up.[<\/span>159]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She also was the host in the 2011 NASCAR Award Show in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Despite reports that\u00a0Malibu Country<\/i>\u00a0was the most-watched freshman comedy in its debut season (8.7 million),[<\/span>160]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0the show was canceled on May 10, 2013, after 18 episodes.<\/p>\n

In 2016, McEntire was a guest panelist during\u00a0season 11<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0America’s Got Talent<\/a><\/i>. During one of the Judge Cuts, McEntire gave the Golden Buzzer to contortionist\u00a0Sofie Dossi<\/a>.[<\/span>161]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In January 2017, it was announced that McEntire would star and produce a Southern drama series for ABC titled\u00a0Red Blooded<\/i>.[<\/span>162]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>163]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In May, ABC announced it ultimately had turned down the show, so it moved to being shopped around to other networks.[<\/span>164]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In January 2018, Reba was chosen to portray\u00a0KFC<\/a>‘s first female\u00a0Colonel Sanders<\/a>. The commercials ran through the end of April 2018.[<\/span>165]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2020, McEntire launched a podcast titled\u00a0Living and Learning<\/i>\u00a0hosted by her former\u00a0Reba<\/i>\u00a0co-star\u00a0Melissa Peterman<\/a>\u00a0and herself.[<\/span>166]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

She made a cameo appearance in the 2021 comedy film\u00a0Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar<\/a><\/i>\u00a0as a water spirit named Trish, after\u00a0Annie Mumolo<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Kristen Wiig<\/a>, who wrote, produced, and starred in the film, wrote her an “impassioned letter” asking her to join the film. Director\u00a0Josh Greenbaum<\/a>\u00a0said in an interview, “There’s some casting that just clicks. Reba is not only 100% authentic, we knew she would be game.”[<\/span>167]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In May 2022, ABC announced that McEntire will be joining the cast of the drama\u00a0Big Sky<\/a><\/i>, playing local businesswoman Sunny Barnes in season three.[<\/span>168]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire starred in\u00a0Reba McEntire’s The Hammer<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on Lifetime in 2023. The country star reunited with her\u00a0Reba<\/i>\u00a0sitcom co-star Melissa Peterman in the film inspired by the life of traveling Nevada circuit judge Kim Wheeler.[<\/span>169]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The film also stars McEntire’s boyfriend Rex Linn as Bart Crawford, a mysterious cowboy with unknown motives, and Kay Shioma Metchie as Vicky, the tough-talking bailiff who serves as Kim’s right hand and trusted friend.<\/p>\n

In May 2023, it was announced that McEntire would be a coach on\u00a0The Voice<\/a><\/i>, replacing\u00a0Blake Shelton<\/a>. She served as a coach from its\u00a024th season<\/a>\u00a0to its\u00a026th season<\/a>.[<\/span>170]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On May 21, 2024,\u00a0Asher HaVon<\/a>, a member of Reba’s team, won the\u00a025th season<\/a>, making McEntire the winning coach on her second season.[<\/span>171]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In May 2025, it was announced that McEntire would return to\u00a0The Voice<\/a><\/i>\u00a0after a one season-hiatus for the\u00a028th season<\/a>, which aired in late 2025.[<\/span>172]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

On September 20, 2023, McEntire reunited with Sofie Dossi, where they collaborated during a result show on\u00a0season 18<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0America’s Got Talent<\/i>, when McEntire sang “Can’t Even Get the Blues”, while Dossi did her contortion, hand-balancing, and aerial performances.[<\/span>173]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In January 2024, McEntire was creating a new comedy for NBC, later announced to be titled\u00a0Happy’s Place<\/a><\/i>\u00a0and co-starring Melissa Peterman.[<\/span>174]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Musical styles and legacy<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

McEntire’s sound has been influenced by the country music of\u00a0Bob Wills<\/a>,\u00a0Merle Haggard<\/a>,\u00a0Dolly Parton<\/a>,\u00a0Barbara Mandrell<\/a>, and\u00a0Patsy Cline<\/a>.[<\/span>175]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In college, McEntire attended local dances at the Oklahoma\u2013Texas border, so she could dance to Wills’s music, commenting that, “it didn’t get any better than dancing to Bob Wills music”. She also explained Merle Haggard’s influence on her career, stating, “I had every album he ever put out”, and would sing “every song he did”, along with her brother, Pake and sister, Susie. In addition, her first major hit, “Sweet Dreams<\/a>“, was a remake of Patsy Cline’s version of the song, according to McEntire herself.[<\/span>176]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire’s music has been described not only to be built upon traditional country music, but also expand into the genres of\u00a0country pop<\/a>,\u00a0mainstream pop<\/a>,\u00a0soul<\/a>, and\u00a0rhythm and blues<\/a>. At times, her music has been criticized for moving away from traditional country music. Many music critics have called her music to be “melodramatic”, “formulaic”, and “bombastic”, particularly after her 1988 album\u00a0Reba<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Studio releases such as\u00a0Sweet Sixteen<\/a><\/i>,\u00a0Rumor Has It<\/a><\/i>,\u00a0It’s Your Call<\/a><\/i>, and\u00a0Starting Over<\/a><\/i>\u00a0have been described by these terms.[<\/span>31]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire possesses a\u00a0contralto<\/a>\u00a0vocal range[<\/span>177]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and performs “vocal gymnastics” with her voice,[<\/span>178]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0a musical technique in which a singer twirls a note around, using their\u00a0vibrato<\/a>. McEntire has credited Dolly Parton for influencing this trait, stating that she always listened to Parton’s records and find her style of vocal gymnastics “so pretty”.[<\/span>153]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire has often been regarded as one of country music’s most influential female vocalists and most beloved entertainers.[<\/span>31]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>175]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She is highly credited for remaining one of country’s most popular female artists for nearly four decades, maintaining her success by continually incorporating contemporary musical sounds without changing her traditional vocal style.[<\/span>120]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>175]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0For numerous artists, she has been credited as an inspiration to their careers in music.[<\/span>175]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The Net Music Countdown<\/i>\u00a0second-handedly reported, “That influence has manifested itself in many ways. As a role model, she’s shown others how to handle fame with grace and good humor while never backing down from her values or goals. Just as importantly, she’s shown others to refuse to accept limitations on what she can do or how much she can achieve.” McEntire also explained to the online website, “Whatever I’m doing, I feel like I’m representing country music”. “It’s always been my main career, and it’s where my loyalties lie. I feel like I’m waving the flag of country music wherever I go, and I couldn’t be prouder to do it.”[<\/span>179]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Commercial performance and industry impact<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Reba McEntire has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female country artists in history.[<\/span>180]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In the United States, multiple albums have been certified platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[<\/span>181]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Her highest-selling album remains\u00a0For My Broken Heart<\/i>\u00a0(1991), which has been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA.[<\/span>181]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Other multi-platinum releases include\u00a0Rumor Has It<\/i>\u00a0(1990),[<\/span>181]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Read My Mind<\/i>\u00a0(1994),[<\/span>181]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and\u00a0Reba: Duets<\/i>\u00a0(2007).[<\/span>181]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Across four decades, McEntire achieved number-one albums on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, reflecting sustained commercial success.[<\/span>182]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Personal life<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

McEntire is a Christian, and she has stated that her faith in God has helped her immensely throughout her life.[<\/span>183]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Two of her siblings have also had careers in the music industry. Her brother Pake dabbled in the country music industry in the late 1980s, but returned to Oklahoma after a brief stint. He owns and operates a 1,000-acre (400\u00a0ha) ranch near Coalgate, Oklahoma, and continues to rodeo. Her sister\u00a0Susie McEntire-Eaton<\/a>\u00a0(Martha Susan “Susie” McEntire-Eaton, formerly Luchsinger) is a successful Christian music singer who travels the country with her husband, speaking and performing. She also has an older sister, Alice Foran, a retired social worker who resides in Lane, Oklahoma. Her niece Calamity McEntire is the associate head coach of the\u00a0University of Illinois<\/a>\u00a0women’s basketball team.[<\/span>184]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>185]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Relationships and family<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In 1976, McEntire married\u00a0steer wrestling<\/a>\u00a0champion and rancher Charlie Battles, who was 10 years her senior and had two sons from his previous marriage. The couple shared a ranch in Oklahoma. In 1987, McEntire divorced Battles and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to further her career.[<\/span>186]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>187]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>188]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 1989, McEntire married her manager and former steel guitar player Narvel Blackstock. The couple wed at Lake Tahoe on a boat in a private ceremony. Together, the pair took over all aspects of McEntire’s career, forming Starstruck Entertainment, which was originally designed to help manage her career. From her marriage to Blackstock, McEntire gained three stepchildren, Chassidy, Shawna, and Brandon. She gave birth to a son,\u00a0Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock<\/a>, in February 1990. On August 3, 2015, a joint statement on McEntire’s website announced that Blackstock and she had been separated for a few months after 26 years of marriage.[<\/span>189]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire announced in December 2015 that their divorce had been finalized on October 28, 2015. Despite the divorce, McEntire remains very close to her three stepchildren and the Blackstock family; she considers her stepchildren’s children to be her grandchildren.[<\/span>190]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

McEntire’s stepson Brandon Blackstock married singer\u00a0Kelly Clarkson<\/a>, with whom he has a daughter and a son.[<\/span>191]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Speaking about their impending marriage in 2013, McEntire stated she was “Thrilled to death, to have my buddy as my daughter-in-law. I mean, who could ask for more?”[<\/span>192]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Blackstock and Clarkson’s divorce was finalized in March 2022.[<\/span>193]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0He died of\u00a0melanoma<\/a>\u00a0on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48.[<\/span>194]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>195]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/a>
McEntire with her boyfriend\u00a0Rex Linn<\/a>\u00a0in 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2017, McEntire began a relationship with photographer Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo. The couple met through McEntire’s association with\u00a0Kix Brooks<\/a>. In describing her feelings about Lasuzzo, she stated in April 2019, “We’re totally in love \u2014 absolutely,” she says. “I wouldn’t put up with somebody for two years if I wasn’t in love with ’em!”[<\/span>196]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire and Lasuzzo separated six months later.[<\/span>197]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2020, McEntire began dating film and TV actor\u00a0Rex Linn<\/a>.[<\/span>198]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0They first met on the set of\u00a0The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw<\/i>\u00a0(1991) and reconnected almost 30 years later when McEntire guest-starred as June on\u00a0Young Sheldon<\/i>, where Linn had a recurring role as principal of Sheldon’s high school.[<\/span>199]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0In an interview prior to the 2025\u00a0Emmy Awards<\/a>\u00a0ceremony, McEntire and Linn announced their engagement.[<\/span>200]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0However, the engagement took place months prior in December 2024.[<\/span>201]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Philanthropy<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

In 1992, she opened Reba’s Ranch House in Denison, Texas,[<\/span>202]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0an extended-stay residence for relatives of patients undergoing treatment at\u00a0Texoma Medical Center<\/a>\u00a0or other nearby facilities.[<\/span>203]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>204]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Over the course of her career, she has been and continues to be an active supporter of various charitable organizations, including\u00a0Habitat for Humanity<\/a>, the\u00a0Salvation Army<\/a>, the\u00a0American Red Cross<\/a>,\u00a0Feeding America<\/a>, and Celebrity Fight Night. She has been honored with the\u00a0Minnie Pearl<\/a>\u00a0Award, the ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award, and the\u00a0Andrea Bocelli<\/a>\u00a0Foundation Humanitarian Award for her efforts. In 2018, she was honored with the\u00a0Horatio Alger<\/a>\u00a0Award for Education, Charity Work. Named after the “rags to riches” writer, the award recognizes perseverance and giving back.[<\/span>205]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>206]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>207]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Accolades<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Main article:\u00a0List of awards and nominations received by Reba McEntire<\/a><\/div>\n

McEntire has the second-most wins for the\u00a0Academy of Country Music<\/a>‘s Top Female Vocalist Awards with seven. McEntire holds the record\u00a0American Music Awards<\/a>\u00a0for Favorite Country Female Artist (12). She also holds the distinction of being the first to win the\u00a0Country Music Association<\/a>‘s Female Vocalist of the Year Award four times consecutively.\u00a0Martina McBride<\/a>\u00a0won Female Vocalist four times, although not consecutively. In 2013,\u00a0Miranda Lambert<\/a>\u00a0tied McEntire to win Female Vocalist four years in a row and in 2016\u00a0Carrie Underwood<\/a>\u00a0joined this elite club by winning her fourth Female Vocalist award. McEntire is also a rare musical artist to achieve solo number-ones across four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s). She holds the record for second-most CMA Award nominations for a female artist, with 51. McEntire has the second-most ACM Awards nominations for a female artist with 47, respectively.[<\/span>208]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0She is also the recipient of three\u00a0Grammy Awards<\/a>, winning in 1987, 1994 and 2018. In December 2018, McEntire received the\u00a0Kennedy Center Honor<\/a>.[<\/span>209]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

When Reba McEntire made her\u00a0Grand Ole Opry<\/a>\u00a0debut on September 17, 1977, she almost did not make it in the door after a guard at the Opry gate missed her name on the night’s list of performers.[<\/span>210]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Her parents and older sister, Alice, drove 1,400 miles round trip from their Oklahoma home to see what turned out to be Reba’s three-minute performance that night. Her act was cut from two songs to just one\u2014”Invitation to the Blues”\u2014because of a surprise appearance by Dolly Parton.[<\/span>210]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 17, 1986.[<\/span>210]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0“The Grand Ole Opry is a home,” she says. “It’s a family. It’s like a family reunion, when you come back and get to see everybody.”[<\/span>211]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2011, the Country Music Association announced that McEntire would be inducted into the\u00a0Country Music Hall of Fame<\/a>.[<\/span>212]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire was unable to attend the announcement after her father had slipped into a coma following a stroke.[<\/span>212]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0McEntire attended the official induction ceremony alongside the other 2011 inductees\u00a0Jean Shepard<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Bobby Braddock<\/a>. She was inducted by\u00a0Dolly Parton<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reba McEntire McEntire in 2022 Born Reba Nell McEntire March 28, 1955\u00a0(age\u00a071) McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S. Other\u00a0names “The Queen of Country” Reba Alma\u00a0mater Southeastern Oklahoma State University\u00a0(BSc) Occupations Singer actress television … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1618,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1616\/revisions\/1618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}