McEntire’s world was completely turned upside down when she learned that her husband of 26 years wanted to get a divorce. It was a huge shock to her. The reason why he needed out was the difficult part. How did Reba deal with this surprise? Has she coped? You’ll have to keep reading to learn more about her situation!
The Early Days
Reba and Narvel met in 1980 because he became the steel guitar player for her. Eventually, he turned into a friend and manager before the relationship took off. They married in Lake Tahoe in 1989, so she became a stepmother, and they founded Starstruck Management. They also have a son named Shelby.
The Early Days
Humble Roots
Reba was born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma. In fact, she grew up on a ranch, helping with cleaning and cooking, and learned to drive at 5 years old. This allowed her to understand the benefits of working hard, which came in handy later.
Humble Roots
Role Models
Jacqueline, Reba’s mom, had always wanted to be a country music star. However, she turned to teaching. Her father and grandfather were actually rodeo steer ropers. Then, her dad became a world champion for steer roping three times over.
Role Models
Family That Sings
Because of her dad’s rodeo competitions, the family was on the road a lot, and they sang together. From an early age, Reba’s mom introduced her kids to country music. They were known as “the singing McEntires,” and Reba often sang at rodeo competitions and plays.
Family That Sings
Big Dreams
As she grew up, Reba was inspired by the megastars in country music, such as Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Dolly Parton. She couldn’t know she’d join the ranks one day, performing alongside some of her idols.
Big Dreams
The Singing McEntires
Reba and her siblings sang together, and The Singing McEntires turned into a real musical group, producing one album. They sold roughly 1,000 copies and had two hits: “If I Could Only Be With You” and “God Never Cried.”
The Singing McEntires
An Important Lesson
While performing with her family, she chose to get baptized. Reba told her mom that she wanted to announce the decision to those at the dance hall, urging them to go to church. It was then her mom told her not to assume they didn’t already go to church.
An Important Lesson
Studying Education
When Reba graduated from high school, she attended Oklahoma State University, majoring in education. However, she continued to sing while wanting to follow in her mom’s footsteps of becoming a teacher. Life had other plans!
Studying Education
Noticed By Red
In 1974, she sang the national anthem for the National Rodeo of Oklahoma City. Red Steagall performed there, too, and was impressed with her abilities. He’s the one who helped her start a career, and she signed with Mercury Records one year after recording the demo tape.
Noticed By Red
Her First Single
Reba married Charlie Battles, a rodeo star, when her career started, also releasing a debut single called “I Don’t Wanna Be a One Night Stand.” It didn’t do well on the charts, but she didn’t give up. Her rendition of “Sweet Dreams” by Patsy Cline reached the 19th spot on the Billboard charts.
Her First Single
Security Tiff
She was asked to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1977, but the security guard said she wasn’t on the list. Arguing with him, he finally let her in. However, she found out that Dolly Parton had gotten her performance slot, shocked that those producers would do that to her!
Security Tiff
Her Big Break
Reba got a number-one song on the Billboard charts in 1983, choosing to leave Mercury Records. They pushed her to sing country pop, and she wasn’t interested. Therefore, she went to MCA Nashville Records, re-releasing previous songs to hit #1 with them.
Her Big Break
Theatrical Music Videos
McEntire was a pioneer for music videos because she didn’t simply stand and sing. She used the video as a way to create a theatrical performance. Many critics called them “mini-movies,” which sparked her interests in acting.
Theatrical Music Videos
Battling Battles
Reba and Charlie Battles started having issues. He felt she should stay at home, but she wanted to be on the road. Finally, they called it quits, getting divorced in 1987. She said she had to pack everything in a single day and get out because she wouldn’t take orders.
Battling Battles
Budding Film Star
Reba made her first film appearance in Tremors, a 1990 movie. She loved it, delaying her honeymoon with Narvel to finish the show. Kevin Bacon was her co-star, and he felt it was his low point. However, this gave Reba a taste of the world she’d dreamed about.
Budding Film Star
Tragic Accident
Things were going well for Reba, but then an accident happened in 1991. The charter plane carrying eight members of her band crashed, and they were all killed. She was devastated by the loss, feeling like the band members were her family.
Tragic Accident
Lyrics Lost
After the fatal crash, Reba dedicated an album to her lost band members. For My Broken Heart was full of lyrics about loss and sorrow. It sold more than 4 million copies, and many of the singles hit the top spot.
Lyrics Lost
Lady in Red
Reba attended the 1993 CMA awards, donning a red gown that turned plenty of heads. She won a Grammy and CMA that year because of her duet with Linda Davis (Does He Love You?) Now, the dress is on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
Lady in Red
Make a Statement
“She Thinks His Name Was John” was on her 1994 album, and it told the story of a woman who ended up with AIDs. This was a taboo topic, but she never shied away from the subject. Likewise, she talked about elderly neglect, mercy killing, and much more in her songs.
Make a Statement
Starting Over
After being in the music industry for 20 years, Reba released Starting Over, her 19th album. It featured her favorite songs, but critics didn’t like it. Only one of them hit the top 10 charts. However, it went platinum within the year.
Starting Over
Missed Opportunity
Reba was actually offered the role of Molly Brown in Titanic, the film from James Cameron. However, scheduling conflicts prevented her from producing. The film became the second-highest grossing, bringing in more than $2 billion!
Missed Opportunity
Her Comeback
In 1997, she released What If It’s You, her 20th studio album. It was a huge success, and “The Fear of Being Alone” went to #1 on the charts, as well as “How Was I to Know.” Also, “I’d Rather Ride Around With You” made it to #2.
Her Comeback
Moving to the Stage
After releasing Greatest Hits Volume 3: I’m a Survivor, Reba got three hit singles. Then, she moved to Broadway, starring in Annie Get Your Gun, a revival. The performance got praise from the New York Times.
Moving to the Stage
Her Show
After the success on Broadway, she started doing TV work. She landed a show on the WB network called Reba, where she played a single mother. The sitcom became the top-rated show, running for six seasons and earning her a Golden Globe.
Her Show
Not Sally
Originally, Reba’s character was to be named Sally, but she knew that wasn’t right, insisting that her own name be chosen. It would draw in the fans, who would then watch the show. Melissa Peterman played Barbara, and she actually had an affair with Reba’s husband, leading to the divorce.
Not Sally
Back to the Top
Reba couldn’t stay away from her musical roots, returning in 2003 to release Room to Breathe. In 2007, she surpassed Dolly Parton, becoming the female artist who had the most nominations for the CMA award. She toured with Kelly Clarkson the next year.
Back to the Top
Back to Television
Reba chose to go back to television in 2011, starring in Malibu Country, an ABC sitcom. It was similar to her show because she played a woman who found her husband cheating. The character got the husband’s property. However, it was canceled after 18 episodes.
Back to Television
Breaking Records
Reba re-recorded “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” with Brooks & Dunn, becoming the 56th top-10 song. She won two Grammy awards while with MCA, but then she chose to sign with Valory Music Group to try something new.
Breaking Records
The Hoax
In 2012, news circulated stating that Reba had fallen off a cliff and died while filming in Australia. It spread like wildfire because her family couldn’t get in touch with her. Luckily, she finally answered the phone and said she was okay.
The Hoax
Losing Her Dad
When Reba learned that she was getting inducted into the Hall of Fame (Country Music), her dad collapsed after a stroke and went into a coma. Dolly Parton represented her. Sadly, he passed away in 2014, but she dedicated Just Like Them Horses to him.
Losing Her Dad
The Luxury Life
Her hard work has helped her enjoy her life. She owned a mansion with nine bathrooms, seven bedrooms, a tennis court, a spa, and a pool. She sold it in 2015, and it went for $22.25 million, though she paid $9 million for it.
The Luxury Life
Avoiding a Tragedy
Faith Hill had auditioned to be a backup singer for Reba when she went on tour in 1991 but didn’t get the part. This meant she wasn’t included in the fatal crash. That saved her life, and now she’s a country music star, too!
Avoiding a Tragedy
Singing Family Again
When Brandon Blackstock, her stepson, married Kelly Clarkson, the singing duo became family. They’d toured together and knew each other well. Brandon and Kelly now have two kids together, and the family sings together again.
Singing Family Again
Wants to Be Happy
Reba shared that when Narvel demanded a divorce, she was heartbroken and sad. If she had a say in it, they’d still be married. However, she felt it was best to move on, which meant more than separation.
Wants to Be Happy
Too Soon
A few months after the divorce was official, Narvel was seen dating another woman. It was Laura Putty Stroud, her best friend. It’s unclear when the couple started dating, and some think he cheated on his wife with Stroud.
Too Soon
Awkward Position
Kelly Clarkson is Reba’s daughter-in-law and good friend. She felt stuck in the middle, as she was close to Reba and married Narvel’s son. However, the pair lived separately before getting a divorce and weren’t upset with Clarkson.
Awkward Position
Starting Over Again
After the divorce, Narvel continued to be Reba’s manager for a year. In 2016, she decided to break ties completely with him, creating Reba’s Business Inc. This company manages young artists, but she also has a line of clothing, home decor, and more. She’s worth about $95 million.
Starting Over Again
Photography Lover
Reba loves to take photos, and those on her Instagram understand. She said she loves piddling with pictures and enjoys getting sent those she doesn’t have. Then, she scans them into her computer so that she can archive them for later.
Photography Lover
Famous Friends
Clearly, Reba is down-to-earth and friendly. In fact, she’s friends with George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. They became friends after Senior Bush invited her and her husband on a private cruise. They still email each other periodically!
Famous Friends
Learning to Shoot
Reba loves shooting and is interested in guns. She said she had no experience until she trained for films. However, she wanted to look like she knew how to shoot, so she made it happen.
Learning to Shoot