American country music singer, actress and businesswoman
Reba Nell McEntire, also known mononymously as Reba, (born March 28, 1955) is an American country music singer, actress and businesswoman. She is often referred to as "the Queen of Country", having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 25 of which reached the number one spot. She is also credited as an actress, having appeared in both films and television. She starred in the television series Reba, which aired for six seasons. She also owns several businesses, including a clothing line.
One of four children, McEntire was born and raised in the state of Oklahoma. In childhood and adolescence, her interests included barrel racing and sports. She also had a natural singing ability, which was encouraged by her mother. With her mother's help, she and her siblings formed the Singing McEntires, which played at local events and recorded for a small label. McEntire later enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and studied to become a public school teacher. She also continued to occasionally perform and was heard singing at a rodeo event by country performer Red Steagall. Drawn to her singing voice, Steagall helped McEntire secure a country music recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records in 1975.
Over the next several years, PolyGram/Mercury released a series of McEntire's albums and singles, which amounted to little success. In the early 1980s, McEntire's music gained more momentum through several top ten country songs, including "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven", "I'm Not That Lonely Yet" and her first number one "Can't Even Get the Blues". Yet McEntire became increasingly unhappy with her career trajectory and signed with MCA Records in 1984. Her second MCA album titled My Kind of Country (1984) became her breakout release, spawning two number one Billboard country singles and pointed towards a more traditional musical style. Through the 1980s, McEntire released seven more studio albums and had ten more number one country hits. Her number one singles included "One Promise Too Late", "The Last One to Know" and the Grammy Award-winning "Whoever's in New England".
In 1991, McEntire lost eight of her band members in a plane crash in San Diego, California. The experience led to McEntire's critically acclaimed album For My Broken Heart, which is her highest-selling disc to date. She followed it with several commercially successful albums during the 1990s, including Read My Mind (1994), What If It's You (1996) and If You See Him (1998). These albums featured the number one country singles "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter", "How Was I to Know" and a duet with Brooks and Dunn called "If You See Him/If You See Her". McEntire also began acting on film and television, beginning with 1990's Tremors. In 2001, she played the role of Annie Oakley in the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun. The same year, the WB channel launched the TV series Reba, which starred McEntire as a fictionalized version of herself.
TimePeacePrayerReba McentireAgain its time to pray for peace.
LifeHelping OthersLife's supposed to be about making the path a little gentler for those traveling behind you.
KindnessGenerositySelflessnessMake sure you're always giving, way more than you're taking
Self-DisciplinePositivityPerspectiveThou shalt not whine' should be the eleventh commandment.
SuccessHard WorkIndividualityUniquenessBe different, stand out, and work your butt off.
Personal GrowthIt's very important to surround yourself with people you can learn from.
SuccessLifeDeterminationHumorIf you want to succeed in life...you must pick 3 bones to carry with you at all times: a wish bone, a backbone, and a funny bone.
LifeLovePassionRespectGet as much out of life as you possibly can with all the passion that goes with it. Then give it back with all the love and respect it deserves.
Personal GrowthForgivenessLiberationHealingWhen I learned to forgive, it was like a million pounds were lifted from me.
Personal BeliefsFaithReligionCoping MechanismsWithout God, I don't see how folks cope.
Life LessonsReba Mcentirewhen life gives you lemons. Make yourself a screwdriver
MusicFaithHopeReba McentireIt really has lifted my spirits. It's intensified my faith, given me more hope. That's what music does for me.
MoneyAll the money in the world can't buy you back good health.
TravelFamilyMy goals have changed throughout my life. At one time it was winning awards, selling out concert dates, selling more albums than anyone else. Now, my goals are to see my grandchildren grown, live a long and healthy life with my family and friends and travel the world.
ResilienceInspirationPersonal GrowthPerseveranceMotherhoodI think my song that reminds me of Mama is "I'm A Survivor" because she is one.
UnderstandingEmpathyAcceptanceToleranceI just try not to judge. Dont judge me, and I wont judge you.
HonestyDecision-MakingResponsibilityAccountabilityIntegrityMama was a stickler on keeping your word. That's helped me to make the right decisions in so many situations. Because of that, I also think really hard before I make a decision because I know I'm going to have to see it through.
Personal GrowthIndependenceSelf-RelianceBeing a strong woman is very important to me. But doing it all on my own is not.
AmbitionEnthusiasmDisappointmentWhen you're a very ambitious person, the things that are disappointing are when other people around you aren't as enthusiastic.
Personal GrowthSelf-AcceptanceGrowing UpGrowing up is not being so dead-set on making everybody happy.
Reba McentireI was one of the very first people to ever do a video in country music.
MistakesLivingLiving might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking. Loving might be a mistake. but its worth making
ImportanceFinding a good bus driver can be as important as finding a good musician.
SuccessHard WorkUpbringingEverything I've done in my career is a result of growing up in rural Oklahoma, because if I hadn't had the training from Mama and Daddy to work hard, to do what I'm told, to take directions, to mind and to do a good job at anything I set out to do, then I wouldn't be where I am today.
MusicCollaborationReba McentireMichael Phelps and Willie Nelson are teaming up to do an album. ... They're covering The Doobie Brothers.
Emotional ConnectionA good song has to have a great melody, and the lyrics have to touch my heart. Now, if it's just a little toe-tapper, got to make me feel good somehow or another, or when I sing it I can't make you feel good.
MusicArtQualitySongsTo me, there's two types of songs, good and bad. And I just like to stick with the good ones.
Personal StyleI love to wear boots - and shoes, I don't like at all.
FriendshipTrustFaithGodI can't imagine living a life without God in my life. He is my best friend, He's my buddy, He's the one that I talk to when there's no one around. I talk to Him when people are around a lot too. He's my confidant, He's my advisor, He's my director. I just don't know why you wouldn't want that in your life. He's just like a bodyguard, He is your protector.
PerseveranceIf dreams give you power, then I'm strong enough to walk through my heart till you love me.
FamePerceptionSelf-ConfidenceMindsetThinkingFame is a mind - a way of thinking about things. It's all in your mind.
Self-AcceptanceIdentityIndividualityPersonal TransformationI might have been born just plain white trash / but Fancy was my name.
ExerciseI exercise at least five times a week with stretching, Pilates, push-ups, planks, sit- ups, squats and light weights.
I grew up in southeastern Oklahoma on a working cattle ranch, and it was always very romantic to me: The West, the cowboy, the Western way of life.
PerseveranceCommitmentDecision-MakingChoicesAnything worth doing, is worth doing all the way. Just know you'll have to live with all the choices that you make.
SingingDarknessHurtHealingFor me, singing sad songs often has a way of healing a situation. It gets the hurt out in the open into the light, out of the darkness.
DedicationPerseveranceLoyaltyCommitmentI've never turned my back on country music.
TravelReba McentireBesides, I'm a gypsy at heart and I like to travel around.
FriendshipTrustPopularityTo me, being popular means I've got more friends. You've got to watch who your friends are, if you want to get close to them, but I've got a lot of acquaintances. And then, you've got to be real careful who your friends are, because you never know why they're your friend.
ConfidenceAttitudeAppearanceSelf-PerceptionYou know, I can get kind of spunky or I can get tough, you know, that kind of tough, sexy look. But sexy? No, I don't think so.
MusicDiversityEnjoymentCollaborationSingingI love to sing with different people.
Self-ImprovementSelf-DoubtQuestioningAchievementsNo matter what you achieve in life, you're always wondering, 'Is there something I should be doing? Is there something I'm missing?
ResiliencePersonal GrowthSelf-DiscoveryAcceptanceOvercoming ObstaclesI have learned a lot about myself and come to deal with a lot of things that, at first, bothered me.
FaithSpiritualityReligionChurchI just feel like the people who are discouraged about religion, it's [really] the connotation of people that go to church. People that go to church love the Lord and they like to be around people who love the Lord. It's a fellowship and it's a growth and it's a feeding for them that when they're in a social group of people who believe, it makes them grow spiritually.
ChallengesFamilyTime ManagementParentingThe biggest challenge in my life is getting all these kids raised. I've helped with nieces, stepchildren and my own son, so the biggest challenge is making sure the kids are raised and finding enough quality time with them.
SupportFamilyRemembranceGriefI have talked to Debbie Hammond quite a bit, Jim Hammond's wife, his widow. I've seen their kids. And last time we played Dallas, a lot of them came over. It's hard for them to come see the show. It's still hard.
Reba McentireAnd the two planes that were taking the band and crew that we had taken out to San Diego were flying out after the show. And so I was never supposed to be on that plane.
And so we were asleep there in San Diego. And our pilot called us. And his brother was on one of the other planes. And when he was leaving the airport, he saw in his rear view mirror that there was an explosion.
Whenever a natural disaster occurs, it is always the Red Cross that responds quickly and compassionately. I am honored to lend my voice to their cause, and thrilled to serve on the Celebrity Cabinet for 2010.
Patsy Cline? Larger than life! She taught me emotion: raw, sincere, unashamed.
LoveRelationshipsCommunicationBusinessAssumptionsHe was good in business, but there was business left to do. He never said he loved me, guess he thought I knew.
Habitat for Humanity is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I am proud to be a part of the partnership between Whirlpool and Habitat and appreciate everything these two organizations are doing for the wonderful Nashville community and other communities throughout the world.
SuccessAmbitionFulfillmentPerseveranceCareerI don’t think there's ever been a point in my career where I've said, 'I've made it.' What does that mean, 'I've made it?' Made it to what? If you say, 'I've made it.' then are you finished? I don't want to be finished. I don't want to quit.
There's a lot of power in putting it out in the universe. It's telling your subconscious mind, 'This is what's gonna happen.'
АвтомобіліListeningI've got CDs in my car, listening all the time for that next song, because everybody's looking.
ListeningBut I like to listen to demos. I like to hear the finished product. It's like listening to a song - I mean, a story. If you're going to sit here and tell me a story, I just like to listen. I don't want to make them up.
WisdomPositivityStrengthFaithGuidance[Faith] guides me on everything I do, i ask for guidance, I ask the Lord to give me wisdom when I speak, when I think and I always try to be positive and say nice things and it gives me strength throughout every minute and every day.
MusicArtistic ExpressionBut I think a song that is really emotionally packed, with a great melody that just will soar, that's the keeper.
Self-PerceptionHumorReba McentireBeing sexy is kind of funny to me.
MusicAuthenticityBeliefHonestyEvery song that has been a hit for me has been honest and truthful. I have to believe that same formula will work on this (television) show. It has to be believable and honest.
LoveRelationshipsSometimes I hate how much I love him But everyday I love him more
Audience EngagementPopularityEntertainment IndustryIt's funny how many people will come to Vegas to see your show where they might not come out to see you unless you come to their hometown.
MusicEmotional ConnectionArtistic ExpressionI'm open to any kind of situation in a song as long as it touches my heart.
ProductivityMultitaskingI have the attention span of a 2-year-old. I like to jump from project-to-project.
AmbitionDreamsActingCareer AspirationsI always wanted to be an actress. I always wanted to be a movie star.
Reba McentireI always like story songs, Dolly Parton, Tom T. Hall, Mel Tillis, Red Stegall, when they'd do their story songs. I was totally enthralled.
SingingAttentionReba McentireAnd I was mischievous. I was always into something. So when I got good attention from the singing, I knew that was probably where I needed to land.
DeterminationWaiting makes me restless. When I'm ready, I'm ready.
FunReba McentireSo, I took lessons, and I love to shoot now. It's a lot of fun.
EmpowermentGrowthSelf-DiscoverySkillsI use all my skills that I can muster up, but the fun thing is that I find some untapped skills every once in a while. I get that from my daddy.