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On an 8,000-acre ranch in Oklahoma, a little girl once spent her days driving pickup trucks before she could even reach the pedals. With her siblings by her side and cattle to wrangle, she learned the meaning of grit and perseverance. Decades later, her name would become known around the world.
Life on a ranch was no place for idleness, especially for one of four siblings raised in a tight-knit family where hard work was non-negotiable. By the time she was five, she was helping drive her father’s truck through cattle fields, her small frame barely able to see over the dashboard.
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Her father instilled discipline and grit in his children. Her mother, a dreamer who loved country music, filled the home with encouragement and warmth. Life on the ranch was as rugged as it was rewarding. For this girl, the ranch was where she learned to lead, persevere, and, eventually, dream of something more.
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Growing Up on the Ranch
Long before she was a star, she was a ranch hand. Growing up on an 8,000-acre ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma, she learned to work with her hands and heart. Her father, Clark McEntire, was a champion steer roper, and her mother, Jackie, was a homemaker.
Together, they raised four children — Alice, Pake, the star, and Susie — in a small gray house with a single bathroom for all six family members. From when she was five, she was behind the wheel of a pickup truck.
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Too small to reach the pedals, her father would prop her up with a 50-pound feed sack and place the truck in “granny gear,” letting her steer. This wasn’t a one-time event but part of her daily life.
With her siblings by her side, she helped care for the cattle, guided the horses, and managed the workload of the ranch. Their only company during those long days was each other.
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Her father wasn’t one to give out hugs or words of praise. His love came in the form of expectations. Her mother filled the emotional gap, offering love, guidance, and, most of all, encouragement.
With her father often away competing in rodeos, the kids were left to run the ranch. In these moments, she learned the value of teamwork, grit, and independence — qualities that would serve her well later in life.
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From Ranch Hand to Rising Star
Life on the ranch taught her how to work, but music taught her how to dream. While her father built a legacy in rodeo, her mother carried her dream of becoming a country singer. Though Jackie never got her big break, she planted that dream in her children.
The three youngest McEntires — Pake, the star, and Susie — formed “The Singing McEntires” group, performing at rodeos, local events, and family gatherings. Music became an outlet for her and a chance to stand out.
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She played the guitar, learned the piano, and discovered the joy of receiving applause. Each performance was an opportunity to earn her mother’s approval. “That was real good,” her mother would say, and those words stuck with her.
Later, she attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she initially majored in music. However, the technicalities of the program proved too challenging, so she shifted her focus to education, with music as her minor.
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She thought she might one day become a teacher. However, life had other plans. One fateful day at a rodeo, her big break finally arrived.
How One Chance Encounter Changed Everything
She was invited to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, and her performance caught the attention of country music star Red Steagall.
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Blown away by her voice, Steagall started a conversation with her family. Her mother saw an opportunity and seized it. “Can you get the kids in the business?” she asked him. Her older brother and younger sister decided not to pursue it, but she was ready.
She accompanied Red Steagall to Nashville the following year to record a demo tape. It was her first real introduction to the world of music production.
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Glenn Keener, an executive at PolyGram Records, heard the tape and took it to his bosses. They had two reels in front of them — hers and another singer’s. They chose hers, and just like that, she had a record deal.
But the road ahead wasn’t smooth. Her first few releases didn’t gain traction, and life as a new artist in Nashville wasn’t the glamorous dream she’d imagined. It would be years before her hard work paid off, but she knew how to wait. She’d learned that lesson on the ranch.
Reba McEntire poses for a portrait session in Nashville, Tennessee in circa 1976 | Source: Getty Images
Slow Start but Steady Rise to Fame
Her music career officially began in 1976, but it wasn’t until 1983 that she scored her first No. 1 hit with “Can’t Even Get the Blues.” It was a long-awaited moment. While on tour, she received a call from her manager, Don Williams, who told her the big news.
Her first call was to her mother, Jackie. “Well, you finally did it,” Jackie said. “No, ma’am,” she replied. “We did it.” Though she was gaining fame, the financial rewards were slow to come.
She didn’t see her first royalty check until 1988, years after winning four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Her success skyrocketed as she became one of country music’s most celebrated female artists in history.
With over 20 No. 1 hits and over 90 million records sold, she claimed her spot as the second-best-selling female country artist of all time. The name Reba McEntire and its influence soon stretched beyond music.
Reba McEntire speaks onstage during the The 54th Annual CMA Awards at Nashville’s Music City Center | Source: Getty Images
Reba wowed audiences on Broadway in “Annie Get Your Gun” and made her mark on television with the hit sitcom “Reba,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
From music star to TV star, she proved she could thrive in any arena. Through it all, she remained grounded, crediting her parents and the small-town values she learned in Oklahoma.
Love, Loss, and Family
Reba’s father was known for his toughness, but there were rare moments when he’d let his pride for his daughter show. After one of her performances, he told her, “Reba, you sure do work hard.”
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Another memorable moment was after she won Entertainer of the Year at the CMAs. As she sat in a limousine with her parents, her father said, “It’s always good to drive home with a winner.” Coming from a then three-time world champion steer roper, that was one of the highest compliments he could give.
Reba McEntire receives a Music City News Award on January 9, 1987 | Source: Getty Images
Sadly, he passed away in 2014 following complications from a stroke, and his death deeply affected her. Reflecting on his life and legacy, she honored him with the music video for “Just Like Them Horses,” a song that offered an intimate look at her grief.
Just six years later, in 2020, she suffered another devastating loss when her mother, Jackie, passed away after battling cancer. Her death left a lasting void in Reba’s life, and she wasn’t sure if she could continue singing without her.
Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
However, she found solace in remembering Jackie’s influence on her career. “Mama was my cheerleader,” she once said. “She encouraged me. I miss her so much.”
Reba McEntire attends the 54th annual CMA Awards at the Music City Center on November 11, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
Tragedy, Healing, and Resilience: How Faith, Family, and Music Kept Her Strong
Throughout her life, Reba has faced her share of heartbreak, but no loss hit harder than the tragedy of March 1991. While at home with her then-husband, Narvel Blackstock, she received news that would forever change her life.
A plane carrying seven members of her band and her tour manager had crashed near San Diego, California. There were no survivors. The devastation was unimaginable, as she had just been with them hours earlier. The tragedy robbed her of cherished friends and trusted collaborators.
Grief gripped her, but she didn’t let it consume her. Instead of pausing her career, she poured her pain into her next album. Her bassist, Leland Sklar, asked if the project would include happy songs.
She replied, “Not on this one.” The resulting album was raw and emotional, reflecting her grief and healing process. In the aftermath, she leaned on her faith, family, and the values instilled in her by her parents.
These guiding principles had always been her foundation, and now they helped her endure one of the darkest moments of her life. Her faith had been a constant presence in her life, thanks to the influence of her maternal grandmother, Reba Smith.
Her grandmother taught her about Jesus and instilled a deep sense of spirituality in her. It’s a lesson that stayed with her through every season of her life, from her early days on the ranch to her rise as a country music superstar.
Faith wasn’t just a belief system but a source of strength, a reminder that she was never truly alone, even in times of profound loss. Her mother, Jackie, also played a significant role in shaping her character. Jackie believed in accountability, loyalty, and always following through on promises.
Reba’s love life has also seen its share of heartbreak. Her 26-year marriage to her manager, Narvel, ended in divorce. It was a public split, and the star later admitted that divorce doesn’t just affect two people but the entire family.
Despite the storms she had weathered, this one still took a toll. But, like every other challenge in her life, she found her way forward. She eventually fell in love again with actor Rex Linn, and the couple has been open about their happiness.
Splitting their time between Nashville and Los Angeles, Reba says she feels secure and at peace in this new chapter of her life. Through every tragedy and every triumph, Reba’s music has remained a reflection of her life’s journey.
Her ability to channel heartache into art is one of the reasons she has become a beloved figure in country music. Her songs speak to the pain and perseverance of ordinary people. This relatability has kept her at the top of the charts for over four decades.
Reba is undeniably one of the most successful female country artists. Her career has transcended music, reaching into television, Broadway, and even the restaurant business.
She divides her time between Nashville and Los Angeles, often staying with her boyfriend Rex in L.A. Although very successful, she remains deeply connected to her Oklahoma roots.
She invested in her hometown of Atoka County by opening Reba’s Place in 2023, a restaurant that is a tribute to her humble beginnings. With her legacy cemented, Reba’s story reminds us that with faith, family, and grit, no dream is too big.
