Reba McEntire is one of the most successful and influential country singers of all time. She has sold over 75 million records worldwide, won numerous awards, starred in movies and TV shows, and launched her businesses.
But how old is Reba McEntire, and what are some of the highlights of her life and career? Here is a brief overview of the country legend’s age, biography, and achievements.
Reba McEntire’s Age and Early Life
Reba McEntire was born on March 28, 1955, in McAlester, Oklahoma. As of December 2023, she is 68 years old. She was up on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma, where her mother taught singing to her and her brothers while her father competed as a steer roper.
Reba founded the Singing McEntires, a vocal group that performed at rodeos and other events, with her brother Pake and sister Susie. Reba majored in education while attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Her destiny was altered when she performed the national anthem during the National Finals Rodeo in 1974 instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a public school teacher. Red Steagall, a country music artist, found her there and assisted her in landing a recording deal with Mercury Records in 1975.
Happy birthday to the love of my life!
Happy birthday to the love of my life! So glad we get to celebrate together! pic.twitter.com/9LbUcIo1OO
— Reba McEntire (@reba) November 13, 2022
Reba McEntire’s Music Career
Reba McEntire released her debut album in 1977, but it was not until the early 1980s that she achieved commercial success with hits like “Can’t Even Get the Blues,” “You’re the First Time I’ve Thought About Leaving,” and “How Blue.” She also developed her distinctive style of blending traditional country with pop and rock influences and became known for her powerful vocals and emotional storytelling.
In 1984, Reba McEntire switched to MCA Records, where she had more creative control over her music. She released some of her most acclaimed and popular albums, such as My Kind of Country (1984), Whoever’s in New England (1986), The Last One to Know (1987), and Reba (1988). She also won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Whoever’s in New England” in 1987.
Eight members of Reba McEntire’s band and crew perished in an aircraft crash near San Diego in 1991, leaving her grieving. With nearly four million copies sold in the US, her following album, For My Broken Heart (1991), was dedicated to them and went on to become her best-selling record to date.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she kept putting out hit albums, including Reba: Duets (2007), It’s Your Call (1992), Read My Mind (1994), Rumor Has It (1990), If You See Him (1998), So Good Together (1999), and Room to Breathe (2003). In 2009, Reba McEntire left MCA Records and signed with Valory Music Group, a division of Big Machine Records.
She released three more albums with them: Keep On Loving You (2009), All the Women I Am (2010), and Love Somebody (2015). In 2017, she returned to MCA Nashville and released Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope (2017), a double album of gospel songs that won her a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album.
In 2019, she released Stronger Than the Truth (2019), a return to her traditional country roots. On the Billboard country charts, Reba McEntire has had 25 number-one hits and 40 top 10 albums. Along with numerous other accolades, she has also won 16 Academy of Country Music Awards, 15 American Music Awards, 7 Country Music Association Awards, and 3 Grammy Awards.
She has memberships on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, and Country Music Hall of Fame. Many people consider her to be among the most successful and significant female performers in the history of country music.
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Reba McEntire’s Acting Career
In addition to her musical career, Reba McEntire has a successful acting career, writing career, and business acumen. Tremors, a cult classic horror comedy, was her first feature film appearance in 1990. One Night at McCool’s (2001), The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), North (1994), and The Little Rascals (1994) are among her film credits.
The character that Reba McEntire played most prominently in her sitcom, Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007 on The CW and The WB. Juggling her three children, her ex-husband, and his new wife was her role as Reba Hart, a single mother. Reba received a 2006 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series for the show, which was well-received by both reviewers and audiences.
Another ABC sitcom that Reba McEntire was a part of was Malibu Country, which ran from 2012–2013. She portrayed country singer Reba Gallagher, who, following a divorce from her unfaithful husband, relocates to Malibu with her children. The show’s dismal ratings led to its cancellation after only one season.
In 2001, Reba McEntire reprised her role as Annie Oakley in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun. The audience went wild for her performance, and she even got a nomination for a Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Some of her cameo appearances on television include Frasier, Baby Daddy, The View, Young Sheldon, and Frasier II.
Reba McEntire is a multi-talented entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in the fashion, footwear, eyeglasses, home, and cosmetics industries, along with her collection of inspirational stories titled What If… (2010), she has authored two autobiographies titled Reba: My Story (1994) and Comfort from a Country Quilt (1999).
Reba McEntire’s Personal Life
Reba McEntire has a biological son from her first marriage and two marriages. In 1976, she wed rodeo champion Charlie Battles, her first husband. Their 11-year marriage ended in a divorce in 1987. In 1989, she tied the knot with Narvel Blackstock, who had previously played steel guitar and served as her manager.
A race car driver named Shelby Blackstock was born to them in 1990. Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna are stepchildren from Blackstock’s first marriage. They were married for 26 years when they decided to end it in 2015.
Reba McEntire is in a relationship with actor Rex Linn, who has been in shows like Rush Hour, Cliffhanger, and CSI: Miami. From 1991 to 2020, they worked together on The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. They started dating shortly after and frequently posted about their love on various social media platforms.
Among Reba McEntire’s many charity pursuits is her faith in Christ. She is a generous benefactor, supporting causes like Outnumber Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, and The Salvation Army. Not only that, but she has also graced charity concerts in memory of those lost in tragic events like the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Nashville flood of 2010, and the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas.
Country music icon Reba McEntire has had enormous success in the entertainment, corporate, and music industries. Along with being a wonderful friend, partner, and grandparent, she is a doting mother. She has millions of admirers all over the globe who look up to her grit, kindness, and talent. Both her country and her subjects hold her in the highest esteem.
