Reba McEntire

Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music singer and actress, often dubbed "The Queen of Country." Known for her extensive music career, she has sold over 75 million records globally and placed more than 100 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with 24 reaching number one. Beyond her recording career, McEntire has established a prominent screen presence as a television and film actress, and she operates business ventures that include a clothing line and a restaurant.

McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on March 28, 1955, and was raised on a cattle ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. She was one of four children born to Clark and Jacqueline McEntire. Her father and grandfather were both championship steer ropers, while her mother worked as a teacher, librarian, and secretary. Encouraged by their mother, McEntire and her siblings learned to sing in harmony and eventually formed a vocal group known as the Singing McEntires, performing at local events and releasing a regional single in 1971.

After graduating from Kiowa High School in 1973, McEntire attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in music. In 1974, she was hired to perform the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Her performance caught the attention of country artist Red Steagall, who helped her secure a demo recording session in Nashville. This led to a recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records in late 1975.

McEntire released her debut album in 1977 and scored her first top-10 country hit in 1980 with "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven." In 1983, she earned her first number-one country singles with "Can't Even Get the Blues" and "You're the First Time I Thought About Leaving." Seeking greater creative control, she transitioned to MCA Records in 1984. Her 1984 release, My Kind of Country, marked a stylistic shift toward traditional country music and became her breakout album, earning her the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year award. In 1986, the title track of her album Whoever's in New England earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

In 1991, eight members of McEntire's band died in a plane crash in San Diego, California. She channeled the experience into her critically acclaimed and highest-selling album, For My Broken Heart. She maintained commercial success throughout the decade with albums such as Read My Mind, What If It's You, and If You See Him. During this period, she also expanded into acting, making her feature film debut in Tremors in 1990 and starring on Broadway as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun in 2001.

McEntire launched her starring role in the television series Reba in 2001, which ran for six seasons. Her later television work includes guest appearances on Young Sheldon, a main role in the third season of Big Sky, and serving as a coach on four seasons of The Voice between 2023 and 2025. Since autumn 2024, she has starred in the NBC comedy series Happy's Place.