She grew up on a ranch, starting work at just 5 years old. As a teenager, she’d help with the cattle before school. Today, she’s one of the most famous singers in the world. Her name and full story are in the comments below.
The wonderful Reba McEntire is now 69 years old, and she truly deserves all of the praise she can get. Personally, it feels like she’s been there my entire life, and I still listen to her many times a week.
However, Reba’s life has not been all sweetness and light.
I was born to ride and cultivate the land.
Reba McEntire wasn’t just born country; she lived it.
The Legendary Country Queen Was Born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1955. However, she grew up on her family’s massive 8,000-acre ranch in tiny Chockie, Atoka County. Hard work, determination, and Western traditions shaped Reba’s childhood.
Life on the ranch didn’t allow for much downtime, and Reba was expected to do her share, even as a little girl.
Reba was already driving her father’s truck around cattle fields at the age of five. Steering might be a better word because she was too little to reach the pedals. Her father, Clark McEntire, would prop her up with a 50-pound feed sack and shift the truck into “Granny Gear.” And let her take the wheel. And this wasn’t just a memorable one-time event; it was part of everyday life.
The legendary country singer grew up in a rodeo-centric family. Her grandfather, John Wesley McEntire, was a world champion steer roper in 1934, and her father, Clark, followed in his footsteps by winning the title three times.
Clark McEntire, a rodeo legend, had a traditional approach to parenting, even if her childhood was not spectacular. Reba’s father did not believe in hugging or saying “I love you” to his children. His way of showing love was to set high expectations for them and teach them the value of hard work.
Reba later said in her autobiography, For My Broken Heart, that “when we were growing up, I used to regret that Daddy never told us he loved us.” Her childhood was not glamorous. The McEntire children, Alice, Pake, Reba, and Susie, grew up in a little gray house with only one bathroom for all six members.
“We were not wealthy individuals from West Texas or anything like that.” Reba described the terrain as mostly rocky and mountainous, yet still suitable for running a few steers.
Despite her early mastery and appreciation of farm life, Reba harbored a deep-seated passion for singing. Her mother, Jacqueline McEntire, had once aspired to be a country singer but instead spent her life as a public school teacher, librarian, and secretary.
“My mama, they used to say she could have been as big as Patsy Cline if she’d had any breaks, but she was teaching’ school by the time she was 16 or 17,” Reba once told me.
She received her strong voice from her father.
When Reba’s father struggled to show affection, Jacqueline remained warm and nurturing. Music became a family bond mostly due to their mother’s encouragement. On long car rides to her father’s rodeo events, Jacqueline would teach her children to sing in harmony, transforming the backseat into a miniature choir.
Reba’s passion for singing blossomed throughout these moments.
Reba has always stated that her mother taught her to sing and that all of her musical roots stem from her. She got her big voice from her father. Growing up on a ranch, where her father had to shout over fields to call the cattle, Reba inherited the power in his voice.
“I’ve always been loud. Mama said that when the three of us sang together, she could always hear me over Pake and Susie. They would always say, “Reba, shut up.” Back up. She told the Chicago Tribune, “That’s always been my history.”
Reba’s musical career began at a young age, and her talent shone through even then. In first grade, the fiery redhead stood in front of her classmates during an elementary school Christmas pageant and sang “Away in a Manger,” captivating everyone with her beautiful voice.
By fifth grade, she had joined the 4-H Club and won first place in the junior act division with the song “My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown.” Reba’s love of performing was already blooming.
The McEntire Family Band
Reba’s early years were not just about music; she lived a full and active life. She played basketball, ran track, and even spent her summers at a basketball camp. She learned to play piano and guitar at home, and her passion for rodeo led her to train as a barrel racer.
Reba’s musical ambitions had become a family affair by the time she reached high school. She and her siblings, Pake and Susie, formed The Singing McEntires trio. Jacqueline, their mother, was always quick to provide feedback, particularly when they made a mistake.
“Anytime anybody needed an opinion on who’s off—Susie’s on my part, I’m on Susie’s part—Mama would come in with her spatula after she was frying potatoes,” McEntire recalled, mimicking her mother’s pointing gesture with the utensil. “She’d say, ‘OK, Reba, you’re doing Susie’s part. Sing it again. We would sing the song, to which she would respond, “That’s ideal,” before returning to the kitchen to continue frying potatoes.
The siblings frequently performed together and quickly captured the attention of local audiences. “The Ballad of John McEntire,” a single they released in 1971, honored their grandfather, a renowned rodeo star. Despite its regional release, the song marked a significant milestone in Reba’s early music career, hinting at her future as a superstar.
The singing McEntires were not just a family trio; they were a local sensation. With Reba, Pake, and Susie leading the charge, the group began performing at small-town events and dances.
Their talent expanded, and so did their reach. They eventually formed the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band and took their music to dance halls and bars in Oklahoma City. Reba Later Laughed: “We Were Just Kids Barely Out Of Puberty, Staying Up Until Sunrise After Some Of Those Shows.” But when the siblings grew older, their paths diverged.
When her brother graduated from high school, the band broke up. Reba graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973 and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, majoring in elementary education with a minor in music. Even at college, she balanced her studies with her responsibilities on the family ranch, demonstrating her grit and determination.
In 1974, a unique opportunity arose. Reba’s father encouraged her to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the National Finals Rodeo in OKC. Nervous but determined, she contacted family friend and rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who assisted in securing the gig. Little did she know that her performance would change everything.
A defining moment.
Country Music Legend Red Steagall was in the audience that night, and Aid Reba’s powerful voice stopped him in his tracks.
Upon hearing her sing, he invited her and her family to a hotel party that took place during the rodeo. Reba sang Dolly Parton’s “Joshua” a cappella during the gathering. It was a defining moment.
Reba’s mother, Jacqueline, took advantage of the opportunity to ask Steagall for assistance. She wanted all three of her children to have a chance at stardom. However, Steagall’s response was clear: “I can’t take all three.” But I could take Reba. “She has something a little different.”
Reba and her mother traveled to Nashville in March 1975 to record a demo tape. The journey was not without trepidation.
Reba admitted that she made excuse after excuse to delay the trip. Finally, her mother stopped the car and looked her daughter in the eyes. “Now, Reba,” Jacqueline said gently but firmly, “if you don’t want to go to Nashville, we don’t have to do this.” “But I am living all my dreams through you.”
Those words struck Reba hard. She realized it wasn’t only about her dreams; it was also about her mother’s sacrifices and Newayerin’s belief in her. With newfound determination, they drove on to Nashville, unaware that they were about to begin a journey that would transform country music forever.
A shaky start.
Reba’s fate was uncertain when she recorded her demo tape. Glenn Keener, a producer for PolyGram/Mercury Records, heard the tape and noticed something special. Impressed by her voice, he decided to take a chance and bring the recording to PolyGram’s headquarters in Chicago. However, there was a catch: Keener could only sign one female artist.
In that emotional moment, Keener had two demo tapes in his hands: Reba’s and another woman’s. After a pause, he made his decision.
“He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed them to me,” Reba later told Entertainment Weekly.
After a rough start with a few low-charting singles, Reba gained
She gained momentum in 1978 with her first Top 20 hit, “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight.” It wasn’t until 1984, when McEntire signed with MCA Records, that her career truly took off. Her breakthrough album, My Kind of Country, marked a shift toward traditional country sounds, earning her the title of Female Vocalist of the Year and cementing her status as a country music legend. By 1986, McEntire had become a household name, winning her first Grammy for “Whoever’s In New England,” which topped the charts.
An aircraft disaster destroyed McEntire’s life.
Reba McEntire’s career took a significant turn in the late 1980s when her touring schedule became busier, and she and her band began flying privately to avoid long bus trips. Tragically, a plane crash in March 1991 shattered Reba McEntire’s life, killing eight members of her band and two pilots. The accident deeply affected McEntire, prompting her to dedicate her album For My Broken Heart to those who lost their lives.
Despite the tragedy, McEntire’s career thrived during the 1990s. She also dabbled in acting, appearing in a TV series and releasing the hit “I’m A Survivor.”
udy
Reba McEntire made a triumphant return to music in 2003 with her album Room to Breathe. “Somebody,” the album’s number-one hit, led to a successful tour. Her 2007 album, Reba: Duets, topped the charts, demonstrating her ability to blend genres with a wide range of artists.
Reba pays loving homage.
Reba’s father passed away in 2014 due to complications from a stroke. To honor him, she channeled her grief into the music video for “Just Like Them Horses,” a heartfelt song that provides a personal glimpse into the pain of losing someone important. Reba has already dedicated a song to her father. In 1979, she wrote the song “Daddy” as a tribute to Clark and then Windows Cowboy and Rodeo Life, which he cherished.
Reba has already dedicated a song to her father. In 1979, she penned the song “Daddy” as an homage to Clark and the cowboy and rodeo lifestyle he enjoyed.
White Reba’s mother laid the foundation for much of her musical success, but she was also very much a daddy’s daughter.
I possess numerous items inherited from my father.
After all her successes and tragedies, Reba McEntire considered leaving her career. In an interview with Hoda & Jenna today, the musician, now widely regarded as the Queen of Country, candidly shared how she considered quitting music after her mother, Jacqueline, died of cancer in March 2020.
McEntire, 69, recalled a day when she and her sister Susie were going through their parents’ belongings following Jacqueline’s death. During this introspective period, she considered her future as a singer.
She said, “I was going through pictures.” I said, “I don’t think I’m going to do this anymore.” She asked, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Sing,’ she explained. “I said, ‘I always do it for Mama.’” She said. “Oh, you will get it back,” she responded.
Reba discusses faith, family, and culture.
Fortunately, Reba has continued to sing. Reba McEntire is a staple in country music and has expanded her brand via acting, business ventures, and philanthropy. Despite her wealth and freedom, she has never forgotten her roots.
In 2023, she made a heartfelt return to her hometown of Atoka and partnered with the Choctaw Nation to open Reba’s Place, a charming restaurant and gathering spot that is bringing new life to the community.
“Reba is about faith, family, and culture,” said Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation, the third-largest tribe in the United States.
With a dash of her own style, the venue features her music, memorabilia, and plenty of Southern comfort food. But for Reba, it’s more than just business; it’s her way of giving back to the community that has shaped her.
The performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 marked a significant milestone in Reba McEntire’s career for me. It was a poignant moment that brought her back to where it all began: when her father pushed her to take that first big step, singing the National Anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in 1974. Little did she know that her performance would signal the beginning of a remarkable and legendary journey.
Fast forward to the Super Bowl stage, and it seemed as if everything had come together. Reba’s journey from a little rodeo in Oklahoma to one of the world’s biggest events exemplifies the power of passion and hard work. The moment came full circle, filled with emotion and beauty.
Reba McEntire has etched her name into country music history with 24 No. 1 hits, over 90 million albums sold, and an incredible array of awards.
The Oklahoma native exemplifies how one can rise from modest origins and yet conquer the world. Share Her Story on Facebook if you agree!
