Reba McEntire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reba McEntire
McEntire in 2022
Born	Reba Nell McEntire (1955-03-28) March 28, 1955 (age 70) McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater	Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Occupation	Singer actress television personality producer businesswoman
Years active	1975–present
Works	Albums singles videography
Spouse(s)	Charlie Battles ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1987)​ Narvel Blackstock ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 2015)​
Partner(s)	Anthony Lasuzzo (2017–2019) Rex Linn (2020–present)
Children	Shelby Blackstock
Relatives	Susie McEntire (sister) Pake McEntire (brother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Country gospel
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	PolyGram/Mercury MCA Nashville Valory Nash Icon Big Machine Rockin' R

Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), known simply as Reba, is a famous American country singer and actress. She is often called "the Queen of Country" and has sold over 75 million records around the world. Since the 1970s, she has had more than 100 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with 25 of them reaching the number one spot. Reba has also starred in movies and TV shows, including her own popular series Reba, which ran for six seasons. She also owns several businesses, like a restaurant and a clothing line.

Reba was one of four children and grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma. With her mother's help, she and her siblings formed a group called the Singing McEntires. They performed at local events. Reba later went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University to become a teacher. She kept singing, and at a rodeo, country singer Red Steagall heard her. He was impressed and helped her get a recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records in 1975. That year, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with her mother.

For several years, her early songs and albums didn't become big hits. But in the early 1980s, her music started to gain popularity. She had several top ten country songs, including "Can't Even Get the Blues", which was her first number one hit. Reba wanted more control over her music, so she signed with MCA Records in 1984. Her album My Kind of Country (1984) became a huge success. It had two number one country songs and showed her traditional country style. Throughout the 1980s, Reba released many more albums and had ten more number one country hits. These included "One Promise Too Late" and the Grammy Award-winning "Whoever's in New England".

In 1991, Reba faced a tragedy when eight of her band members died in a plane crash. This sad event inspired her highly praised album For My Broken Heart, which is her best-selling album ever. She continued to release successful albums in the 1990s, like Read My Mind (1994) and What If It's You (1996). These albums included number one songs such as "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and a duet with Brooks and Dunn called "If You See Him/If You See Her". Reba's acting career began in 1990 with her first movie, Tremors. In 2001, she played Annie Oakley in the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun. That same year, her TV show Reba started. More recently, she has appeared on Young Sheldon and became a coach on The Voice in 2023.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Reba McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1955. She grew up on a cattle ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. She was the third of four children born to Clark and Jacqueline McEntire. Her mother, Jacqueline, had always wanted to be a country singer. She taught Reba and her siblings to sing in harmony during car trips to their father's rodeo events.

Young Reba started performing at school when she was in first grade, singing "Away in a Manger" at a Christmas show. In fifth grade, she joined the 4-H club and won first place for singing. She also played basketball, ran track, and learned piano and guitar. Reba even trained to be a barrel racer in rodeos.

Reba McEntire in her 1974 college yearbook. She studied to become an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time singer.

By high school, Reba and her siblings were performing often. They formed a trio called The Singing McEntires. In 1971, they released a song about their famous grandfather, "The Ballad of John McEntire." It was a small release in their local area. The group later added a band and performed at local events and even in bars in Oklahoma City. Reba remembered, "We were a bunch of kids barely in puberty who didn't get to bed until almost daylight after some of our shows." The band stopped playing together after Reba's brother graduated. Reba herself graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973.

After high school, Reba went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She studied to be an elementary education teacher and also took music classes. She continued to help on her family's ranch during college. In 1974, Reba's father encouraged her to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. A family friend helped her get the job. After one of her performances, country artist Red Steagall heard her sing and was very impressed.

Reba, her siblings, and her mother met Steagall at a hotel party. Reba sang Dolly Parton's "Joshua" without music. Reba's mother asked Steagall if he could help her children get a recording contract. In early 1975, Steagall called back and said, "I can't take all three. But I could take Reba. She's got something a little different."

In March 1975, Reba and her mother traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to record a demo tape. Reba wasn't sure about becoming a professional singer at first. She kept making excuses for her mother to stop the car. Her mother 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." This conversation changed Reba's mind, and they continued to Nashville.

After recording the demo, Glenn Keener from PolyGram/Mercury Records heard Reba's tape and wanted to sign her. He took Reba's tape and another singer's tape to the label's main office. He was told he could only sign one female artist. Reba later said, "He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed ’em mine."

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out at Mercury Records (1976–1983)

Reba McEntire in a promotional photo after signing her first recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records, 1976.

In November 1975, Reba McEntire signed her first country music contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records. She started recording in January 1976. Her first song, released in 1976, didn't become a big hit. Her debut album, Reba McEntire, came out in 1977. Reba also started touring more often. She didn't have her own band at first and sometimes had to tell jokes on stage because the local bands didn't know country music.

By 1978, Reba's career began to pick up speed. She had her first top 20 hit with "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" with Jacky Ward. Her second album, Out of a Dream (1979), included her first top 20 solo hit, "Sweet Dreams". By 1980, Reba had her own band, which included her sister Susie and brother Pake. She also got a new manager. Reba and her band traveled in a three-car caravan, sometimes using a horse trailer for instruments. She later got a bus, but it often broke down. In 1980, " (You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" became her first top ten hit.

Reba's record label wanted her to record soft country-pop songs, which she often disagreed with. Her fourth album, Heart to Heart (1981), was her first to appear on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Its main song, "Today All Over Again", reached number five. In 1983, Reba found out her song "Can't Even Get the Blues" hit number one on the Billboard country chart. This was followed by her second number one, "You're the First Time I Thought About Leaving". Both songs were on her 1983 album Unlimited. Because of her growing success, she was able to leave Mercury Records early in 1983.

Breaking Through to Stardom (1984–1990)

Reba signed with MCA Records in 1984. She wanted more control over her music. She worked with MCA president Jimmy Bowen, who told her to find her own songs. Reba found "Somebody Should Leave" and "How Blue". When released as singles, these songs both reached number one on the country charts. They were included on her 1984 album My Kind of Country. This album also featured covers of classic country songs. Billboard magazine called Reba "the finest woman country singer since Kitty Wells." This album was a major turning point for her. It helped her win the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association in 1984. This album, along with music by George Strait and Randy Travis, helped bring back traditional country sounds.

Her next MCA album, Have I Got a Deal for You (1985), continued her traditional country style. Reba helped produce this album herself. The song "Only in My Mind", which Reba wrote, became a top ten hit. In 1986, her album Whoever's in New England was released. This album mixed traditional country with a more modern sound. The song "Whoever's in New England" became a number one hit and won Reba a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album was her first to reach number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart and sold over one million copies.

By this time, Reba was very famous. She started adding choreography and special lighting to her stage shows. In 1986, her album What Am I Gonna Do About You came out. Its title song became her next number one hit. Another song from the album, "One Promise Too Late", also topped the charts. Her album The Last One to Know (1987) reached number three on the country albums chart. Songs like "The Last One to Know" and "Love Will Find Its Way to You" were number one hits. In late 1987, Reba released her first Christmas album, Merry Christmas to You. She also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the first time.

In the late 1980s, Reba took more control of her career. She started her own entertainment company to promote her music. Her 1988 album Reba had a pop sound and included covers of "Respect" and "A Sunday Kind of Love". It produced number one hits like "New Fool at an Old Game" and "I Know How He Feels". This was followed by Sweet Sixteen (1989), which returned to a more traditional country sound. This album featured hits like " 'Til Love Comes Again" and "Cathy's Clown". Her first live album, Reba Live, was also released in 1989.

Rumor Has It (1990) was another album with a mix of pop ballads and upbeat songs. It was her first album to reach the top 40 on the overall Billboard 200 albums chart. This album became her best-selling, selling over three million copies. It had four hit country songs, including "You Lie" and her famous cover of Bobby Gentry's "Fancy". "Fancy" became one of Reba's signature songs.

The Plane Crash and For My Broken Heart (1991)

By the late 1980s, Reba's touring schedule was very busy. To save time, she and her band started traveling by private planes. In March 1991, Reba and her band were finishing a tour in San Diego, California. Two planes were scheduled to take her band members, while Reba, her husband, and stylist would take a different plane the next day.

In the early morning of March 16, 1991, Reba was woken by a phone call. Her husband learned that one of the planes had crashed. After taking off, one plane's wing hit the side of Otay Mountain in San Diego. Everyone on board died.

Eight members of her band were killed: Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Anthony Saputo, and Michael Thomas. The two pilots also died. The plane crashed about 10 miles east of the airport. Investigators later said the crash was likely due to "improper pilot planning."

The news was reported to Reba and her husband right away. A spokesperson for Reba said, "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." Reba held a memorial service for the victims' families. Nine days after the crash, Reba performed at the 63rd Academy Awards ceremony. Vince Gill and Dolly Parton offered to help her rebuild her touring band.

Reba dedicated her album For My Broken Heart to her band members who died. Released in October 1991, the album featured songs about sadness and loss. It became her highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, reaching number 13. It sold over four million copies in the United States, making it her best-selling album ever. The song "For My Broken Heart" and "Is There Life Out There" both became number one country hits. Other songs like "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" and her cover of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" also became big hits.

Continued Country Success (1992–2002)

In December 1992, Reba's album It's Your Call was released. It was her first album to reach the top ten on the Billboard 200. It included hits like "Take It Back" and a number one duet with Vince Gill called "The Heart Won't Lie". For her next release, Reba sang a duet with rising artist Linda Davis called "Does He Love You". This song became her eighteenth number one hit on the Country Songs chart. It was later included on her 1993 album Greatest Hits Volume Two.

Her album Read My Mind (1994) reached number two on both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. It sold three million copies in the United States. Five major hits came from this album, including "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "Till You Love Me". Her album Starting Over (1995) was a collection of her favorite songs originally sung by other artists. It celebrated her twenty years in music.

Reba McEntire in Washington, D.C., November 2000

Reba's next album, What If It's You, came out in November 1996. It returned to a modern country sound and topped the Billboard country albums list. Its first song, "The Fear of Being Alone", was a top five hit, and "How Was I to Know" reached number one.

Reba started touring with country duo Brooks & Dunn in the mid-1990s. This led to them recording a duet called "If You See Him/If You See Her" in 1998. This song topped both the Billboard country songs chart and the Canadian country chart. Their collaborations continued over the years, including a joint show in Las Vegas. The duet was on Reba's If You See Him album and Brooks & Dunn's If You See Her album, both released in June 1998. If You See Him had three more top ten country hits, including "Forever Love".

In 1999, Reba released two albums: her second Christmas album, The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection, and her album So Good Together. The latter featured the top five country songs "What Do You Say" and "I'll Be". Reba focused on acting in the early 2000s and took a break from music. One exception was "I'm a Survivor" in 2001, which became a top five country hit and the theme song for her TV series.

Country Comeback and New Labels (2003–Present)

Reba returned to music in August 2003 with the song "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain". This song was on her album Room to Breathe (November 2003). Reba said she named the album that because she "needed a little room to breathe." The album reached number four on the Billboard country chart and sold over one million copies. It featured Reba's first number one song in six years, "Somebody". In 2004, she went on her "Room to Breathe" tour. In 2005, MCA released a collection of her number one hits called Reba #1's.

In September 2007, Reba released Reba: Duets, an album of duets with many artists like Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood, Carole King, and Justin Timberlake. Reba: Duets topped both the Billboard country chart and the overall Billboard 200, making it her first album to reach number one on both lists. It also sold over one million copies. The first song from the album was a duet version of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", which reached number two on the American country chart.

Reba McEntire attending the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

In 2008, Reba announced she was leaving her record label of 25 years and signing with Valory Music Group, part of Big Machine Records. Her first song with Valory was "Strange" in 2009. Her album Keep On Loving You was released in August 2009 and also topped both the Billboard Country and 200 charts. In 2009, "Consider Me Gone" became her 24th number one song on the Billboard chart. At 54, Reba became one of the oldest women to have a number one country song.

Reba's album All the Women I Am was released in November 2010. "Turn On the Radio" was the first song from this album and became her 24th number one hit. Her All the Women I Am Tour followed.

In 2014, Reba moved to Nash Icon Music, a new label for experienced artists. Her first song with Nash Icon was "Going Out Like That" in 2015. It was on her album Love Somebody, which topped the country albums chart. In 2016, Reba released her third Christmas album, My Kind of Christmas. She also started selling her own clothing and home decor line called "Rockin' R by Reba."

After her divorce from Narvel Blackstock, Reba took control of her career and became her own manager. She started her own company, Reba's Business Inc. (RBI).

On December 15, 2016, Reba announced she was releasing her first gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope. It came out on February 3, 2017, and has two discs: one with traditional hymns and one with new songs. "Softly and Tenderly", featuring Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood, was one of the songs. In January 2018, Reba won a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album, her first Grammy in over twenty years. In July 2018, Reba was chosen as one of four honorees for the 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Reba released her album Stronger Than the Truth on April 5, 2019. She also hosted the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 8, 2019.

In February 2020, Reba announced she had signed a new record deal with MCA Nashville, returning to the label she had left in 2008. Reba hosted the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards with Darius Rucker in November 2020. In October 2022, Reba announced she would continue her "Reba: Live in Concert" tour into 2023 and play Madison Square Garden in New York City for the first time.

Acting Career

Early Film and Television Roles (1989–1999)

In 1990, Reba got her first movie role as Heather Gummer in the horror comedy Tremors, starring with Kevin Bacon. The movie was about a small group of people fighting giant worm-like creatures. After this film, Reba became very interested in acting and made it her second career. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991 Saturn Awards. The next year, she starred with Kenny Rogers and Burt Reynolds in TV movies like The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. In 1994, Reba worked with director Rob Reiner in the film North.

In 1994, Reba starred in Is There Life Out There?, a TV movie based on her song. The next year, she appeared in Buffalo Girls, playing Annie Oakley, a friend of the famous cowgirl Calamity Jane. Buffalo Girls was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 1996, director James Cameron wanted Reba to play Molly Brown in his movie Titanic. However, the filming schedule became too long, and Reba had to turn down the part because of her concert plans. The role then went to Kathy Bates. In 1998, she starred as Lizzie Brooks in Forever Love, a TV movie based on her hit song.

Broadway and TV Series Success (2000–2007)

In early 2001, Reba started acting on Broadway, starring in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. She played Annie Oakley again, and her performance received great reviews. The New York Times called it "the best performance by an actress in a musical comedy this season." Reba said the musical was "some of the hardest work I've ever done in my life."

In 2005, Reba starred as Nellie Forbush in a concert version of the Broadway musical South Pacific at Carnegie Hall. This concert was shown as part of the Great Performances TV series in 2006.

In October 2001, Reba's half-hour TV show Reba premiered on The WB. The show was about Reba Hart, a divorced mother learning to handle life after her husband leaves her for his dental hygienist, who is also pregnant. The show was very popular and became the network's highest-rated show for adults. Reba ran for six seasons and earned Reba a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. The show ended on February 18, 2007, with 8.7 million viewers watching the final episode.

Recent Television and Film Projects (Since 2011)

In September 2011, Reba announced that ABC had ordered a pilot for her second TV series, Malibu Country. Reba played a divorced mother of two who moves to Malibu, California, to restart her music career. The show premiered on November 2, 2012. Even though Malibu Country was a popular new comedy, it was canceled on May 10, 2013, after eighteen episodes.

In 2016, Reba was a guest judge on season 11 of America's Got Talent. She gave the Golden Buzzer to contortionist Sofie Dossi.

In January 2017, it was announced that Reba would star in and produce a drama series for ABC called Red Blooded. In January 2018, Reba was chosen to play KFC's first female Colonel Sanders in commercials.

In 2020, Reba launched a podcast called Living & Learning with her former Reba co-star Melissa Peterman.

She made a fun appearance in the 2021 comedy movie Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar as a water spirit named Trish. The writers of the film, Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, wrote her a special letter asking her to join.

In May 2022, ABC announced that Reba would join the cast of the drama Big Sky for season 3, playing a local businesswoman named Sunny Barnes.

Reba starred in Reba McEntire's The Hammer on Lifetime in 2023. In this TV movie, she reunited with her Reba co-star Melissa Peterman. The film was inspired by the life of a traveling Nevada judge.

In May 2023, it was announced that Reba would be a coach on The Voice, replacing Blake Shelton. She has been a coach from its 24th season to its 26th season. On May 21, 2024, Asher HaVon, a member of Reba's team, won the 25th season, making Reba the winning coach in her second season.

In September 2023, Reba reunited with Sofie Dossi on season 18. Reba sang "Can't Even Get the Blues" while Sofie performed her amazing contortion and aerial acts.

In January 2024, it was announced that Reba was creating a new comedy for NBC called Happy's Place, also starring Melissa Peterman.

Musical Style and Influence

Reba McEntire's music has been shaped by country artists like Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, and Patsy Cline. She loved dancing to Bob Wills's music and said she owned "every album" Merle Haggard released. Her first major hit, "Sweet Dreams", was a remake of Patsy Cline's song.

Reba's music is rooted in traditional country but also includes elements of country pop, mainstream pop, soul, and R&B. Sometimes, critics have said her music moved away from traditional country.

Reba has a contralto vocal range and is known for her "vocal gymnastics," where she twists notes using her vibrato. She credits Dolly Parton for inspiring this style, saying she found Parton's vocal gymnastics "so pretty."

Reba McEntire is seen as one of country music's most important female singers and beloved entertainers. She is praised for staying popular for nearly four decades by adding modern sounds while keeping her traditional singing style. Many artists say she inspired their careers. Reba believes she represents country music wherever she goes, saying, "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."

Personal Life

Reba McEntire is a Christian, and she has said her faith in God has helped her a lot throughout her life.

Two of her siblings also had music careers. Her brother Pake was in country music in the late 1980s but returned to Oklahoma. Her sister Susie McEntire-Eaton is a successful Christian music singer. Reba also has an older sister, Alice Foran.

Relationships and Family

In 1976, Reba married steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles. They lived on a ranch in Oklahoma. In 1987, Reba divorced Battles and moved to Nashville to focus on her career.

In 1989, Reba married her manager, Narvel Blackstock. They got married on a boat in Lake Tahoe. Together, they managed Reba's career and formed Starstruck Entertainment. Reba gained three stepchildren from this marriage: Chassidy, Shawna, and Brandon. She gave birth to her son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, in February 1990. On August 3, 2015, Reba and Blackstock announced they had separated after 26 years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in October 2015. Despite the divorce, Reba remains close to her stepchildren and their families.

Reba's stepson Brandon Blackstock married singer Kelly Clarkson. Reba was very happy about this, saying, "Thrilled to death, to have my buddy as my daughter-in-law. I mean, who could ask for more?" Brandon and Kelly's divorce was finalized in March 2022.

Reba McEntire with her boyfriend Rex Linn in 2022

In 2017, Reba started a relationship with photographer Anthony "Skeeter" Lasuzzo. They met through Reba's friend Kix Brooks. Reba said in 2019, "We're totally in love — absolutely." Reba and Lasuzzo separated six months later.

In 2020, Reba began dating film and TV actor Rex Linn. They first met on the set of The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991. They reconnected almost 30 years later when Reba guest-starred on Young Sheldon, where Rex Linn has a role.

Helping Others

In 1992, Reba opened Reba's Ranch House in Denison, Texas. This is a place where relatives of patients at Texoma Medical Center can stay.

Throughout her career, Reba has supported many charities, including Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross. She has received awards for her humanitarian efforts, such as the Minnie Pearl Award and the ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award. In 2018, she received the Horatio Alger Award for her perseverance and charity work.

Awards and Honors

Reba McEntire has won the Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist Awards seven times, which is the second-most wins. She holds the record for most American Music Awards for Favorite Country Female Artist, with twelve wins. She was also the first person to win the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year Award four times in a row. Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood have also won this award four times. Reba is one of the few artists to have solo number one hits across four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s). She has received three Grammy Awards, winning in 1987, 1994, and 2018. In December 2018, Reba received the Kennedy Center Honors.

Reba McEntire made her Grand Ole Opry debut on September 17, 1977. Her parents and older sister drove 1,400 miles to see her three-minute performance. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 17, 1986. Reba says, "The Grand Ole Opry is a home. It's a family. It's like a family reunion, when you come back and get to see everybody."

In 2011, the Country Music Association announced that Reba would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Reba was inducted by Dolly Parton.

Discography

Studio albums

Tours

Headlining tours

Co-headlining tours

• Brooks & Dunn and Reba: The Tour (with Brooks & Dunn) (1997–98)
• Girls Night Out (with Martina McBride) (2001)
• 2 Hats and a Redhead (with Brad Paisley and Terri Clark) (2005)
• 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour (with Kelly Clarkson) (2008)
• Reba and George Strait on Tour (with George Strait) (2010-11)

Residency shows

• Key to the Heart (2006-07)
• Together in Vegas (with Brooks & Dunn) (2015-2021)

Opening act

• Grand Tour* (for George Jones) (1981)
• The Statler Brothers in Concert (for the Statler Brothers) (1983-84)

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Reba McEntire in 2022

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  Reba McEntire in her 1974 college yearbook. She studied to become an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time singer.

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  Reba McEntire in a promotional photo after signing her first recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records, 1976.

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  Reba McEntire in Washington, D.C., November 2000

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  Reba McEntire attending the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

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  Reba McEntire with her boyfriend Rex Linn in 2022

See also

In Spanish: Reba McEntire para niños

• List of best-selling music artists in the United States