Oklahoma Background
How She Grew to the Woman She is Today
Oklahoma Roots
On March 28, 1955, Reba Nell McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. Her parents were Clark Vincent and Jacqueline Smith McEntire. She is the third of four children in her family.
Start of her career
It really started in 1974 when Red Steagall, a country singer, heard Reba sing at the National Finals Rodeo when she sang the National Anthem. Steagall became impressed with her, urging him to help her record a demo. From there, she signed with Mercury Records.
Surpassing Boundaries
In 1970-80, Reba always stuck to her roots. Since Nashville was considered a boy's town, Reba was asked how she surpassed gender politics, she replied with: "As a woman, you don't complain, you work twice as hard and you do your job. You try to outsmart them, you try to outwork them and get there first. You help out, you volunteer, you're at the front of the line. That's what I learned from working on the cattle range, and it helped me in the music business." and "I just know us gals got to - we got to work harder. We got to support each other. We have got to get in there next year. It's got to change."
Signs in Her Childhood
Singing was in her life ever since she was little. Their mother, Jacqueline McEntire, encouraged her children's musical skill. It is said that during their many long car rides, they would pass the time by learning songs and harmonizing. That passion passed to ninth grade when Reba formed a group with her siblings where they performed at rodeos. They called themselves the Singing McEntiries.