Reba McEntire, a beloved country music icon since her debut in the late 1970s, has won the hearts of millions with her talent and charisma.
Throughout her life, Reba has been married twice and has one son, Shelby. Despite her professional success and infectious smile, she has faced significant heartbreaks.
In 2022, Reba suffered the devastating loss of her mother, Jacqueline, to cancer. The two shared a close bond and a deep mother-daughter relationship. “She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was absolutely ready to go. The cancer might think it won the battle but we’re giving God all the credit on selecting the time for her to go home to Him,” Reba wrote on social media.
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Jacqueline had once dreamed of becoming a singer herself but instead nurtured her daughter’s talent. “She left knowing how much she is loved and we all know how much she loved us. We’re all going to miss her but we have so many wonderful memories,” Reba said.
This was not Reba’s first experience with profound loss. On March 16, 1991, seven members of her band and her manager tragically died in a plane crash.
The band had performed in San Diego that day and was en route to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for their next concert. Reba and her then-husband had planned to fly separately and stayed in San Diego for the night. The band’s plane crashed just ten miles after takeoff.
Over three decades later, Reba continues to honor the memory of her band members. In a 2012 interview with Oprah, Reba recounted the heartbreaking details of the crash. “The tip of the wing of the airplane hit a rock on the side of Otay Mountain, and it killed everyone on the plane,” she explained.
“When we were notified, Narvel (Reba’s manager) went and met with our pilot, and he told us what had happened. Narvel came back to the hotel room where I was — it was two or three o’clock in the morning — and he said one of the planes had crashed, and I said, ‘Are they OK?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I said, ‘But you’re not sure?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’”
Reba could not hold back tears as she recalled the tragic event. “Narvel was going room to room with a phone and calling …” she paused, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry — it’s been 20 years, but it’s just like — I don’t guess it ever quits hurting. But I can see that room. I can see Narvel walking back and forth.”
In 2020, Reba paid tribute to her lost friends on social media. “29 years ago today, I lost my friends in a plane crash. The timing of Mama’s passing with that anniversary seems appropriate,” she posted. “I know they’re all in Heaven together and taking care of each other. Let’s keep finding ways to take care of each other down here on earth and never take one moment with our loved ones for granted.”
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Fans offered their support, with one commenting, “Reba, I’ve always loved your music, our shared horse background, and now following you on Insta. Prayers for you and your mother 🙏🏻.”
This year, Reba once again expressed her enduring grief over the loss of her friends. “Their love for music and the stage gives us all the strength to go on,” she wrote, sharing a video of one of their performances together.
