Reba McEntire is 68 years old today, and she is truly great and should be praised greatly. I still listen to her songs several times a week, and it feels like she’s been a part of my life for a very long time.
Reba’s life hasn’t been easy, though. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of a plane crash that killed many of her friends.
The Country Music Association named Reba McEntire the “best singer” for four years in a row after she became famous in country music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There is a star for her on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But Reba’s life has been hard, even though she has a great job and a lot of success. Her own life has also been sad at times.
Reba’s mum, Jacqueline, died in 2022 after a long battle with cancer. She was 93 years old. Repa shared on social media, “She was ready to go; her life was wonderful, full, and healthy.” The cancer might think it won, but we thank God that He chose the right time for her to return to Him.
If Jacqueline McEntire could do anything, it would be to become a famous country singer. She taught Reba how to sing, which helped her reach her goals through her daughter.
“She knew she was loved before she left, and we all know she loved us.” Repa said, “We’ll all miss her, but we have so many great memories of her.”
Reba has been sad and lost loved ones, so she knows how you feel.
There was a very sad event on March 16, 1982, 32 years ago. Sixteen people from Reba McEntire’s band and her tour manager died in a terrible plane crash after a show.
I remember that 1991 day. The radio told me about the crash while I was on my way to work. When I thought Reba was on the plane, my heart skipped a beat.
She wasn’t, though.
Reba and her band went on tour and played in San Diego on March 16, 1991. Their next stop was Fort Wayne, Indiana.
There were two planes at the San Diego airport. The band members and tour manager got on one, and Reba, her husband, and the manager stayed in San Diego for the night.
The first plane had a terrible crash not more than ten miles east of the airport.
When she talked to Oprah Winfrey in 2012, she told her about the day that members of her band died.
Repa told Winfrey, “The plane’s wingtip hit a rock on the side of Otay Mountain and killed everyone on board.”
Reva’s boss, Narvel, talked to our pilot when we found out and told us what had happened. Narvel came back to my hotel room around 2:30 or 3 a.m. and told me that one of the planes had crashed. “Are they okay?” I asked. “I don’t think so,” he answered. “But you’re not sure?” I asked. “I don’t think so,” he said.
Reba had tears in her eyes as she thought about the terrible events.
“Narvel was calling from room to room with a phone,” she started, but stopped when tears came to her eyes. She said, “I’m sorry—it’s been 20 years, but it’s just like—I don’t think it ever stops hurting.” “That room is there, though.” Narvel is going back and forth.
It’s been 32 years since the crash. She recently posted an Instagram picture of her band and talked about how sad it was that day.
In 2020, she wrote another post about her friends. “My friends died in a plane crash 29 years ago today.” “It seems right that Mama died around that time of the year,” she wrote.
“I think they’re all in Heaven together, watching out for each other.” We should always look for ways to care for each other here on earth and never waste a moment with our loved ones.
There was a lot of support for Reba from her fans right away.
A lot of people sent prayers and good thoughts.
“Hi Reba, I’ve always loved your music, and I know you from your horse days. Now I’m following you on Instagram too.” “Prayers for you and your mum,” one fan wrote.
Again in 2023, Reba showed that she will never forget her friends and is still sad about their deaths.
“Their love of music and the stage gives us all the strength to keep going,” she wrote, along with a video of the group playing.
I’m sorry, Reba. You wonderful woman, stay strong. You make a lot of people happy, so God kept you here on earth. Always smile!