Music At Heart
After Reba finished high school, she attended college in the same state. She went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University which is located in Durant. Her major was education and she had music as her minor, but her life when not studying was music. She continued to sing locally every time she got the chance to do so. There was a time, she was reported to have been classmates with Garth Brooks, who just like her became a country star. Reba’s goal was to become a teacher in elementary school after graduation, same as what her mother did. However, she was led on a very different path by her future.
Life-Changing
In 1974, Reba sang the Star-Spangled Banner to open the National Rodeo held in Oklahoma City. This changed her life because this was when Red Steagall, a country musician, discovered her. He also had to perform at the event that day and saw her performance. Reba’s vocal prowess instantly impressed him. He began helping her launch a career in country music in Nashville. They had Reba record a demo and just a year after, she was signed under the label Mercury Records. At another rodeo, she also met a man who would later become her husband.