Reba McEntire: Everything that you should know about the famous singer!

Along with being an actress she is often famously referred as “the Queen of Country”. as per the reports 2 date she has sold more than 75 million records in a world wide range. She has more than 100 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Well, 25 of her songs went up to get the number one position. She has also acted in both films and television. Talking about the television series named Reba, she starred in all the six seasons. Reba is also owner of several businesses, including a clothing line. McEntire was born and grew up in the state of Oklahoma.

Early life of Reba McEntire!

When she was young she was very much attracted and interested towards sports and barrel racing. Later she found out her ability to sing so beautifully and had full support from her mother. With the help of her mother she and her siblings formed the group Singing McEntires. They started playing at several local events. Also recorded for small labels, which played at local events and recorded for small labels. McEntire later attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She studied to become a public school teacher and occasionally used to perform too. 

Country performer Red Steagall heard her singing for the first time in a radio event. He loved her voice and thus Steagall helped McEntire. Back in 1975, she got a country music recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records. As the years passed, PolyGram/Mercury started releasing her albums and singles. Also, she received a bit of fame from it.  In the early 1980s, McEntire came into the spotlight and gained more momentum through her top ten that were so many. It includes “(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven”, “I’m Not That Lonely Yet” and her first number one “Can’t Even Get the Blues”. 

However, she was not so satisfied with her career trajectory. Thus in 1984,  she later signed with MCA Records. Talking about her breakout release, it was her 1984 second MCA album titled My Kind of Country. It got the position of two number one Billboard country singles. 

Her band members and Acting debut:

In 1991, she lost her right band members in a tragic plane crash. It happened in San Diego, California. She then came up with the album For My Broken Heart, which is her highest-selling disc to date. Then a series of her successful albums in the 1990s came up. It includes Read My Mind (1994), What If It’s You (1996) and If You See Him (1998).  McEntire started acting journey from the film industry. Her first acting debut was with 1990’s Tremors. Later she acted as Annie Oakley in the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun in 2001. Following that, the WB channel released the TV series Reba. Starring McEntire in the lead role, the show was a huge success. It was running till 2007. She started her country recording career in 2004 again.

Personal details of Reba McEntire!

She was born in McAlester, Oklahoma in 1955. She grew up on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma and was the third of four children. Her parents are Clark and Jacqueline McEntire. John Wesley McEntire, her grandfather, became a world-champion steer roper in 1934. Also her father received the same title three times in 1957, 1958 and 1961. McEntire’s mother always wanted to become a country singer.

However she grew up to become a public school teacher, librarian and a secretary. Talking about a father he was not a person who easily showed affection towards the children. While talking about her childhood she stated in her autobiography, “When we were growing up I used to regret that Daddy never told us that he loved us”. Her family owned a cattle ranch in Chockie. The McEntire siblings We are always interested in singing and performing. When they got the support from their mother they decided to form a band. the mother used to help to sing in harmony with each other. Young Reba then started performing in school. Well, she was in first grade when she sang “Away in a Manger”. 

She became a part of the 4-H club when she was in fifth grade. Along with being killed in singing she was also amazing in sports. Rebs attended basketball camp for most of the summers in her childhood. She also played around track and basketball a lot of the time.  McEntire learned to play piano and guitar and has a huge interest in the rodeo. After finishing high school, she enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Reba majored in elementary education with a minor in music. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. In 1974, her father wanted her to take a job opportunity singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”. It was at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. During one of her performances McEntire was heard by country artist Red Steagall. He was impressed by her singing and later joined her family at a hotel party the same week. 

Personal life of Reba McEntire!

Reba is a Christian, and always mentioned her faith in God that helps her a lot. Her brother Pake dabbled in the country music industry too. Her sister Susie McEntire-Eaton is a Christian music singer. She travels with her husband, singing and speaking. In 1976, Reba tied the knot with steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles. He was 10 years her senior. He also had two sons from his previous marriage and got a divorce with  McEntire in 1987.  She then moved to Nashville, Tennessee. In 1989, she married her manager and former steel guitar player Narvel Blackstock. 

The couple had a private ceremony and they worked together to form Starstruck Entertainment. From her marriage to Blackstock, she had three stepchildren, Chassidy, Shawna, and Brandon. She gave birth to Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, in February 1990. After twenty-six years of marriage, McEntire announced their divorce on October 28, 2015.  In 2017, Reba started her relationship with photographer Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo. While talking about her feelings about Lasuzzo, she said, “We’re totally in love — absolutely,” she says. “I wouldn’t put up with somebody for two years if I wasn’t in love with ’em!” McEntire and Lasuzzo parted ways after staying together for almost 2 years.  Later, in 2020, McEntire started dating famous actor Rex Linn during the pandemic.