Reba McEntire is one of the most legendary country singers and songwriters alive today. Many have dubbed her “The Queen of Country,” but this humble woman respectfully declines the title, explaining that it would be better suited to artists such as Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, or Loretta Lynn. Still, her influence on country music, as well as her success as a recording artist, cannot be ignored.
Throughout her life, Reba McEntire has released a total of 40 songs which became number one on the top charts. Her album sales have reached a total of $85 million! Finally, out of 33 released studio albums, 28 of these have been certified gold. Out of all the female music artists in the world, this success has been topped only by Barbara Streisand, who has released a total of 52 gold albums.
Furthermore, Reba McEntire has also won two Grammys and two bestselling autobiographies. While her acting career has not been nearly as successful as her work as a singer and songwriter, McEntire has found her way into a handful of films and television shows. She was even given her own sitcom, Reba, which ran for a total of six seasons.
McEntire certainly hasn’t stopped finding new ways to continue her career, either. The country artist is all too aware of how many people want to match her flawless style, and she released her own exclusive clothing line at Dillard’s.
Although McEntire’s singing and songwriting abilities are a huge part of her talent, part of what makes her so successful is her down-to-earth personality, as well as her unique lifestyle. People all over the country fall in love with her warm singing voice, as well as the confident and kind air she gives off during interviews and the like. It seems like everyone would want to be friends with Reba McEntire.
Sometimes, though, it’s all too easy to forget that celebrities are people just like us. After all, it’s not as though they spend their every waking moment getting dressed for the red carpet, filming for movies, or writing songs for their next hit album. So what does Reba McEntire get up to when the cameras aren’t rolling? In today’s video, we’re going to take a look at the secret life of Reba McEntire, including some juicy secrets you probably didn’t know about this country icon. Make sure you stick around, because we’re also going to reveal what Reba McEntire likes to do in her free time!
Her Mother Taught Her How to Sing
Reba McEntire was born on March 28th, 1955 to parents Jacqueline and Clark Vincent McEntire. She was born and raised in McAlester, Oklahoma, where she led a very rural lifestyle. Her mother, Jacqueline, had once had dreams of becoming a country music singer, but when those dreams failed, she settled for becoming a schoolteacher. However, she infused her passion into her work, and did her best to teach her students how to sing.
While Reba McEntire’s family drove to rodeos, Jacqueline would also teach her daughter how to sing and harmonize with the radio. Reba’s passion and skill for music undoubtedly came from her mother. While Jacqueline never became a famous country music artist herself, she at least got to watch her daughter follow her dreams.
What Reba McEntire Does in Her Free Time
It can be easy to forget that stars don’t spend all of their free time working on their careers. Outside of music and acting, Reba McEntire has a rich personal life, as well. One of her favorite things to do is travel. She and her family go on frequent vacations to learn more about the world around them. Her success as a singer means that she’s lucky enough to be able to vacation whenever she wants to, provided she’s not busy recording or filming.
McEntire’s other great passion is photography. She explained in an interview that, while traveling, she is always sure to bring two or three cameras along with her. She loves taking photographs of the scenery and landscapes.
She Lived on a Cattle Ranch
There’s no denying that Reba McEntire’s roots are just as country as her music. She was born and raised in Oklahoma, where her family owned a 100-acre cattle ranch. Both her father and her grandfather were champions of steer roping, and her father won the coveted title of world champion a total of three times.
Reba McEntire herself participated in rodeos, primarily in barrel racing courses. She continued this hobby into her college years. While she may not be a world champion like her father, it’s impressive that she has so many different skills! Her passion for cattle ranching remained until later in life, when she and her first husband owned a cattle ranch of their own.
She and Her Siblings Started a Singing Troupe
Reba McEntire’s mother, Jacqueline, didn’t just pass on her singing skills to one daughter. Her influence also rubbed off on two of Reba’s three siblings: Pake and Susie. Together, the trio began a troupe called the “Singing McEntires” when they were still quite young. While her siblings were integral to the group, Reba was certainly the glue that held them all together. She taught herself to play guitar for the group, and she also wrote original songs for them to sing. The group remained together until 1974, when McEntire landed a record deal and went off to forget her own path as a musical artist.
She Turned Down a Role in Titanic
While Reba has had some success in film, most people are still shocked to learn that she nearly landed the role of Molly Brown in the iconic film Titanic. Sadly, Reba had to turn the role down because she had already scheduled tour dates, which conflicted with the film’s shooting schedule. Instead, the role of Molly Brown went to Kathy Bates, and she certainly played it well!
Turning down the role of Molly Brown wasn’t the only time Reba nearly changed her destiny. Make sure you stick around until the very end, where we’ll reveal the career Reba McEntire nearly followed. And if you’re enjoying this video so far, please take a moment to like this video, and don’t forget to subscribe to Facts Verse for more!
Her Film Debut Was Tremors
Even though Reba McEntire turned down the role of Molly Brown in Titanic, she has still dabbled in other films throughout her life. Her first time portraying a role on screen was in the spoof sci-fi thriller movie, Tremors. In this film, Reba McEntire played Heather Gummer, a woman who helps to fight off giant worm-like creatures who have laid siege to a small town in Nevada. The film was just silly enough to gain a cult following.
She’s Close Friends with Other Country Artists
One of the huge perks of being a celebrity is that you get to meet tons of other celebrities! Reba McEntire hasn’t just gotten to meet plenty of other famous country artists, though. She’s also developed some incredibly close friendships. She’s been close friends with Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks for years, and she has also made friends with celebrities like Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, and Vince Gill! In an interview with Sounds Like Nashville, she explained “Winning an award is sweet but having a friend in the music business… that’s priceless.”
She Believes in Reincarnation
Reba McEntire is a devout Christian who also holds the somewhat controversial belief in reincarnation. While some Christians are skeptical and even hostile about her beliefs, Reba McEntire is not afraid to stand her ground.
“This is how I live my life, this is what I believe,” she said stoutly in one interview. She then went on to add, “Who knows? Maybe I’m part Buddhist.”
While she and some of her siblings have done a lot of work for Christianity, Reba McEntire proves that religion isn’t all black and white. She’s not afraid to discuss her beliefs, and she also works hard to respect others no matter what their religion is.
She’s Done a Lot of Charity Work
In 1992, Reba McEntire decided to do a great deal of good for the world. In Denison, Texas, she opened up a building called Reba’s Ranch House, which serves as a safe place for people in need to find comfort, food, and a place to rest. She has also supported numerous charities throughout her career, including American Red Cross, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity. She’s also won several awards for her work in charity, including the ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award and the Minnie Pearl Award.
She Almost Became a Teacher
Just like her mother, Jacqueline, Reba McEntire nearly became a schoolteacher. While attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University, she fully intended to become a teacher for elementary school students. In fact, she graduated in 1976 with a degree in elementary education. However, she soon developed other plans. After making it as a country artist, her dreams of becoming a schoolteacher faded, and she found she was far more comfortable recording albums and appearing on screen.
Reba McEntire has proved she has a colorful and versatile career, even though she’ll always be best remembered for her incredible singing voice. Were you more surprised to learn that she almost became a teacher, or that she has a huge passion for photography? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to Facts Verse for more!
