Reba McEntire, now 69, has been a beloved country icon throughout many lifetimes, with a voice and story that feel timeless. Born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma, she grew up not just surrounded by country music but living the lifestyle day-to-day on her family’s vast 8,000-acre ranch in Chockie.
Reba’s childhood was built on hard work and deep family ties to rodeo traditions. From as young as five, she was driving her dad’s truck across fields, even though she was too small to reach the pedals—her father would prop her up on feed sacks and let her steer. Her dad, Clark McEntire, was a three-time world champion steer roper, while her grandfather had won the title once before him. The family’s life was deeply connected to both ranch work and the rodeo world.
Growing up, Reba’s father expressed love differently, not with words but by pushing his children to work hard and build character. Her mother Jacqueline, however, nourished their creativity with music, often turning family car rides into sing-alongs. Reba inherited her powerful singing voice from her dad, who was known for projecting his voice across wide ranch lands.
Reba’s early music performances started young, from school pageants to talent shows. Musical ambitions soon became a family affair with her siblings, forming The Singing McEntires and performing locally. When Reba graduated high school in 1973, she balanced college studies with ranch responsibilities, all while her music career quietly began to take shape.
Her big break came in 1974 when she sang the National Anthem at the National Finals Rodeo. There, a country legend noticed her voice, planting the seed for her future career. After initial struggles in Nashville, Reba’s perseverance paid off with hits that cemented her as the Queen of Country. Despite hardships, including a tragic plane crash that took many of her band members in 1991, Reba McEntire’s story is one of strength, resilience, and deep roots on the ranch that shaped her.
