Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire | |
|---|---|
| File:Reba McEntire.PNG | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | McAlester, Oklahoma |
| Years active | 1977-present |
| Website | Reba McEntire: the official site |
Reba Nell McEntire (b. March 28 1955) is a Grammy Award-winning singer and one of the best-selling country music performers of all time. Sometimes referred to as "The Queen of Country Music" ([1], [2]), she is known for her lively stage show and pop-tinged ballads that include 22 #1 hits.
She owns several homes, including ones in Houston, Texas and Los Angeles County, California. She has issued 29 albums, with more than 60 million records ([3]) sold as of 2006.
Early life
Reba McEntire was born in Chockie, Oklahoma to Clark Vincent McEntire and Jacqueline Smith (a sharecropper's daughter); she grew up in McAlester learning to ride in rodeos as well as play music. She soon formed a band with her brother and sisters known as The Singing McEntires; the quartet had a local hit with The Ballad of John McEntire, a tribute to their grandfather.
In 1974, while a student at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, McEntire sang The Star Spangled Banner at the National Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City. Rodeo attendee and country singer Red Steagall suggested that she go to Nashville to pursue a solo career. Around the time of the release of her first album, she married Charlie Battles, a professional steer wrestler and bulldogger.
In 1986, Southeastern honored her as an distinguished alumnus.
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.
Three Sheets in the Wind/I'd Really Love to See You Tonight became her first charting single (1978) and was followed by the bigger hit (You Lift Me) Up to Heaven (1980). With more pop-oriented balladry, McEntire began to expand her audience during the early 1980s, signing to MCA Records in 1984 and becoming one of the best-selling country artists of all time, releasing three volumes of greatest hits collections.
Her first number one single came in 1982 with Can't Even Get The Blues No More. Since then, she's released 21 more chartbusters, which are all recapped on Reba's #1's released on November 22, 2005. The two-disc compilation features all 22 number one singles (according to Billboard magazine) in chronological order, including two new tracks You're Gonna Be and Love Needs A Holiday. Though officially she has had 22 number one singles in Billboard magazine, her Reba's #1's release contains a total of 33 hit singles.
She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times in a row (a record she holds with Martina McBride), 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.
Renowned for her flashy stage performances, she was the first woman to have the highest grossing concert tour in country music. In 1994 and 1995, her stage show outgrossed all other country artists, and her 1997 package tour with Brooks & Dunn was the largest grossing tour in country music history at the time. Recently however, she has scaled back the production, playing more intimate venues and focusing more on the music than the spectacle. During the summer of 2006, McEntire signed an exclusive engagement performing at the Las Vegas Hilton. Over six non-consecutive weeks, she will perform for fans traveling to see her for the first time in her career.
She is one of only five solo female artists (others include Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. 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, The Gambler IV, and One Night at McCool's. She also starred as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim and a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Circle Critics Award.
Since 2001, she has starred in the hit television sitcom Reba (with Texan actors Steve Howe as her son-in-law, and Christopher Rich as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country diva Dolly Parton, whom McEntire has cited as a major musical influence of her own ([4]) and who played Reba's mentor at a real estate firm. McEntire won a People's Choice Award for the show. The sitcom ran for its first five seasons on The WB, before transitioning to The CW, a new network resulting from the merger of the WB and UPN television networks, in November 2006. The show also airs in reruns on Lifetime and The CW's afternoon rerun block.
On June 9, 2005, she appeared in a concert version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific at Carnegie Hall. She starred as Nellie Forbush, alongside Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile, and Alec Baldwin as Luther Billis. The production was taped and telecast by PBS on April 26, 2006. An album of the release as well as a DVD of the performance were released in June of that year.
McEntire has two movie projects scheduled for release in December 2006. The first is the highly anticipated sequel to Disney's 1981 feature, The Fox and The Hound. Reba voices Dixie, who quits the harmonizing novelty dog act, The Singin' Strays. Also lending their voices are country superstar Trisha Yearwood, Jeff Foxworthy, Patrick Swayze, and more. Reba pens three songs for the movie and its soundtrack, We're Good Together, We're In Harmony, and Good Doggie...No Bone!. The Fox & The Hound 2 premieres on Disney DVD December 12, 2006, packed with musical bonus features.
The second movie is a live-action version remake of Charlotte's Web. Reba voices "Betsy the Cow". The film also stars Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Steve Buscemi, Thomas Hayden Church and Cedric the Entertainer. Charlotte's Web will be released nationwide on December 20 2006.
She is currently working on a duets album, which could be her final album under the MCA label, that is currently scheduled for release in 2007. Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn is the only confirmed duet for the project. Kelly Clarkson has been asked but has not been confirmed. Rumored artists include Kenny Chesney (whom Reba recorded the title cut for She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell, scheduled for release on October 17th), Patrick Swayze (whom she appears with in the upcoming Disney's The Fox & The Hound 2 on DVD December 12th), Dolly Parton, Allison Krauss, Linda Davis, Marty Slayton, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Martina McBride & Josh Turner. Returning the favor, McEntire appeared on Dionne Warwick's 2006 album, My Friends and Me. They duet on Warwick's classic I Say a Little Prayer.
She will also be honored in October 2006 as the first person proclaimed a CMT Giant. A tribute concert will be held in Los Angeles featuring performances by Dolly Parton, Wynonna, Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, and Trisha Yearwood. The concert will air on CMT in November.
Although she has yet to have a Top 40 country single in 2006, she is currently the artist with the longest consecutive span of hit country singles, scoring at least one Top 40 hit every year from 1978 to 2005, an impressive 28-year total. Her nearest competitor is George Strait, with a current 26-year streak (1981-2006).
McEntire will release all of her music videos on DVD November 21, 2006. Reba Video Gold I & Reba Video Gold II will mark the first time any of Reba's music videos have been available on DVD to the public. Her last video release was the 1995 VHS television special, Starting Over. No introductions will be included on the DVDs, unlike its VHS predecessors, but a booklet will accompany each release.
Private life
After divorcing Charlie Battles in 1987, McEntire married Narvel Blackstock, a noted steel guitarist and the couple took control over all aspects of her career. The couple have two children, including son Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, who was born on February 23 1990.
Seven members of McEntire's band and her road manager were among 10 people who died in a March 16 1991, plane crash near San Diego, California. McEntire was devastated and recorded the album For My Broken Heart as a tribute to them. There was a minor controversy over her decision to perform on the Academy Awards following the crash. Less than a week after the crash she appeared on the show to perform the nominated song, I'm Checking Out from the film Postcards From the Edge. During the performance McEntire was visibly emotional, holding back tears. She had been known to refer to them as her Crazy Eight. Ultimately however she earned the respect and affection of her peers for her decision and her stoic toughness and perseverance.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Country Music Association | Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 1984 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1985 | Music City News Country Awards | Female Artist of the Year |
| 1985 | Country Music Association | Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 1985 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1986 | Music City News Country Awards | Female Artist of the Year |
| 1986 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1986 | Academy of Country Music | Video of the Year - "Whoever's In New England" |
| 1986 | Country Music Association | Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 1986 | Country Music Association | Entertainer of the Year |
| 1986 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - "Whoever's In New England" |
| 1987 | NARM | Top Selling Female Country Album - "Whoever's In New England" |
| 1987 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Female Video Artist |
| 1987 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1987 | Country Music Association | Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 1988 | American Music Award | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1988 | TNN Viewer's Choice Award | Favorite Female Vocalist |
| 1988 | Music City News Country Awards | Female Artist of the Year |
| 1989 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1989 | Music City News Country Awards | Female Artist of the Year |
| 1989 | TNN Viewer's Choice Award | Favorite Female Vocalist |
| 1990 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1990 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1991 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1991 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - "Reba Live!" |
| 1991 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1991 | Academy of Country Music | Video of the Year - "Is There Life Out There?" |
| 1992 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1992 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Country Performer |
| 1992 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1993 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1993 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - "For My Broken Heart" |
| 1993 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Vocal Collaboration - "Does He Love You" (w/ Linda Davis) |
| 1994 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1994 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Country Performer |
| 1994 | TNN/Music City News Country Awards | Vocal Collaboration - "Does He Love You" (w/Linda Davis) |
| 1994 | Academy of Country Music | Entertainer of the Year |
| 1994 | Academy of Country Music | Top Female Vocalist |
| 1994 | Country Radio Awards | Entertainer of the Year |
| 1994 | Country Radio Awards | Female Vocalist |
| 1994 | Country Music Association | Vocal Event of the Year - "Does He Love You" (w/Linda Davis) |
| 1994 | Billboard Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1995 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1995 | American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album - "Read My Mind" |
| 1995 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1995 | Blockbuster Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1996 | Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards | Favorite Entertainer |
| 1996 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1996 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1997 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1997 | Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards | Favorite Female Vocalist |
| 1997 | Blockbuster Awards | Favorite Album by a Female Country Artist - "What If It's You" |
| 1998 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 1998 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Female Musical Performer |
| 1998 | TNN/Music City News Country Awards | Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award |
| 1999 | British Country Music Awards | International Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 1999 | CMT International Awards | Video Event of the Year - "If You See Him/If You See Her" |
| 2000 | British Country Music Awards | International Female Vocalist of the Year |
| 2000 | Country Music Association | International Artist Achievement Award |
| 2001 | Drama Desk Awards | Special Award - "Annie Get Your Gun" |
| 2001 | Outer Critics Awards | "Annie Get Your Gun" |
| 2002 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actress in a New Television Series - "Reba" |
| 2002 | Academy of Country Music | Home Depot Humanitarian Award |
| 2003 | Country Radio Broadcasters | Career Achievement Award |
| 2003 | Academy of Country Music | Leading Lady Award |
| 2004 | American Music Awards | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 2004 | New Music Weekly | Favorite Female Country Artist |
| 2004 | CMT Flameworthy Awards | Johnny Cash Visionary Award |
| 2005 | Academy of Country Music | Special Award for Most Female Vocalist Wins |
| 2006 | CMT Giants | Inaugural Honoree |
Discography
Studio Albums
MERCURY RECORDS:
- Reba McEntire (1977)
- Out of a Dream (1979)
- Feel The Fire (1980)
- Heart to Heart (1981)
- Unlimited (1982)
- Behind the Scene (1983)
MCA RECORDS:
- Just a Little Love (1984)
- My Kind of Country (1984)
- Have I Got a Deal for You (1985)
- Whoever's in New England (1986)
- What Am I Gonna Do About You (1986)
- The Last One to Know (1987)
- Merry Christmas to You (1987)
- Greatest Hits (1987)
- Reba (1988)
- Sweet Sixteen (1989)
- Reba Live (1989)
- Rumor Has It (1990)
- For My Broken Heart (1991)
- It's Your Call (1992)
- Greatest Hits Volume Two (1993)
- Read My Mind (1994)
- Starting Over (1995)
- What If It's You (1996)
- If You See Him (1998)
- The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection (1999)
- So Good Together (1999)
- Greatest Hits Vol. 3: I'm A Survivor (2001)
- Room to Breathe (2003)
- Reba's #1's (2005)
Compilation Albums
- The Best of Reba McEntire (1984)
- Oklahoma Girl (1984)
- 20th Century Masters: Christmas Collection (2003)
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (2007)
Video Releases
- Reba (1989)
- Reba In Concert (1991)
- Reba Greatest Video Hits (1993)
- Reba Live (1994)
- Reba Celebrating 20 Years (1995)
- Reba Video Gold 1 (2006)
- Reba Video Gold 2 (2006)
Singles [5]
Reba McEntire's single "Fancy" (1990) has been considered one of the top ten country music recordings by a female artist by both the RIAA and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US Country | US Club | |||
| 1976 | "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand" | - | #88 | - | Reba McEntire |
| 1977 | "(There's Nothing Like the Love) Between a Woman and a Man" | - | #86 | - | Reba McEntire |
| 1977 | "Glad I Waited Just for You" | - | #88 | - | Reba McEntire |
| 1978 | "Last Night, Ev'ry Night" | - | #28 | - | Out of a Dream |
| 1979 | "Runaway Heart" | - | #36 | - | Out of a Dream |
| 1979 | "That Makes Two of Us" [with Jacky Ward] | - | #26 | - | Out of a Dream |
| 1979 | "Sweet Dreams" | - | #19 | - | Out of a Dream |
| 1980 | "(I Still Long to Hold You) Now and Then" | - | #40 | - | Out of a Dream |
| 1980 | "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" | - | #8 | - | Feel the Fire |
| 1980 | "I Can See Forever in Your Eyes" | - | #18 | - | Feel the Fire |
| 1981 | "I Don't Think Love Oughta Be That Way" | - | #13 | - | Feel the Fire |
| 1981 | "Today All Over Again" | - | #5 | - | Heart to Heart |
| 1982 | "Only You (And You Alone)" | - | #13 | - | Heart to Heart |
| 1982 | "I'm Not That Lonely Yet" | - | #3 | - | Unlimited |
| 1983 | "Can't Even Get the Blues" | - | #1 | - | Unlimited |
| 1983 | "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" | - | #1 | - | Unlimited |
| 1983 | "Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can't Have)" | - | #7 | - | Behind the Scene |
| 1984 | "There Ain't No Future in This" | - | #12 | - | Behind the Scene |
| 1984 | "Just a Little Love" | - | #5 | - | Just a Little Love |
| 1984 | "He Broke Your Memory Last Night" | - | #15 | - | Just a Little Love |
| 1985 | "How Blue" | - | #1 | - | My Kind of Country |
| 1985 | "Somebody Should Leave" | - | #1 | - | My Kind of Country |
| 1985 | "Have I Got a Deal for You" | - | #6 | - | Have I Got a Deal for You |
| 1985 | "Only in My Mind" | - | #5 | - | Have I Got a Deal for You |
| 1986 | "Whoever's in New England" | - | #1 | - | Whoever's in New England |
| 1986 | "Little Rock" | - | #1 | - | Whoever's in New England |
| 1987 | "What Am I Gonna Do About You" | - | #1 | - | What Am I Gonna Do About You |
| 1987 | "Let the Music Lift You Up" | - | #4 | - | What Am I Gonna Do About You |
| 1987 | "One Promise Too Late" | - | #1 | - | What Am I Gonna Do About You |
| 1987 | "The Last One to Know" | - | #1 | - | The Last One to Know |
| 1988 | "Love Will Find Its Way to You" | - | #1 | - | The Last One to Know |
| 1988 | "Sunday Kind of Love" | - | #5 | - | Reba |
| 1988 | "I Know How He Feels" | - | #1 | - | Reba |
| 1989 | "New Fool at an Old Game" | - | #1 | - | Reba |
| 1989 | "Cathy's Clown" | - | #1 | - | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1989 | "'Til Love Comes Again" | - | #4 | - | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1990 | "Little Girl" | - | #7 | - | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1990 | "Walk On" | - | #2 | - | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1990 | "You Lie" | - | #1 | - | Rumor Has It |
| 1991 | "Rumor Has It" | - | #3 | - | Rumor Has It |
| 1991 | "Fancy" | - | #8 | - | Rumor Has It |
| 1991 | "Fallin' Out of Love" | - | #2 | - | Rumor Has It |
| 1991 | "For My Broken Heart" | - | #1 | - | For My Broken Heart |
| 1992 | "Is There Life Out There" | - | #1 | - | For My Broken Heart |
| 1992 | "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" | - | #12 | - | For My Broken Heart |
| 1992 | "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" | - | #3 | - | For My Broken Heart |
| 1993 | "Take It Back" | - | #5 | - | It's Your Call |
| 1993 | "The Heart Won't Lie" [with Vince Gill] | - | #1 | - | It's Your Call |
| 1993 | "It's Your Call" | - | #5 | - | It's Your Call |
| 1993 | "Does He Love You" [with Linda Davis] | - | #1 | - | Greatest Hits Volume Two |
| 1994 | "If I Had Only Known" | - | #72 | - | For My Broken Heart |
| 1994 | "They Asked About You" | - | #7 | - | Greatest Hits Volume Two |
| 1994 | "Why Haven't I Heard from You" | #101* | #5 | - | Read My Mind |
| 1994 | "She Thinks His Name Was John" | #104* | #15 | - | Read My Mind |
| 1995 | "Till You Love Me" | #78 | #2 | - | Read My Mind |
| 1995 | "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" | - | #1 | - | Read My Mind |
| 1995 | "And Still" | - | #2 | - | Read My Mind |
| 1995 | "On My Own" [with Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, and Linda Davis] | - | #20 | - | Starting Over |
| 1996 | "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" | - | #9 | - | Starting Over |
| 1996 | "Starting Over Again" | - | #19 | - | Starting Over |
| 1996 | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" | - | - | #2 | Starting Over |
| 1996 | "The Fear of Being Alone" | - | #2 | - | What If It's You |
| 1997 | "How Was I to Know" | - | #1 | - | What If It's You |
| 1997 | "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" | - | #2 | - | What If It's You |
| 1997 | "What If It's You" | - | #15 | - | What If It's You |
| 1998 | "What If" | #50 | #23 | - | [single only] |
| 1998 | "If You See Him / If You See Her" [with Brooks & Dunn] | - | #1 | - | If You See Him |
| 1998 | "Forever Love" | - | #4 | - | If You See Him |
| 1999 | "Wrong Night" | #52 | #6 | - | If You See Him |
| 1999 | "One Honest Heart" | #54 | #7 | - | If You See Him |
| 1999 | "What Do You Say" | #31 | #3 | - | So Good Together |
| 2000 | "I'll Be" | #51 | #4 | - | So Good Together |
| 2000 | "We're So Good Together" | #109* | #15 | - | So Good Together |
| 2001 | "I'm a Survivor" | #49 | #3 | - | Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm a Survivor |
| 2002 | "Sweet Music Man" | - | #36 | - | Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm a Survivor |
| 2003 | "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" | #103* | #14 | - | Room to Breathe |
| 2004 | "Somebody" | #35 | #1 | - | Room to Breathe |
| 2004 | "He Gets That from Me" | #59 | #7 | - | Room to Breathe |
| 2005 | "My Sister" | #93 | #16 | - | Room to Breathe |
| 2005 | "You're Gonna Be" | - | #33 | - | Reba #1's |
| 2006 | "Love Needs a Holiday" | - | #60 | - | Reba #1's |
(*) Denotes position on the Hot 100 Bubbling Under Singles chart.