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Reba early years in life wasn’t just about music — she lived a full, active life. She played basketball, ran track, and even spent summers at basketball camp. At home, she learned to play the piano and guitar, while her passion for the rodeo led her to train as a barrel racer.
“Anytime anybody needed an opinion of 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 would say, ‘OK, Reba, you’re on Susie’s part. Sing it again.’ We’d sing it, and she’d say, ‘Oh, that’s perfect,’ and she’d go back in and keep frying potatoes.”
The siblings often performed together and soon caught the attention of local audiences. In 1971, they released a single, “The Ballad of John McEntire,” paying tribute to their grandfather, a celebrated rodeo star. Although the song was only distributed regionally, it marked an important milestone in Reba’s early music career — one that hinted at the superstar she would become.
Kids barely out of puberty
The Singing McEntires were more than just a family trio — they were a local sensation. With Reba, Pake, and Susie leading the charge, the group began playing at small-town events and dances. As their talent grew, so did their reach. They eventually formed a band called The Kiowa High School Cowboy Band, taking their music to dance halls and even bars in Oklahoma City. Reba later joked, ”We were just kids barely out of puberty, staying up until sunrise after some of those shows.”
But as the siblings grew older, their paths began to diverge.
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When her brother graduated high school, the band dissolved. Reba, meanwhile, graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973 and headed to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, majoring in elementary education with a minor in music. Even during college, she balanced her studies with her responsibilities on the family ranch, proving 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 Oklahoma City. Nervous but determined, she reached out to family friend and rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who helped secure the gig. Little did she know, that performance would change everything.
A defining moment
Country music legend Red Steagall happened to be in the audience that night, and Reba’s powerful voice stopped him in his tracks. After hearing her sing, he invited her and her family to a hotel party during the rodeo. At the gathering, Reba performed an a cappella rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Joshua.” It was a defining moment.
Reba’s mother, Jacqueline, seized the opportunity to ask Steagall for help. She wanted all three of her children to get a chance at stardom. But Steagall’s response was clear: “I can’t take all three. But I could take Reba. She’s got something a little different.”
In March 1975, Reba and her mother packed up and headed to Nashville to record a demo tape. The journey wasn’t without hesitation. Reba admitted she made excuse after excuse to delay the trip. Finally, her mother pulled the car over and looked her daughter in the eye. “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’m living all my dreams through you.”
Those words hit Reba hard. She realized this wasn’t just about her dreams—it was about her mother’s sacrifices and unwavering belief in her. With newfound determination, they drove on to Nashville, not knowing they were about to begin a journey that would change country music forever.
A rocky start
After recording her demo tape, Reba’s fate hung in the balance. Glenn Keener, a producer for PolyGram/Mercury Records, heard the tape and saw something special. Impressed by her voice, he decided to take a chance and brought the recording to PolyGram’s headquarters in Chicago. But there was a catch — Keener was only allowed to sign one female artist.
In that emotional moment, Keener held two demo tapes in his hands: Reba’s and another woman’s. After a pause, he made his choice. ”He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed ’em mine,” Reba later recalled to Entertainment Weekly.