The ranch life that fueled Reba McEntire’s rise to fame

Reba always said her mama taught her to sing, and all her music roots come from her. As for the big voice, she got that from her dad. Growing up on a ranch, he had to shout across the fields to call the cattle, and that power in his voice passed down to Reba.

”I’ve always been loud. Mama said that when all three of us’d sing, she could always hear me over Pake and Susie. They’d always say, ’Reba , shut up. Back up. Way bay.’ That’s always been my history,” she told Chicago Tribune.

Reba’s journey into music began early, and her talent shone even as a young girl. In first grade, the blazing redhead stood in front of her classmates at an elementary school Christmas pageant and sang “Away in a Manger,” captivating everyone with her sweet voice. By fifth grade, she had joined the 4-H club, where she won first place in the Junior Act Division by singing “My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown.” It was clear that Reba’s love for performing was already blooming.

The McEntire family band

Reba early years in life wasn’t just about music — she lived a full, active life. She played basketball, ran track, and even spent summers at basketball camp. At home, she learned to play the piano and guitar, while her passion for the rodeo led her to train as a barrel racer.

By high school, Reba’s musical ambitions had become a family affair. Along with her siblings Pake and Susie, she formed a trio called The Singing McEntires. Their mom, Jacqueline, was always quick to offer feedback, especially if they hit a wrong note.

“Anytime anybody needed an opinion of who’s off — Susie’s on my part, I’m on Susie’s part — Mama would come in with her spatula after she was frying potatoes,” McEntire recalled, mimicking her mother’s pointing gesture with the utensil. “She would say, ‘OK, Reba, you’re on Susie’s part. Sing it again.’ We’d sing it, and she’d say, ‘Oh, that’s perfect,’ and she’d go back in and keep frying potatoes.”

The siblings often performed together and soon caught the attention of local audiences. In 1971, they released a single, “The Ballad of John McEntire,” paying tribute to their grandfather, a celebrated rodeo star. Although the song was only distributed regionally, it marked an important milestone in Reba’s early music career — one that hinted at the superstar she would become.

Kids barely out of puberty

The Singing McEntires were more than just a family trio — they were a local sensation. With Reba, Pake, and Susie leading the charge, the group began playing at small-town events and dances. As their talent grew, so did their reach. They eventually formed a band called The Kiowa High School Cowboy Band, taking their music to dance halls and even bars in Oklahoma City. Reba later joked, ”We were just kids barely out of puberty, staying up until sunrise after some of those shows.”

But as the siblings grew older, their paths began to diverge.

When her brother graduated high school, the band dissolved. Reba, mContinue reading…