Reba McEntire
As the reigning queen of country music, Reba McEntire has led an illustrious country music career that has resulted in numerous Academy of Country Music Awards and two Grammy Awards, and makes her one of the best-selling female country music performers ever. One of only five female performers to ever win the Country Music Association’s highest honor of Entertainer of the Year, Reba rules on the stage, in the charts, and in the hearts of millions of country music fans.
Reba Nell McEntire was born March 28, 1955, in Chockie, Oklahoma , and was raised on her parents’ cattle ranch. Her mother was a singer and teacher, and music was in Reba’s blood. Along with her siblings, they would perform as the singing McEntires. Reba sang the National Anthem at the 1974 National Rodeo finals and caught the attention of recording artist Red Steagall, who was so enthralled he offered to back a recording session for Reba in Nashville .
So Reba’s singing career began. Reba signed with Mercury Records in 1975 and made her debut on the Billboard’s Country chart on May 8, 1976, with “I Don’t Want to be a One Night Stand.” Though the single reached only as high as number eighty-eight and lasted on the charts only five weeks, Reba’s career would become anything but a one night stand.
Her first top ten single came in 1980 with “(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven,” which reached number eight. She continued to land in the top ten routinely with Mercury, but switched to MCA Records in 1984. Reba’s first music video, “Whoever’s in New England” would also lead to a later break into acting, as Reba began to enjoy filming dramatic music videos that often featured high-profile people, including director Rob Reiner.
Married to rodeo star Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987, Reba allowed Battles to manage her music career until their separation. After, she hired Bill Carter as her principal manager and her career took off even further in music and shifted to acting. She appeared in the 1990 film Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon, and in several made-for-television movies before being offered her own series, Reba, in 2001 on the WB, now called CW Television. Reba also supplied the voice of Betsy in the 2006 remake of Charlotte ’s Web.
To date, Reba has had nearly two dozen number one singles, has won two Grammy awards, and has been named entertainer of the year twice. She has also referred to as the second best selling female artist of all time, behind Barbara Streisand. She continues to work on Reba and her music. She is married to Narvel Blackstock and together they now manage her career from multiple residences. |
