Born: March 28, 1955
Place of Birth: Chockie, Oklahoma
Major Notes:
Reba McEntire has been crowned by many fans as the "Queen of Country Music."
McEntire's many records, awards, and personal accomplishments over her career certainly support that title.
She lived on a cattle ranch and her father was a true rodeo champion so McEntire herself was taught to perform in a rodeo.
In addition, Reba McEntire's mother was a singer and a teacher and the four McEntire children were encouraged to sing.
The children later sometimes performed as a quartet called "The Singing McEntires."
Her father promoted their music at various rodeos, clubs, and honky tonks where he and the family attended.
Following high school graduation in 1973, she enrolled in a degree program in Elementary Education at Southeastern Oklahoma University.
In 1974, Reba McEntire was invited to sing the national anthem at a major rodeo in Oklahoma City.
A popular country singer, Red Stegall, was at the rodeo and McEntire's rendition impressed him very much.
Stegall later agreed to help McEntire to do a solo demo tape in Nashville which led to a signed contract with Mercury Records.
Her honky tonk style of singing was not the trend at that time and gaining popularity was a slow process.
She still continued university courses, took an active part in the school's music activities, and completed her degree program.
It wasn't until 1980 that Reba McEntire recorded "Up to Heaven" which made Billboard Magazine's top 10 Country Hits.
McEntire's music became more pop-oriented and, in 1984, she changed to a new recording company, MCA Records.
Her songs began hitting number one on the record charts one after another and her concert tours were highly artistic and financially successful.
She became the first woman to sell 5 million copies of a single album since Patsy Cline.
In 2001, she broadened her talents by taking the lead in a television sitcom aptly named "Reba".
Over the years, she collected numerous awards and honors such as being named Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years.
By 2005, McEntire released an album containing 22 number one single titles and, in addition, she took on a major role in a Carnegie Hall version of South Pacific.
Reba McEntire serves as an inspiration to the nation and to the music world.
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