Jump to content

Reba McEntire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Basketballer0789 (talk | contribs) at 04:32, 15 December 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Reba McEntire

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 in the multi-week concert series titled Key to the Heart.

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. Artists currently scheduled to appear on the album include Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney (whom Reba recorded the title cut for She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell, released on October 17, 2006), Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Don Henley, LeAnn Rimes, 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 was honored in October 2006 as the first person proclaimed a CMT Giant. A tribute concert was held in Los Angeles featuring performances by Dolly Parton, Wynonna, Megan Mullaly, Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Nettles, and Trisha Yearwood. The concert aired in November on CMT..

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 released 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 one 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

Further information: [[:Reba McEntire discography]]

Studio Albums

MERCURY RECORDS:


MCA RECORDS:

Compilation Albums

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.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reba_McEntire&oldid=94446316"