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.
Education	Southeastern Oklahoma State University (BSc)
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 piano guitar
Labels	PolyGram/Mercury MCA Nashville Valory Nash Icon Big Machine Rockin' R

Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), known simply as Reba, is an American country singer and actress. Many call her "The Queen of Country" because she has sold over 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, she has had more than 100 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Twenty-five of these songs reached the number-one spot. Reba has also acted in movies and on television. She starred in her own TV show, Reba, for six seasons. She also owns several businesses, including a restaurant and a clothing line.

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

Over the next few years, PolyGram/Mercury released several of Reba's albums and singles. At first, they were not very successful. In the early 1980s, Reba's music became more popular. She had several top-10 country songs, like "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" and "I'm Not That Lonely Yet." Her first number-one hit was "Can't Even Get the Blues." Reba was not happy with how her career was going. So, she signed with MCA Records in 1984. Her second MCA album, My Kind of Country (1984), became her big breakthrough. It had two number-one country songs and showed her traditional country style. Throughout the 1980s, Reba released seven more albums. She had 10 more number-one country hits. These included "One Promise Too Late," "The Last One to Know," and the Grammy Award-winning "Whoever's in New England."

In 1991, Reba lost eight of her band members in a plane crash. This sad event led to her album For My Broken Heart. It is her best-selling album so far. She released many successful albums in the 1990s. These included Read My Mind (1994) and What If It's You (1996). These albums featured number-one songs like "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and "How Was I to Know." She also had a duet with Brooks and Dunn called "If You See Him/If You See Her." Reba started acting in January 1990. She made her movie debut in Tremors. In 2001, she played Annie Oakley in the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun. That same year, The WB network launched her TV series Reba. More recently, she has appeared on Young Sheldon as June Ballard. Since 2023, Reba has been a coach on the TV show The Voice for four seasons.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Reba McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1955. She grew up on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. She was the third of four children born to Clark and Jacqueline McEntire. Her grandfather, John Wesley McEntire, was a world-champion steer roper in 1934. Her father won the same title three times. Reba's mother, Jacqueline, wanted to be a country singer. Instead, she became a teacher and librarian. Everyone in the McEntire family helped run their cattle ranch. Reba and her siblings did chores before and after school.

The McEntire children also loved to sing. Their mother encouraged them. On car trips to their father's rodeo events, Jacqueline taught her children to sing in harmony. Young Reba started performing at school. In first grade, she sang "Away in a Manger" at a Christmas show. In fifth grade, she joined the 4-H club. She won first place for singing "My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown." She also played basketball and ran track. She learned to play the piano and guitar. Reba also became interested in rodeo and trained to be a barrel racer.

McEntire in her 1974 college yearbook: She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education before pursuing country music full-time.

By high school, the McEntire siblings performed often. They formed a trio called the Singing McEntires. In 1971, they released a single about their famous grandfather. It was called "The Ballad of John McEntire." A local record company released it in small numbers. The trio later added a band and performed at local events. They were sometimes called the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band. They also had paid shows at 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 finished high school. Reba graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973.

After high school, Reba went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She studied elementary education and music. She completed her student teaching and earned a bachelor's degree. She also 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. She contacted a family friend, rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who helped her get the job. After one performance, country artist Red Steagall heard Reba sing. He was very impressed. Reba, her siblings, and her mother later joined him at a hotel party. Reba sang Dolly Parton's "Joshua" without music. Jacqueline McEntire asked Steagall if he could help all her children get a record deal. Steagall contacted her in early 1975. He 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. They went to record a demo tape for record labels. At first, Reba was not sure about a professional music career. She remembered 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 of PolyGram/Mercury Records heard Reba's tape. He wanted to sign her to a Nashville contract. Keener took Reba's tape and another woman's tape to PolyGram's main office in Chicago. The company said he could only sign one female singer. Reba later said, "He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed ’em mine."

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out at Mercury (1976–1983)

McEntire in a promotional photograph 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 made her first recordings in January 1976. Her first single, "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand," was released in 1976. It did not become a big hit, reaching number 88 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Other early singles also charted low. Mercury released her first album, Reba McEntire, in 1977. Reba also started touring more often. She often sang with local bands because she did not have her own. Sometimes, these bands did not know country music well.

Reba's career gained speed by 1978. She sang two songs with country artist Jacky Ward. Their song "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"/"Three Sheets in the Wind" became her first top-20 hit. When Glenn Keener left Mercury, Jerry Kennedy became Reba's producer. Kennedy produced her second album, Out of a Dream (1979). Her cover of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" became her first top-20 hit as a solo artist. Four more songs from the album reached the top 40. By 1980, Reba had her own band, including her sister Susie and brother Pake. She also hired a new manager. Reba and her band toured in a three-car group, 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-10 hit. It was on her third album, Feel the Fire.

At this time, Reba's record company wanted her to record soft country-pop music. She often disagreed with this style. Her fourth album, Heart to Heart (1981), was her first to appear on the Billboard Country Albums list. Its first single, "Today All Over Again," reached number five. In 1983, Reba's bus broke down when she learned her song "Can't Even Get the Blues" reached number one on the Billboard country chart. Her second number-one song, "You're the First Time I Thought About Leaving," followed. Both songs were on her 1983 album Unlimited. The next year, "Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can't Have)" reached the top 10. With more success, she was able to leave PolyGram/Mercury in 1983. She said, "I've sorta taken my career into control myself."

Becoming a Superstar (1984–1990)

Reba signed with MCA Records in 1984. She released her seventh album, Just a Little Love. She was not happy with the album's production. She wanted more control over her music. So, she talked to MCA president Jimmy Bowen. He suggested she find her own songs. Reba spent days listening to songs from different companies. She found "Somebody Should Leave" and "How Blue." These songs became number-one hits and were on her 1984 album My Kind of Country. This album also included covers of classic country songs. Billboard magazine called Reba "the finest woman country singer since Kitty Wells." This album was her big breakthrough. It helped her win the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association in 1984. This album also helped bring back traditional country music.

Her next MCA album was Have I Got a Deal for You (1985). It had the same traditional country style. Reba helped produce this album. The title song reached the country top 10, along with "Only in My Mind," which Reba wrote. In October 1985, Reba sang the National Anthem at game one of the 1985 World Series. In February 1986, her ninth album, Whoever's in New England, was released. On this album, Reba mixed traditional country with a modern sound. The title song became a number-one hit. It also won Reba a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album was her first to top the Billboard Country Albums chart. It sold over one million copies.

By this time, Reba was very famous. She changed her stage shows, adding choreography and special lighting. In 1986, her twelfth album, What Am I Gonna Do About You, was released. The title song became her next number-one hit. It was also her first number one on the Canadian country chart. Her song "One Promise Too Late" also topped the country chart. Her 13th album, The Last One to Know, was released in 1987. It reached number three on the Billboard country albums chart. Both the title song and "Love Will Find Its Way to You" topped the country songs chart. 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. It included covers of "Respect" and "A Sunday Kind of Love." It produced the number-one country songs "New Fool at an Old Game" and "I Know How He Feels." Her 1989 album Sweet Sixteen returned to a more traditional style. This album featured the hits "'Til Love Comes Again" and "Little Girl." Her first live album, Reba Live, was also released in 1989.

Rumor Has It (1990) was another pop-oriented album. It was Reba's first album to reach the top 40 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. This album became her highest-selling, selling three million copies. It had four hit country singles, including "You Lie" and her cover of Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy." "Fancy" became one of Reba's most famous songs.

Plane Crash and For My Broken Heart (1991)

In the late 1980s, Reba's touring schedule became very busy. To avoid long bus trips, she and her band started traveling by private planes. In March 1991, Reba and her band were on tour. Two planes were scheduled to carry Reba's band from San Diego, California. Reba, her husband, and her stylist were to take a different plane the next day. In the early morning of March 16, 1991, Reba's husband received a phone call. He 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. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the crash was likely caused by "improper pilot planning."

The second plane, carrying the rest of her band, made it safely to Nashville. Reba, her husband, and hair stylist returned on their own plane. Reba said, "By the time that long, terrible weekend was over, we were emotionally and physically exhausted." News of the crash reached Reba and her husband quickly. A spokeswoman 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." Two days after the crash, Reba spoke to People magazine. She also planned a memorial service for the victims' families. Nine days after the accident, Reba performed at the 63rd Academy Awards. She sang "I'm Checkin' Out" from the film Postcards from the Edge. Vince Gill and Dolly Parton offered to help Reba rebuild her touring band.

Reba dedicated her 16th album, For My Broken Heart, to her band members who died. It was released in October 1991. The album had songs about sadness and lost love. It reached number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It also 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. The title song and "Is There Life Out There" both became number-one country singles. "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" and Reba's cover of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" also became big country hits.

Continued Success (1992–2002)

In December 1992, Reba's 17th album, It's Your Call, was released. This album was her first to reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200. It had country hits like "Take It Back" and the title song. It also featured a number-one duet with Vince Gill called "The Heart Won't Lie." For her next release, Reba sang with new artist Linda Davis on "Does He Love You." MCA Records wanted Reba to record the song with more famous singers. But Reba chose to record it with Davis. It became her 18th number-one country hit. It was later included on her 1993 album Greatest Hits Volume Two. Later that year, Davis and Reba performed the song at the CMA Awards. Reba wore a red dress with a low neckline, which caused some talk in Nashville.

Her 18th album, Read My Mind, came out in 1994. It reached number two on both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. It sold three million copies in the United States. Five big hits came from this album. These included "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," "Till You Love Me," and "She Thinks His Name Was John." The last song was about a woman with AIDS. It only reached the top 20 because its lyrics were seen as controversial. Reba's 19th album, Starting Over (1995), was a collection of her favorite songs originally sung by others. This album celebrated Reba's 20 years in music. While it had three charting songs, only her cover of "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" became a top-10 country song. Starting Over sold a million copies within two months.

McEntire in Washington, DC, November 2000

Reba's next album, What If It's You, was released in November 1996. It returned to a modern country sound. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and later topped the Billboard country albums list. Its first single, "The Fear of Being Alone," became a top-five hit. "How Was I to Know" reached number one on the Billboard country songs chart.

Reba started touring with country duo Brooks & Dunn in the mid-1990s. Their touring together 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 work together led to more projects, 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 were released in June 1998. If You See Him had three more top-10 country hits, including "Forever Love" and "One Honest Heart."

In 1999, Reba released two albums. In September, she released her second Christmas album, The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection. In November, her 22nd album, So Good Together, was released. It 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. This song became a top-five country hit and the theme song for Reba's 2001 TV series.

Music Comeback and New Labels (2003–2015)

Reba returned to music in August 2003 with the song "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain." The song was on her album Room to Breathe (November 2003). Reba said she named the album Room to Breathe because she "needed a little room to breathe." The album was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson. It also featured Vince Gill. Room to Breathe debuted at number four on the Billboard country chart. It later sold a million copies in the United States. It had Reba's first number-one song in six years, "Somebody." "He Gets That from Me" also reached the top 10. In 2004, she went on her first tour in several years, also called Room to Breathe. In 2005, MCA released a collection of her number-one hits called Reba #1's.

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

McEntire attending the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

In 2008, Reba announced she was leaving her record label of 25 years. She signed with the Valory Music Group, part of Big Machine Records. This move reunited Reba with the label's president, Scott Borchetta, whom she had worked with before. Her first Valory song was "Strange" in 2009. It debuted at number 39 on the Billboard country songs chart, her highest debut ever. It peaked at number 11. Her 26th album, Keep on Loving You, was released in August 2009. It also topped both the Billboard Country and 200 charts. In December 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 29th album, All the Women I Am, was released in November 2010. "Turn On the Radio" was released before the album. It became her 24th number one on the Billboard country chart. Three more songs from All the Women I Am also charted. Her All the Women I Am Tour followed, featuring other country acts.

In 2014, Reba moved to Big Machine's new label for experienced artists, Nash Icon Music. Her first Nash Icon song was "Going Out Like That" in 2015. It reached the top 25 of the Billboard country songs chart. It was on her 2015 Nash Icon album Love Somebody. The album topped the country albums chart and reached the top five of the Billboard 200. In 2016, Reba released a third Christmas album, My Kind of Christmas. It was sold only at Cracker Barrel and online. She also announced she would sell her own line of clothing, home decor, and jewelry called "Rockin' R by Reba" at Cracker Barrel.

New Beginnings in Her 60s (2017–Present)

After her divorce from Narvel Blackstock, Reba took control of her career as her own manager. She formed Reba's Business Inc. (RBI). She moved her company to Green Hills, Nashville.

On December 15, 2016, Reba announced she was releasing her first gospel album. It was called Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope. It was released on February 3, 2017. It has two discs: one with traditional hymns and one with new songs. "Softly and Tenderly," featuring Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood, was the first song released. Another song, "In the Garden/Wonderful Peace," features the Isaacs. Jay DeMarcus of the Rascal Flatts produced the album. The first single was "Back to God." In January 2018, Reba won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album. This was her first Grammy win in over 20 years. She also performed at the C2C: Country to Country festival in the UK. Because of its limited release in 2016, My Kind of Christmas was re-released on October 13, 2017. This version included songs with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, and Lauren Daigle. In July 2018, Reba was chosen as one of four honorees for the 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony was held in December 2018.

Reba released her 29th album, Stronger Than the Truth, on April 5, 2019. She also hosted the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 8, 2019. On February 20, 2020, Reba announced she had signed a new record deal with MCA Nashville. This meant she returned to the label after leaving in 2008. Reba hosted the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards with Darius Rucker in November 2020. She had hosted before in 2019, 1992, 1991, and 1990. In October 2022, Reba announced she would continue her Reba: Live in Concert tour into 2023. She played New York City's Madison Square Garden for the first time. In 2021, a duet version of "Does He Love You" with Dolly Parton was released. In 2024, Reba sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII. She was joined by deaf actor Daniel Durant using American Sign Language.

Acting Career

Early Film and TV Roles (1989–1999)

In 1989, Reba got her first movie role. She played Heather Gummer in the horror comedy Tremors with Kevin Bacon. The movie was about a small group of people fighting worm-like creatures underground. After the film's release in 1990, Reba became very interested in acting. It became her second career. The movie earned Reba a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991 Saturn Awards. The next year, she starred with Kenny Rogers and Burt Reynolds in TV movies. These included The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw and The Man From Left Field. In 1994, Reba worked with director Rob Reiner in the film North, playing Ma Tex.

In 1994, Reba starred in Is There Life Out There?, a TV movie based on her song of the same name. The next year, she appeared in Buffalo Girls. This movie was about the life of cowgirl Calamity Jane. Reba played Jane's friend Annie Oakley. Buffalo Girls was nominated for an Emmy award. In 1996, director James Cameron cast Reba as Molly Brown in his film Titanic. However, the movie's production took much longer than planned. Reba had to turn down the part because she had other concert plans. The role was then given to Kathy Bates. In 1998, Reba starred as Lizzie Brooks in Forever Love. This movie was based on Reba's hit song of the same name.

Broadway and TV Series (2000–2007)

In early 2001, Reba started acting in theater. She starred in the Broadway show Annie Get Your Gun. She played Annie Oakley, a role she had played before. Her performance received great reviews. The New York Times said it was "the best performance by an actress in a musical comedy this season." Reba herself called the musical "some of the hardest work I've ever done in my life."

In 2005, Reba starred as Nellie Forbush in a Carnegie Hall concert of the musical South Pacific. She performed with Alec Baldwin and Brian Stokes Mitchell. The concert was shown as part of the Great Performances series in 2006.

In October 2001, Reba's TV show Reba premiered on The WB. The show was about Reba Hart, a divorced mother. She learns to handle life after her husband leaves her for his dental hygienist, who is pregnant. Then, their teenage daughter also becomes pregnant. Reba was very popular and successful. It became the network's highest-rated show for adults aged 18 to 49. The show ran for six seasons. Reba earned a Golden Globe award nomination for her role. The show ended on February 18, 2007. The final episode had 8.7 million viewers.

Recent TV Projects (2011–Present)

In September 2011, Reba confirmed 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. She tries to restart her music career there. The pilot was filmed in April 2012. The show began production in August. Malibu Country premiered on November 2, 2012. It was broadcast on Friday nights on ABC. On May 11, 2012, Reba tweeted that the show had been picked up for a full season. She also hosted the 2011 NASCAR Award Show in Las Vegas.

Even though Malibu Country was the most-watched new comedy in its first season (8.7 million viewers), the show was canceled on May 10, 2013, after 18 episodes.

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

In January 2017, it was announced that Reba would star in and produce a Southern drama series for ABC called Red Blooded. In May, ABC decided not to pick up the show. In January 2018, Reba was chosen to play KFC's first female Colonel Sanders in commercials. These commercials ran until April 2018.

In 2020, Reba launched a podcast called Living and Learning. She hosts it with her former Reba co-star Melissa Peterman.

She made a special appearance in the 2021 comedy film Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. She played a water spirit named Trish. The film's writers and stars, Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, wrote her a letter asking her to join. The director said, "There's some casting that just clicks. Reba is not only 100% authentic, we knew she would be game."

In May 2022, ABC announced that Reba would join the cast of the drama Big Sky. She played local businesswoman Sunny Barnes in season three.

Reba starred in Reba McEntire's The Hammer on Lifetime in 2023. The country star reunited with her Reba sitcom co-star Melissa Peterman in the film. It was inspired by the life of traveling Nevada judge Kim Wheeler. The film also starred Reba's boyfriend Rex Linn as Bart Crawford.

In May 2023, it was announced that Reba would be a coach on The Voice, replacing Blake Shelton. She was 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. This made Reba the winning coach in her second season. In May 2025, it was announced that Reba would return to The Voice for the 28th season.

On September 20, 2023, Reba reunited with Sofie Dossi. They performed together during a results show on season 18 of America's Got Talent. Reba sang "Can't Even Get the Blues" while Dossi performed her contortion and aerial acts.

In January 2024, Reba was creating a new comedy for NBC. It was later announced to be titled Happy's Place and also stars 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. In college, Reba went to local dances to dance to Wills's music. She said, "it didn't get any better than dancing to Bob Wills music." She also said Merle Haggard greatly influenced her. She owned "every album he ever put out" and would sing "every song he did" with her siblings. Her first big hit, "Sweet Dreams," was a new version of Patsy Cline's song.

Reba's music is based on traditional country music. But it also includes styles like country pop, mainstream pop, soul, and rhythm and blues. Sometimes, her music has been criticized for moving away from traditional country. Some critics have called her music "melodramatic" or "formulaic," especially after her 1988 album Reba. Albums like Sweet Sixteen and Rumor Has It have been described this way.

Reba has a contralto vocal range. She often uses "vocal gymnastics" with her voice. This is a singing technique where a singer twists a note around using their vibrato. Reba has said that Dolly Parton influenced this style. She always listened to Parton's records and found her vocal gymnastics "so pretty."

Reba McEntire is often seen as one of country music's most important female singers and beloved entertainers. She is praised for staying popular for nearly four decades. She has kept her success by adding modern sounds to her music without changing her traditional singing style. Many artists say she has inspired their music careers. The Net Music Countdown reported, "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." Reba also said, "Whatever I'm doing, I feel like I'm representing country music." She added, "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 and Family

Reba is a Christian. She has said that her faith in God has helped her a lot throughout her life.

Two of her siblings have also worked in music. Her brother Pake was in country music in the late 1980s. He later returned to Oklahoma. He owns a 1,000-acre ranch and still participates in rodeo. Her sister Susie McEntire-Eaton is a successful Christian music singer. She travels the country with her husband, speaking and performing. Reba also has an older sister, Alice Foran, who is a retired social worker. Her niece Calamity McEntire is a basketball coach for the University of Illinois women's team.

Relationships

In 1976, Reba married steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles. He was 10 years older than her and had two sons from a previous marriage. They shared a ranch in Oklahoma. In 1987, Reba divorced Battles and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to focus more on her career.

In 1989, Reba married her manager and former steel guitar player, Narvel Blackstock. They got married on a boat in Lake Tahoe in a private ceremony. Together, they managed all parts of Reba's career. They formed Starstruck Entertainment to help manage her career. From her marriage to Blackstock, Reba gained three stepchildren: Chassidy, Shawna, and Brandon. She gave birth to a son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, in February 1990. On August 3, 2015, Reba's website announced that she and Blackstock had been separated for a few months after 26 years of marriage. Reba announced in December 2015 that their divorce was final on October 28, 2015. Even after the divorce, Reba remains close to her three stepchildren and the Blackstock family. She considers her stepchildren's children to be her grandchildren.

Reba's stepson Brandon Blackstock married singer Kelly Clarkson. They have a daughter and a son. In 2013, Reba said she was "Thrilled to death, to have my buddy as my daughter-in-law. I mean, who could ask for more?" Blackstock and Clarkson's divorce was final in March 2022.

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. In April 2019, Reba said about Lasuzzo, "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 (1991). They reconnected almost 30 years later when Reba appeared on Young Sheldon. Rex Linn has a recurring role on that show.

Charity Work

In 1992, Reba opened Reba's Ranch House in Denison, Texas. This is a place for relatives of patients getting treatment at Texoma Medical Center or other nearby facilities to stay.

Throughout her career, she has supported many charities. These include Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, and Feeding America. She has received awards for her efforts, such as the Minnie Pearl Award and the ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award. In 2018, she received the Horatio Alger Award for Education and Charity Work. This award recognizes people who show perseverance and give back to their communities.

Awards and Honors

Reba McEntire has won the Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist Awards seven times. This is the second-most wins. She holds the record for American Music Awards for Favorite Country Female Artist with 12 wins. She was also the first to win the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year Award four times in a row. Martina McBride won Female Vocalist four times, but not in a row. In 2013, Miranda Lambert tied Reba by winning Female Vocalist four years in a row. In 2016, Carrie Underwood also won her fourth Female Vocalist award. Reba is also one of the few music artists to have solo number-one hits across four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s). She has the second-most CMA Award nominations for a female artist, with 51. Reba also has the second-most ACM Awards nominations for a female artist, with 47. She has won three Grammy Awards, in 1987, 1994, and 2018. In December 2018, Reba received the Kennedy Center Honor.

When Reba McEntire made her Grand Ole Opry debut on September 17, 1977, she almost didn't get in. A guard at the Opry gate missed her name on the list of performers. Her parents and older sister, Alice, drove 1,400 miles from Oklahoma to see Reba's three-minute performance. Her act was cut from two songs to just one because Dolly Parton made a surprise appearance. Reba was officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry on January 17, 1986. She 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 McEntire would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Reba could not attend the announcement because her father had a stroke. Reba attended the official induction ceremony with the other 2011 inductees, Jean Shepard and Bobby Braddock. Dolly Parton inducted her.

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

See also

In Spanish: Reba McEntire para niños

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