Profile of Reba McEntire on Famous Like Me

Reba Nell McEntire (born on March 28, 1955, in McAlester, Oklahoma) is one of the best-selling country music performers of all time, known for pop ballads that include 22 #1 hits on the Billboard Country Chart. She has sold more than 45 million albums in the U.S.

McEntire grew up learning to ride in rodeos as well as play music. She soon formed a band with her sisters, Alice and Susie, and her brother, Pake, and the quartet had a local hit with "The Ballad of John McEntire", a tribute to their grandfather. After singing the "Star Spangled Banner" at the National Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City in 1974, Red Steagall suggested that McEntire go to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a solo career.

With a contract to Mercury Records, McEntire began her professional career with a hard honky tonk sound, which didn't go over well at a time when country music was dominated by outlaw country artists like Willie Nelson and David Allan Coe. She soon married Charlie Battles and earned a teaching degree. "Three Sheets in the Wind"/"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" became her first charting single in 1978 (see 1978 in music), and was followed by the bigger hit "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" (1980, 1980 in music). With more pop-oriented balladry, McEntire began to expand her audience during the early 1980s, signing to MCA Records in 1984 (see 1984 in music) and becoming one of the best-selling country artists of all time.

She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times, and had dozens of Top Ten hits during the 80s. For her contribution to the recording industry, Reba McEntire has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

After divorcing Battles in 1987 (see 1987 in music), McEntire married Narvel Blackstock, a noted steel guitarist and the couple took control over all aspects of her career. Seven members of Reba's band and her road manager were among 10 people who died in a March 16, 1991, plane crash near San Diego, California. Even without the major label support she had enjoyed in the 80s, McEntire continued to hit the charts through the 1990s, as well as appearing in television and film, most notably Tremors, a cult horror movie series, Forever Love, and One Night at McCool's.

Since 2001, she has starred in the hit WB television show, Reba (with Texan actor Christopher Rich (American actor) as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country star Dolly Parton who played Reba's character's supervisor at a real estate firm.

She has a son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock (born 1990).

Singles

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