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

“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, meanwhile, graduated from Kiowa High School in 1973 and headed to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, majoring in elementary education with a minor in music. Even during college, she balanced her studies with her responsibilities on the family ranch, proving her grit and determination.

In 1974, a unique opportunity arose. Reba’s father encouraged her to sing ”The Star-Spangled Banner” at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Nervous but determined, she reached out to family friend and rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who helped secure the gig. Little did she know, that performance would change everything.

A defining moment

Country music legend Red Steagall happened to be in the audience that night, and Reba’s powerful voice stopped him in his tracks. After hearing her sing, he invited her and her family to a hotel party during the rodeo. At the gathering, Reba performed an a cappella rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Joshua.” It was aContinue reading…