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After a rocky start with several low-charting singles, Reba gained momentum in 1978 with her first top 20 hit, ”I’d Really Love to See You Tonight.” But it wasn’t until 1984, when McEntire signed with MCA Records, that her career truly exploded. 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 solidifying her place as a country music legend. By 1986, McEntire was a household name, winning her first Grammy for ”Whoever’s in New England,” which topped the charts.
McEntire’s life was shattered after a plane crash
In the late 1980s, Reba McEntire’s career took a significant turn as her touring schedule became busier, and she and her band began flying by private planes to avoid long bus trips. Tragically, in March 1991, McEntire’s life was shattered when a plane crash took the lives of eight members of her band an d two pilots. The accident deeply affected McEntire, who later dedicated her album For My Broken Heart to those lost.
Despite the tragedy, McEntire’s career flourished throughout the 1990s. She also explored acting, starring in a TV series and releasing the hit ”I’m a Survivor.”
After taking a few years off, Reba McEntire made a triumphant return to music in 2003 with her album Room to Breathe. The album produced a number-one hit with “Somebody” and was followed by a successful tour. Her 2007 album Reba: Duets topped the charts, showcasing her ability to blend genres with a variety of artists.
Reba’s heartfelt tribute
In, 2014 Reba’s father passed away after complications from a stroke. To honor him, she channeled her grief into the music video for ”Just Like Them Horses,” a heartfelt song that gave a deeply personal glimpse into the pain of losing someone so important. TV & Video Equipment
This wasn’t the first time Reba dedicated a song to her father. In 1979, she wrote the song ”Daddy” – a tribute to Clark and the cowboy and rodeo life he cherished.
So, while Reba’s mother laid the foundation for much of her musical success, she was also very much a daddy’s girl.
”I have a lot of daddy in me. I have a lot of his drive and his determination to succeed, but also, I’m a terrible communicator,” she shared with The Tennessean in 1994.
After all her successes and tragedies, there was one thing that made Reba McEntire consider stepping away from her career. In an interview on Today with Hoda & Jenna, the musician – now widely regarded as the Queen of Country – candidly shared how she considered quitting music following her mother Jacqueline’s passing from cancer in March 2020.
McEntire, 69, recounted a moment when she and her sister Susie were going through their parents’ belongings after Jacqueline’s death. It was during this introspective period that she contemplated her future as a singer.
She recalled: “I was going through pictures. I said, ‘I just don’t think I’m gonna do this anymore.’ She said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Sing,’” she explained. “I said, ‘I always did it for Mama.’ She said, ‘Oh, you’ll get it back.’ I did.”
Reba is about faith, family and culture