Reba McEntire has ruled country music for over 40 years. Born March 28, 1955, in McAlester, Oklahoma, she’s sold 75 million records worldwide. At 70 years old in 2025, The Queen of Country still performs, acts, and builds her business empire.
Her journey started on an Oklahoma cattle ranch and led to 25 number-one hits on Billboard Hot Country Songs. She’s won three Grammy Awards, starred in TV shows, and survived personal tragedy. Now engaged to Rex Linn and coaching on The Voice, Reba Nell McEntire keeps proving that talent and grit never go out of style.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Reba Nell McEntire |
| Nickname | The Queen of Country |
| Date of Birth | March 28, 1955 |
| Age | 70 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | McAlester, Oklahoma |
| Height | 5’7″ (1.70 m) |
| Profession | Singer, Actress, Businesswoman |
| Net Worth | $95 million (2025 estimate) |
| Current Partner | Rex Linn (engaged December 2024) |
| Previous Marriages | Charlie Battles (1976-1987), Narvel Blackstock (1989-2015) |
| Children | Shelby Blackstock (born 1990) |
| Record Sales | 75+ million worldwide |
| Number-One Hits | 25 |
| Grammy Awards | 3 |
| Current TV Show | Happy’s Place (NBC) |
| Label | MCA Nashville |
Early Life & Family
Reba McEntire grew up working on a cattle ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. Her father Clark McEntire won three world champion steer roper titles (1957, 1958, 1961). Her grandfather John Wesley McEntire earned the same honor in 1934, creating a strong rodeo family tradition.
Ranch life wasn’t easy for young Reba. She helped castrate bulls and give livestock medicine. These tough jobs taught her the work ethic that would later fuel her music career.
Her mother Jacqueline McEntire dreamed of singing country music but never got the chance. During long drives to rodeo events, she taught Reba and her siblings to sing in harmony. By high school, they formed “The Singing McEntires” and performed at local events around Oklahoma.
Education & Nashville Journey
Reba graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973. She enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University to study elementary education with a music minor. Most people expected her to become a teacher, not a country star.
Everything changed at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Her father convinced her to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the competition. Country artist Red Steagall heard her voice and knew immediately she had something special.
At a hotel party that week, Reba sang Dolly Parton’s “Joshua” without any music backing her. Red Steagall later told her mother he could only help one of the McEntire children. “I can’t take all three, but I could take Reba—she’s got something a little different,” he said.
Music Career Beginnings
Reba McEntire moved to Nashville in March 1975 with her mother. She signed with PolyGram/Mercury Records in November 1975. Her first single “I Don’t Want to Be a One Night Stand” only reached number 88 on the charts in 1976.
The early years tested her patience. Record executives pushed her toward soft country-pop that didn’t match her style. She spent nearly a decade struggling to find her authentic sound while label bosses controlled her music choices.
By 1983, Reba had enough of outside control. She arranged an early release from Mercury Records and signed with MCA Records in 1984. This move changed everything, giving her the freedom to pick her own songs and production style.
Career Breakthrough
My Kind of Country dropped in 1984 and finally showcased Reba’s real voice. She convinced MCA president Jimmy Bowen to let her choose traditional country songs by artists like Ray Price and Connie Smith. Billboard magazine called her “the finest woman country singer since Kitty Wells.”
Her 1986 album Whoever’s in New England pushed her into superstardom. The title track hit number one and won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album went platinum and topped the Billboard Country Albums chart.
For My Broken Heart became her biggest commercial success in 1991. The album sold over four million copies in the United States. Songs like “Is There Life Out There” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” dominated country radio for months.
1991 Plane Tragedy
March 16, 1991, brought the worst day of Reba’s life. Two planes carrying her band members left San Diego after a concert. One plane crashed into Otay Mountain, killing all ten people aboard, according to Biography.
Eight band members died: guitarists Chris Austin and Michael Thomas, keyboardists Kirk Cappello and Joey Cigainero, vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, road manager Jim Hammon, bassist Terry Jackson, and drummer Anthony Saputo. Pilots Donald Holmes and Chris Hollinger also lost their lives. The National Transportation Safety Board blamed pilot error and poor planning for the crash.
Reba performed at the Academy Awards just nine days later, showing incredible strength. She dedicated For My Broken Heart to her lost band members. “By the time that long, terrible weekend was over, we were emotionally and physically exhausted,” she stated in her autobiography published by Bantam Books.
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Films & Television
Reba McEntire made her film debut in 1990’s Tremors alongside Kevin Bacon. The horror-comedy earned her a Saturn Award nomination. She played Annie Oakley in the 2001 Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, winning praise from The New York Times.
Her biggest acting success came with the sitcom Reba, which ran on The WB from 2001 to 2007. The show lasted six seasons with 127 episodes. She earned a Golden Globe nomination and proved she could handle both comedy and drama.
Recent years brought more acting roles. She appeared in Young Sheldon, Big Sky, and the 2023 Lifetime movie Reba McEntire’s The Hammer. Her current NBC sitcom Happy’s Place (2024-present) stars her alongside fiancé Rex Linn and former co-star Melissa Peterman.
Business Ventures
Reba formed Starstruck Entertainment in 1988 with then-husband Narvel Blackstock. The company managed every part of her career, from music to touring. After their divorce in 2015, she took full control and renamed it Reba’s Business Inc.
She opened Reba’s Ranch House in Denison, Texas in 1992. The facility wasn’t just a restaurant—it provided extended-stay housing for families of patients at Texoma Medical Center. This charitable project showed her commitment to helping communities in need.
Her “Rockin’ R by Reba” clothing line launched in 2016 at Cracker Barrel stores. The collection includes home décor, jewelry, and Western-style clothing. As of 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth her net worth sits at approximately $95 million from music sales, touring, acting, and business investments.
Personal Relationships
Reba McEntire married steer wrestling champion Charlie Battles in 1976. The marriage lasted until 1987, ending when her career demanded she move to Nashville while he wanted to stay in Oklahoma. Their paths simply went different directions as her music took off.
She married Narvel Blackstock in 1989 at Lake Tahoe. They had one son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, born February 23, 1990 according to PEOPLE. After 26 years together, they separated in 2015, ending both their marriage and business partnership.
Reba reconnected with actor Rex Linn in 2020 after first meeting in 1991 on The Gambler Returns set. They started daily video calls they nicknamed “Coffee Camp” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They got engaged in December 2024, though they announced it publicly in September 2024, delaying the news due to the California wildfires happening at the time according to her December 2025 Today show interview.
Musical Evolution & Style
Reba McEntire’s contralto voice sets her apart from other country singers. She developed a technique called “vocal gymnastics“—twirling notes with vibrato—that she credits to Dolly Parton’s influence. Her voice carries emotion that connects with listeners on a deep level.
Her music evolved from traditional country to include country pop, mainstream pop, and even R&B elements. Some critics called her later work “melodramatic,” but she never apologized for expanding her sound. She believed growth keeps artists relevant across changing decades.
She holds the record for solo number-one hits across four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s). At 54, when “Consider Me Gone” topped charts in December 2009, she became one of the oldest women with a country number-one single. “Whatever I’m doing, I feel like I’m representing country music,” she explained in a 2007 Billboard interview.
Awards & Recognition
Reba McEntire has won three Grammy Awards from 17 nominations. Her wins came in 1987 for “Whoever’s in New England,” 1994 for “Does He Love You” with Linda Davis, and 2018 for Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope. The 2018 gospel album win marked her first Grammy in over 20 years.
She earned 14 American Music Awards, setting the record for most Favorite Country Female Artist wins. Her seven CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards included four consecutive wins from 1984 to 1987. The Kennedy Center Honors recognized her contributions in 2018.
The Country Music Hall of Fame inducted her in 2011, with Dolly Parton presenting the honor. She joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 17, 1986. Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star was placed at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in 1998, according to NBC.
Philanthropy & Faith
Reba McEntire’s Christian faith guides her life and career. “Easter is very important to me, it’s a second chance,” she stated in a faith-based interview. Her beliefs helped her through the 1991 plane crash and personal struggles.
She actively supports Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, and Feeding America. The Minnie Pearl Award honored her humanitarian work. She received the Andrea Bocelli Foundation Humanitarian Award for her charitable efforts.
Her faith shows in her music too. The 2017 double-disc gospel album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope featured traditional hymns alongside original tracks. The project included collaborations with Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood, bringing her Christian values to mainstream audiences.
Current Projects & Legacy
Reba McEntire joined The Voice as a coach in May 2023, replacing Blake Shelton for seasons 24-26. Team member Asher HaVon won season 25 on May 21, 2024, during her second season coaching. She’s returning for season 28 in late 2025 after a one-season break.
Her NBC sitcom Happy’s Place premiered in 2024 and continues airing. She serves as both lead actress and executive producer. Working alongside fiancé Rex Linn makes the project extra special for both of them.
She performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. Deaf actor Daniel Durant signed the anthem in American Sign Language beside her. At 70, she remains as active and relevant as artists half her age, proving that authentic talent never fades.
Conclusion
Reba McEntire built a country music empire through talent, hard work, and authentic character. From her Oklahoma cattle ranch upbringing to becoming The Queen of Country, she never forgot where she came from. Her 75 million records sold worldwide prove that staying true to yourself connects with audiences across generations.
The tragedies she faced, including the 1991 plane crash and two marriages ending, could have derailed lesser careers. She transformed pain into art, creating some of country music’s most powerful albums. Her ability to channel heartbreak into healing songs created lasting impact.
At 70, engaged to Rex Linn and starring in Happy’s Place, her story continues evolving. She coaches on The Voice, performs sold-out concerts, and inspires new artists. Reba McEntire’s legacy lives not just in her music, but in showing that resilience, faith, and genuine talent create lasting impact.
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FAQ About Reba McEntire
How tall is Reba McEntire?
Reba McEntire stands 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall.
What is Reba McEntire’s age in 2025?
Born March 28, 1955, Reba McEntire is 70 years old as of 2025.
Who is Reba McEntire’s current husband?
Reba McEntire is engaged to actor Rex Linn as of December 2024, with no wedding date announced yet.
What is Reba McEntire’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth Reba McEntire’s net worth is estimated at $95 million in 2025.
How many number-one hits does Reba McEntire have?
Reba McEntire has 25 number-one singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
What happened in the 1991 plane crash?
On March 16, 1991, a plane carrying eight band members crashed into Otay Mountain, killing all ten people aboard.
Is Reba McEntire still on The Voice?
Yes, Reba McEntire is returning for The Voice season 28 in late 2025.
How many children does Reba McEntire have?
Reba McEntire has one son, Shelby Blackstock, born February 23, 1990.
Hello, I’m Serena Flores, a passionate writer with over 4 years of experience in lifestyle, biography, and internet culture content. I specialize in creating engaging, easy-to-read articles that simplify modern trends, slang, and real-life stories for every reader. My goal is to make complex topics relatable, offering well-researched insights and fresh perspectives that keep readers informed, inspired, and connected.