1. Reba on Bob Hope's 1991 Christmas Special.
Reba Nell McEntire (/ˈriːbə ˈmækɪntaɪər/ REE-bə-MAK-in-tire; born March 28, 1955),[1][2] or simply Reba, is an American country singer and actress. Dubbed "The Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.[3] Since the 1970s, she has placed over 100 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 25 of which reached the number-one spot.[4] An actress in both film and television,[5] McEntire starred in the television series Reba, which aired for six seasons. She also owns several businesses, including a restaurant and a clothing line.[6]
One of four children, McEntire was born and raised in Oklahoma. With her mother's help, her siblings and she formed the Singing McEntires, who played at local events and recorded for a small label. McEntire later enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and studied to become a public-school teacher. She also continued to occasionally perform and was heard singing at a rodeo event by country performer Red Steagall. Drawn to her singing voice, Steagall helped McEntire secure a country music recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records in 1975.
Over the next several years, PolyGram/Mercury released a series of McEntire's albums and singles, which amounted to little success. In the early 1980s, McEntire's music gained more momentum through several top-10 country songs, including "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven", "I'm Not That Lonely Yet", and her first number one "Can't Even Get the Blues". Yet McEntire became increasingly unhappy with her career trajectory and signed with MCA Records in 1984. Her second MCA album titled My Kind of Country (1984) became her breakout release, spawning two number-one Billboard country singles and pointed toward a more traditional musical style. Through the 1980s, McEntire released seven more studio albums and had 10 more number-one country hits. Her number-one singles included "One Promise Too Late", "The Last One to Know", and the Grammy Award-winning "Whoever's in New England".
In 1991, McEntire lost eight of her band members in a plane crash in San Diego, California. The experience led to McEntire's critically acclaimed album For My Broken Heart, which is her highest-selling album to date. She followed it with several commercially successful albums during the 1990s, including Read My Mind (1994), What If It's You (1996), and If You See Him (1998). These albums featured the number-one country singles "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter", "How Was I to Know", and a duet with Brooks and Dunn called "If You See Him/If You See Her". McEntire's acting career began in January 1990 when she made her film debut in Tremors. In 2001, she played the role of Annie Oakley in the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun. In the same year, The WB launched the TV series Reba, in which she starred. More recently, she has guest-starred on Young Sheldon as June Ballard and had a main role in the third season of Big Sky. Since 2023, McEntire has been featured as a coach on four seasons of the reality competition show The Voice. She currently stars in the NBC sitcom Happy's Place.
Early life
McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1955[7] but was raised on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma.[8][9] She was the third of four children born to Clark (1927–2014) and Jacqueline McEntire (1926–2020).[10] Her grandfather, John Wesley McEntire, was a world-champion steer roper in 1934, while her father held the same title three times (1957, 1958, and 1961).[11] Jacqueline McEntire had aspirations of becoming a country singer,[10] but instead became a public-school teacher, librarian, and secretary.[12] While her mother was tender and loving, her father had trouble showing affection. "When we were growing up, I used to regret that Daddy never told us that he loved us," she recalled in her autobiography.[13] The McEntire family owned a cattle ranch. Each family member contributed to running the cattle operation. The McEntire children helped with ranch chores before and after school. This included castrating bulls and giving them worm medicine.[14]
The McEntire siblings also developed an interest in singing, which was encouraged by their mother. On car trips to their father's rodeo dates, Jacqueline McEntire taught her children to sing in harmony with one another.[15] Young Reba then started performing at school, beginning in first grade when she sang "Away in a Manger" at an elementary-school Christmas pageant. In fifth grade, she joined the 4-H club and won first place in the Junior Act Division for singing "My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown". She also played basketball and ran track. For several summers, she attended a basketball camp.[16] She also learned piano[17] and guitar.[18] She also developed an interest in the rodeo and trained to become a barrel racer.[19]
By high school, the McEntire siblings had been frequently performing. Together, they formed a trio which they called the Singing McEntires.[20] In 1971, the trio released a single about their famous grandfather called "The Ballad of John McEntire". It was pressed as a single by a local label and was issued in small numbers regionally.[15][7] The trio eventually included a backing band, who performed at local functions. The group was later named the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band. They also had paying gigs at bars at dance halls in nearby Oklahoma City. "We were a bunch of kids barely in puberty who didn't get to bed until almost daylight after some of our shows," McEntire remembered.[14] The band parted ways once Reba's brother graduated from high school.[21] In 1973, McEntire graduated from Kiowa High School.[22]
Once finishing high school, McEntire enrolled in college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.[7][22] She majored in elementary education with a minor in music. She completed student teaching and later graduated with a bachelor's degree.[23] She also continued to help out on her family's ranch during her college years.[24] In 1974, McEntire's father encouraged her to take a job opportunity singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.[25] She contacted family friend and rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who helped her get hired for the gig.[24] Following one of her performances, McEntire was heard by country artist Red Steagall who was impressed by her singing.[25][20] Reba, her siblings, and her mother later joined him at a hotel party the same week. At the hotel, Reba performed an a cappella version of Dolly Parton's "Joshua".[26] Jacqueline McEntire asked Steagall if he was able to help get all her children a recording contract. After going back to Nashville, Steagall contacted her in early 1975, and said, "I can't take all three. But I could take Reba. She's got something a little different."[27][28]
In March 1975 and accompanied by her mother, McEntire embarked on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to record a demonstration tape that Steagall hoped to pass along to record labels.[27] At the start of the trip, she was unsure about pursuing a professional country music career. McEntire recalled in her autobiography continually making excuses for her mother to stop the car instead of traveling to Nashville. After noticing her daughter's fear, Jacqueline McEntire told her, "Now Reba, let me tell you something. If you don't want to go to Nashville, we don't have to do this. But I'm living all my dreams through you." The conversation changed her mind and they continued on to Nashville.[29]
After recording a demo, McEntire's tape was heard by Glenn Keener of PolyGram/Mercury Records, who was interested in signing her to a Nashville contract. Keener brought McEntire's tape and another woman's tape to PolyGram's Chicago headquarters. The label informed Keener that he could only sign one female performer. "He looked at the two tapes in his hand and handed ’em mine," McEntire told Entertainment Weekly.[30]
Music career
1976–1983: Career launch at Mercury
In November 1975, McEntire signed a country music recording contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records.[7][31] She made her first recordings for the label in January 1976. She was produced by Glenn Keener and was backed by a Countrypolitan arrangement that included a string section. McEntire's debut single released in 1976 was titled "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand". The track failed to become a major hit, only peaking at number 88 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that May.[32] It was followed by the low-charting Billboard country singles "(There's Nothing Like the Love) Between a Woman and Man" and "Glad I Waited Just for You". Mercury issued her self-titled debut album in 1977.[7] In his album review, Greg Adams of AllMusic compared it to the country crossover style of Barbara Mandrell and Tammy Wynette.[33] McEntire also began touring and performing more frequently. Without a band of her own, she often relied on house bands to accompany her. In some instances, the backing bands did not know country music and McEntire would have to fill her time onstage with jokes.[34]
McEntire's career gained more momentum by 1978. That year, she collaborated on two singles with country artist Jacky Ward. The duo's double-sided release of "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"/"Three Sheets in the Wind" became her first top-20 hit on the country chart.[7] When Glenn Keener left the PolyGram/Mercury roster, McEntire inherited producer Jerry Kennedy.[34] Kennedy produced her second studio album titled Out of a Dream (1979). The album's cover of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" became her first top-20 hit as a solo artist.[7][32] Four additional top-40 country singles were spawned from the album, as well.[32] By 1980, McEntire had formed her own band, which included sister Susie and brother Pake McEntire. She also hired a new manager. McEntire and her band toured to dates in a three-car caravan, which included a horse trailer for transporting instruments.[35] She later upgraded to a bus nicknamed Silver Eagle, which routinely broke down.[36] Also in 1980, "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" became her first top-10 hit on the country songs chart.[32] It was included on her third studio album, Feel the Fire, which was released in October.[7]
By this point, McEntire's label pushed her to record music in a soft country-pop style with which she often disagreed.[7] Future material (which included her next album) was recorded in this format.[37] Her fourth album, Heart to Heart was issued in 1981 and became her first disc to chart the Billboard Country Albums list.[7] It received only a 2.5 star review from AllMusic's William Ruhlmann, who described McEntire as being "a promising, but not yet accomplished country artist."[38] Its lead single, "Today All Over Again", became her highest-charting country single yet, reaching number five.[7] In 1983, McEntire's bus had broken down when she was informed that her latest single "Can't Even Get the Blues" reached the number-one spot on the Billboard country chart.[39] It was followed by her second number-one song "You're the First Time I Thought About Leaving".[32] The track also became her second to reach the top 10 of Canada's RPM country songs chart.[40] Both singles appeared on her 1983 album Unlimited.[7] The following year, the single "Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can't Have)" reached the top 10.[32] With increased success in the country music industry,[37] she was able to arrange an early release from PolyGram/Mercury in 1983.[7] "Let met put it this way, I've sorta taken my career into control myself," she explained of the decision.[37]
1984–1990: Breakthrough
McEntire signed with MCA Records in 1984 and released her seventh studio album Just a Little Love. Harold Shedd was originally intended to produce the disc, but McEntire rejected his desire for a country-pop arrangement. Instead, Norro Wilson produced the project.[41] Despite spawning a top-10 hit,[32] McEntire was still dissatisfied with the record's production and the lack of control over material.[42] Instead, she turned to MCA president Jimmy Bowen[7] who suggested that she find her own songs to record. Accompanied by Don "Dirt" Lanier, McEntire spent several days listening to various songs from publishing companies. Eventually, she found a song written by Harlan Howard titled "Somebody Should Leave" and a song by Jon Moffat titled "How Blue".[43] Released as singles, they reached the number-one spot on the country songs chart and later appeared on 1984's My Kind of Country.[7] The collection also included several covers of classic country songs by Ray Price, Charley Pride, and Connie Smith.[44] AllMusic's William Ruhlmann gave the disc 4.5 stars.[45] Billboard magazine described McEntire on the album as being "the finest woman country singer since Kitty Wells."[46] United Press wrote that the album "represents a victory for McEntire. She has pulled in the reins of her career, regained control of her music and her life."[47] The album became her breakthrough recording, leading McEntire to winning 1984's Female Vocalist of the Year accolade from the Country Music Association.[7][48] Along with music by George Strait and Randy Travis, the album also brought forth a stylistic change in country towards traditional arrangements and sounds.[7][37]
Her next MCA album was 1985's Have I Got a Deal for You. The project followed the same traditional country format of its predecessor.[49] It was produced by Jimmy Bowen, along with co-production credits from McEntire herself.[50] The album's title track reached the Billboard country top 10 along with "Only in My Mind", a song composed by McEntire herself.[32] Just a few months later, on October 19, McEntire performed the National Anthem at game one of the 1985 World Series. In February 1986, her ninth studio album was released named Whoever's in New England. On the record, McEntire and co-producer Jimmy Bowen mixed a traditional country style with a modern, contemporary sound. Author Kurt Wolff described the title track's production as being "bigger and sentimentalism more obvious, even manipulative".[41] Issued as the lead single, the title track peaked at number one on the Billboard country chart[32] and won McEntire the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.[51] The album itself became her first to top the Billboard Country Albums survey.[52] and later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of one million copies.[53]
By this point McEntire had reached the height of her commercial stardom.[7] Following this, McEntire made changes to her stage show. She began implementing choreography and experimented with stage lighting.[54] Also in 1986, McEntire's twelfth studio album appeared titled What Am I Gonna Do About You. AllMusic found that it lacked the features that had made Whoever's in New England unique.[55] The title track was the lead single from the release. It became her next number one song on the Billboard country chart[32] and her first number one on the RPM Canadian country chart.[40] Its second single, "One Promise Too Late", also topped the country chart.[32] Her 13th studio project, The Last One to Know, was released in 1987 and reached number three on the Billboard country albums chart.[56] Reviewer Tom Roland noted that McEntire chose material that reflected her recent divorce from first husband Charlie Battles.[57] Both the title track and "Love Will Find Its Way to You" topped the Billboard country songs chart.[32] In late 1987, McEntire released her first Christmas collection called Merry Christmas to You.[58] Also in 1987, she played Carnegie Hall in New York City for the first time.[59]
In the late 1980s, McEntire took more control of her career. She fired her manager and formed her own entertainment company that helped further promote her material.[60] Other new changes included her 1988 pop-inspired release Reba.[7] Her fifteenth studio disc included covers of the former pop hits "Respect" and "A Sunday Kind of Love".[61] It produced the number-one Billboard country singles "New Fool at an Old Game" and "I Know How He Feels".[32] It was followed by 1989's Sweet Sixteen, which was noted to be a more of a "return to the neo-traditionalist fold", according to reviewer William Ruhlmann.[62] The album featured the country hits "'Til Love Comes Again", "Little Girl", "Walk On" and a cover of "Cathy's Clown".[32] Her first live project titled Reba Live was also released in 1989.[63]
Rumor Has It (1990) was another pop-oriented album release featuring a mix of ballads and uptempo numbers.[64] It was the first disc in McEntire's career to reach the top 40 of the Billboard 200 albums chart.[65] The disc would become McEntire's highest-selling album, certifying three-times platinum from the RIAA.[53] Four hit country singles came from the release, including "You Lie"[32] and her cover of Bobbie Gentrys' 1969 single "Fancy". The latter single eventually became one of McEntire's signature songs.[66][67]
1991: Plane crash and For My Broken Heart
“Improper planning/decision by the pilot, the pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance over mountainous terrain, and the copilot's failure to adequately monitor the progress of the flight. Factors related to the accident were: insufficient terrain information provided by the flight service specialist during the preflight briefing after the pilot inquired about a low-altitude departure, darkness, mountainous terrain, both pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographical area, and the copilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft.”
In the late 1980s, McEntire's touring schedule became increasingly busy. To avoid long bus trips, her band and she began traveling by private planes to concerts.[69] McEntire and her touring band started the 1991 leg of their tour with dates in Alaska, Saginaw, Michigan, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a private gig for IBM in San Diego, California. Two planes which would carry McEntire's band were scheduled to leave San Diego. McEntire, her husband, and her stylist were to take a different aircraft the next day.[70] In the early hours of March 16, 1991, McEntire was awakened by a phone call from Roger Woolsey, pilot of the second plane. McEntire's husband took the call and discovered that one of the planes had crashed.[71] Following the successful takeoff of both planes, one plane's wing hit the side of Otay Mountain in San Diego, killing everyone on board.[72][73]
In total, eight members of her band were killed: guitarists Chris Austin and Michael Thomas, keyboardists Kirk Cappello and Joey Cigainero, vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, road manager Jim Hammon, bassist Terry Jackson, and drummer Anthony Saputo. Pilot Donald Holmes and co-pilot Chris Hollinger were also killed.[74] The first plane was a Hawker Siddeley DH-125-1A/522 charter jet that took off at 1:40 am from Brown Field Municipal Airport, located near the Mexico–United States border. After reaching an altitude of 3,400 feet (1,040 m) above sea level, the aircraft crashed on the side of Otay Mountain, located 10 miles (16 km) east of the airport.[75] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the probable cause of the accident was related to "improper pilot planning".[68]
Meanwhile, the second plane carrying the rest of her band made it successfully to an airport in Nashville. McEntire, her husband, and hair stylist returned on their own plane following the accident. "By the time that long, terrible weekend was over, we were emotionally and physically exhausted," McEntire stated in her autobiography.[76] The news was reported nearly immediately to McEntire and her husband, who were sleeping at a nearby hotel. A spokeswoman for McEntire made a statement to The Los Angeles Times on her behalf: "She was very close to all of them. Some of them had been with her for years. Reba is totally devastated by this. It's like losing part of your family. Right now, she just wants to get back to Nashville."[77] Two days after the crash, McEntire conducted an interview with People and scheduled a memorial service for the families of the victims.[69] Nine days following the accident, McEntire performed at the 63rd Academy Awards ceremony, singing the Best Original Song nominee "I'm Checkin' Out" from the film Postcards from the Edge.[78] In addition, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton offered their help in reorganizing her touring band.[79][80]
McEntire dedicated her 16th album, For My Broken Heart, to the deceased members of her road band. Released in October 1991, it contained songs of sorrow and lost love about "all measure of suffering",[81] according to Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly. Nash reported that McEntire "still hits her stride with the more traditional songs of emotional turmoil, above all combining a spectacular vocal performance with a terrific song on 'Buying Her Roses', a wife's head-spinning discovery of her husband's other woman."[81] The disc peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[82] It also became her highest-charting release on the Billboard 200 yet, peaking at number 13.[83] It later sold over four million copies in the United States, becoming her best-selling album to date.[7] Its title track and "Is There Life Out There" both became number one Billboard country singles. In addition, "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" and McEntire's cover of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" both became major country hits.[32]
1992–2002: Continued country success
In December 1992, McEntire's 17th album It's Your Call was released. A sign of her increased mainstream success, the album was her first to reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200.[7] It spawned the country hits "Take It Back", the title track and a number one duet with Vince Gill called "The Heart Won't Lie".[32] Critic Brian Mansfield compared the disc to For My Broken Heart, concluding that "only casual or partial listeners will be moved as much."[84] Christopher John Farley of Time wrote that the album ranged from being "relaxing" to "cathartic", and "these vocals from one of the best country singers linger in the mind".[85] For her next release, McEntire collaborated with up-and-coming artist Linda Davis on the single "Does He Love You".[86] MCA Records encouraged McEntire to record the track with more established acts like Wynonna Judd or Trisha Yearwood, but ultimately finalized the track with Davis.[87][88] It became her 18th number-one hit on the Country Songs chart and her 16th topper on the Canadian country chart.[32][40] It was later included on her 1993 compilation Greatest Hits Volume Two.[86] Later that year, Davis and McEntire performed the duet at the CMA Awards. For her performance, McEntire wore a red dress with a plunging neckline that created controversy among the Nashville community.[89][90]
Her 18th studio release was 1994's Read My Mind. The disc reached number two on both the Billboard 200[65] and the Top Country Albums chart.[52] The disc later reached sales of three million copies in the United States and certified three times platinum from the RIAA.[53] Five major hits came from the release, including "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter", "Till You Love Me"[32] and a song about a woman contracting AIDS called "She Thinks His Name Was John". The last recording only reached a top-20 charting position due to its controversial lyrics.[91] McEntire's 19th studio album, Starting Over (1995) is a collection of her favorite songs originally recorded by others. The album was made to commemorate McEntire's 20 years in the music industry. The album received a less favorable response from critics than that of her previous releases.[92][93] While the project spawned three charting singles, only McEntire's cover of "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" became a top-10 country song.[32] Starting Over was certified platinum by the RIAA within the first two months of its release.[53]
McEntire's next album release What If It's You was issued by MCA in November 1996. The record was a return to a contemporary country sound.[94] It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200[95] and eventually topped the Billboard country albums list.[96] It received a more favorable response from radio programmers than that of her 1995 album and received greater promotion.[95] Critic Thom Owens noted that the project "[didn't] offer any new tricks from Reba McEntire, but it is nevertheless an excellent reminder of her deep talents as a vocalist."[97] Its first single, "The Fear of Being Alone" became a top-five hit, while "How Was I to Know" reached the number-one spot on the Billboard country songs survey.[32]
McEntire began touring with country duo Brooks & Dunn during the mid 1990s. Their touring collaborating led to the recording of a duet titled "If You See Him/If You See Her" in 1998.[98] The track topped both the Billboard country songs chart and the Canadian RPM country chart.[32][40] Their initial collaborations would lead to several more professional endeavors over the years, including a joint Las Vegas residency.[99] The duet was included on McEntire's If You See Him album and Brooks & Dunn's If You See Her album, both of which were released in June 1998.[100] Thom Owens found that both album titles were named nearly the same as "a way to draw attention for both parties, since they were no longer new guns—they were veterans in danger of losing ground to younger musicians".[101] If You See Him produced three more top-10 country hits, including "Forever Love" and "One Honest Heart".[32]
In 1999, McEntire released two albums. In September she issued her second Christmas album, The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection.[102] In November, her 22nd studio album, So Good Together was released.[103] Entertainment Weekly commented that most of the album's material was "an odd set—mostly ballads, including an English/Portuguese duet with Jose e Durval on Boz Scaggs' 'We're All Alone'".[104] It featured the top-five country songs "What Do You Say" and "I'll Be".[32] McEntire focused on an acting career in the early 2000s and took a temporary musical hiatus.[7] One exception was 2001's "I'm a Survivor". The single became a top-five country hit and the theme song to McEntire's 2001 television series.[105]
2003–2015: Country music comeback, record label switch, and continued music success
McEntire returned to her recording career in August 2003 with the release of the MCA single "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain".[106] The song was included on her first studio album in four years titled Room to Breathe (November 2003). "The reason I named the album Room to Breathe is because I needed a little room to breathe," McEntire told Billboard.[107] The 12-track disc was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson. It also featured a guest appearance from Vince Gill.[106] Room to Breathe debuted at number four on the Billboard country chart and later certified platinum in the United States.[7] It spawned McEntire's first number-one song in six years titled "Somebody". Also featured was the top-10 single "He Gets That from Me".[32] In 2004, she embarked on her first tour in several years, also titled Room to Breathe, which included 36 cities in the United States.[108] In 2005, MCA released the double-disc compilation titled Reba #1's while she was between albums.[7]
In September 2007, McEntire's next studio disc was released titled Reba: Duets. The album was a collection of duets with various music artists,[109] including Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood, Carole King, and Justin Timberlake. Reba: Duets topped the Billboard country chart and the Billboard 200, becoming her first album in her career to reach the top of both lists.[110] Reba: Duets was later certified platinum by the RIAA.[53] The album was given high critical praise from magazines such as PopMatters, which compared McEntire to artists like Janis Joplin and Tina Turner.[111] AllMusic's Thom Jurek gave it 3.5 stars, commenting that "it's full of good to great songs delivered in mostly interesting ways."[112] The first single was a duet version of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", which reached number two on the American country chart[32] and topped the Canadian country songs chart.[113]
In 2008, McEntire announced that she would be departing her label of 25 years and signing with the Valory Music Group, an imprint of Big Machine Records.[114] The switch to Valory reunited McEntire with the label's president, Scott Borchetta, with whom she had worked previously.[115] Her first Valory single was 2009's "Strange".[116] The song debuted at number 39 Billboard country songs chart, giving McEntire the highest single debut of her career and peaked at number 11. Her 26th studio album, Keep on Loving You, was released in August 2009[117] and also topped both the Billboard Country and 200 charts.[118] In 2009, "Consider Me Gone" (spawned as the record's second single) became her 24th number-one on the Billboard chart in December.[119][120] At age 54, McEntire became one of the oldest women to have a number-one single on the country songs chart.[32]
McEntire's 29th studio album, All the Women I Am, was released in November 2010.[121][122] Steve Morse of The Boston Globe called the project "one of her best efforts",[123] while Thom Jurek at AllMusic only gave it a 2.5 star rating, calling it "awkward" and lacking a "center".[124] "Turn On the Radio" was issued as the lead single prior to the album,[125] eventually becoming her twenty-fourth number one on the Billboard country survey.[126] Three additional charting singles were spawned from All the Women I Am that peaked outside the top 20.[4] Her All the Women I Am Tour followed shortly after featuring country acts the Band Perry, Steel Magnolia, and Edens Edge.[127][128]
In 2014, McEntire moved to Big Machine's new imprint for veteran artists titled Nash Icon Music.[129] Her first Nash Icon single was 2015's "Going Out Like That",[130] which reached the top 25 of the Billboard country songs chart.[4] It was included on her 2015 Nash Icon album Love Somebody.[131] The album topped the country albums chart and charted the top five of the Billboard 200.[132] In 2016, McEntire released a third Christmas-themed studio album called My Kind of Christmas. The album was exclusively sold at Cracker Barrel and online. She also announced she would soon be selling her own line of clothing, home decor, jewelry, and other things under the "Rockin' R by Reba" line, also at Cracker Barrel.[133][134]
2017–present: New beginnings in her 60s
After her split from ex-husband Narvel Blackstock, McEntire took control of her career as her own manager. She recruited Justin McIntosh of Starstruck Entertainment, Leslie Matthews serving as brand manager, and Carolyn Snell who has been with McEntire for nine years. They formed Reba's Business Inc. (RBI).[135] She moved out of the building where Blackstock and she had worked, and moved her company to Green Hills, Nashville.[136]
On December 15, 2016, McEntire announced that she was releasing her first gospel album titled Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope. It was released by Nash Icon/Rockin' R Records on February 3, 2017, and consists of two discs. Disc one contains traditional hymns, while disc two contains original tracks. "Softly and Tenderly", featuring Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood, was the first track off the album released. Another track on the album, "In the Garden/Wonderful Peace", features the Isaacs. Jay DeMarcus of the Rascal Flatts produced the album.[137] The first single off the album is "Back to God".[138] In January 2018, McEntire won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album, her first nomination since 2007, and her first Grammy Award win in more than 20 years, since 1994. She also headlined the C2C: Country to Country festival in the UK alongside Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band in March. Because of its limited release in 2016, on October 13, 2017 My Kind of Christmas was re-released - this time including songs with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, and Lauren Daigle - on her website and through iTunes.[139] In July 2018, it was announced that McEntire would be one of four honorees for the 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors, along with Cher, Philip Glass, and Wayne Shorter. The ceremony was held December 2, 2018, and broadcast on CBS December 26, 2018.[140]
McEntire released her 29th studio album Stronger Than the Truth on April 5, 2019.[141] McEntire also returned to host the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 8, 2019.[142] On February 20, 2020, during a surprise appearance at the Country Radio Seminar, McEntire announced she had signed a new record deal with MCA Nashville, returning to the label after leaving in November 2008.[143] McEntire hosted the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards alongside Darius Rucker in November 2020. McEntire previously hosted in 2019 with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton, 1992 with Vince Gill, 1991 by herself (the second solo female host), and 1990 with Randy Travis. On October 3, 2022, Reba revealed that she would continue her Reba: Live in Concert tour going through 2023 and play New York City's Madison Square Garden for the first time.[144] In 2021, a duet version of the song "Does He Love You" with Dolly Parton was released.[145] In 2024, McEntire sang the national anthem during Super Bowl LVIII, and she was accompanied by deaf actor Daniel Durant in American Sign Language.[146]
Acting career
1989–1999: Entry into film and television acting
In 1989, she obtained her first film role playing Heather Gummer in the horror comedy Tremors, along with Kevin Bacon. The film told the story of a small group of people, living in Nevada, who were fighting subterranean worm-like creatures. After the film's release in 1990, McEntire developed a strong interest in acting and made it her second career. The film earned McEntire a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991 Saturn Awards.[147][148] The following year, she starred along with Kenny Rogers and Burt Reynolds in the made-for-television movies The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw and The Man From Left Field. In 1994, McEntire worked with director Rob Reiner in the film North, playing Ma Tex.
In 1994, McEntire starred in Is There Life Out There?, a television movie based on her song of the same name. The following year, she appeared in Buffalo Girls, which was based upon the life of western cowgirl Calamity Jane (played by Anjelica Huston). Playing Jane's friend Annie Oakley, Buffalo Girls was nominated for an Emmy award.[149] In 1996, McEntire was cast by director James Cameron as Molly Brown in his film Titanic. However, when it became apparent production for the film would extend well beyond its original length, McEntire had to turn down the part, as she had already scheduled prior concert engagements. The role was recast with Kathy Bates.[150] In 1998, she starred as Lizzie Brooks in Forever Love, which was based upon McEntire's hit single of the same name.[151]
2000–2007: Broadway and television series
In early 2001, McEntire expanded into theater, starring in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Playing Annie Oakley (whom she had previously portrayed in Buffalo Girls), her performance was critically acclaimed by several newspapers, including The New York Times, which commented, "Without qualification the best performance by an actress in a musical comedy this season."[152] McEntire personally called the musical "some of the hardest work I've ever done in my life".[153]
In 2005, McEntire starred as Nellie Forbush in the Carnegie Hall concert production of the Broadway musical South Pacific with Alec Baldwin as Luther Billis and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile de Becque, directed by Walter Bobbie, and with an adapted script by David Ives. The concert was broadcast as part of the Great Performances series in 2006.[154]
In October 2001, McEntire premiered her half-hour television sitcom Reba on The WB. The show was based around divorced mother Reba Hart, who learns how to handle life situations after her husband divorces her to marry his dental hygienist––with whom he had been cheating and gotten pregnant––and then their teenaged daughter becomes pregnant, as well.[155] Reba garnered critical acclaim and success, becoming the network's highest-rated television show for adults ranging from the ages of 18 to 49. The show ran for six seasons and earned McEntire a nomination for a Golden Globe award.[148] It was canceled on February 18, 2007; the series finale had 8.7 million viewers.[156]
Since 2011: Brief television return and current projects
In September 2011, McEntire confirmed on her website that ABC had ordered a pilot for her second television series Malibu Country.[157] McEntire played a divorced mother of two who moves to Malibu, California, to restart her music career.[157] The pilot was filmed in April 2012 and began production on its first season in August. The pilot for Malibu Country was to premiere November 2, 2012. The show was broadcast Friday nights at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.[158] On May 11, 2012, McEntire tweeted that the show had been picked up.[159] She also was the host in the 2011 NASCAR Award Show in Las Vegas.
Despite reports that Malibu Country was the most-watched freshman comedy in its debut season (8.7 million),[160] the show was canceled on May 10, 2013, after 18 episodes.
In 2016, McEntire was a guest panelist during season 11 of America's Got Talent. During one of the Judge Cuts, McEntire gave the Golden Buzzer to contortionist Sofie Dossi.[161]
In January 2017, it was announced that McEntire would star and produce a Southern drama series for ABC titled Red Blooded.[162][163] In May, ABC announced it ultimately had turned down the show, so it moved to being shopped around to other networks.[164] In January 2018, Reba was chosen to portray KFC's first female Colonel Sanders. The commercials ran through the end of April 2018.[165]
In 2020, McEntire launched a podcast titled Living and Learning hosted by her former Reba co-star Melissa Peterman and herself.[166]
She made a cameo appearance in the 2021 comedy film Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar as a water spirit named Trish, after Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, who wrote, produced, and starred in the film, wrote her an "impassioned letter" asking her to join the film. Director Josh Greenbaum said in an interview, "There's some casting that just clicks. Reba is not only 100% authentic, we knew she would be game."[167]
In May 2022, ABC announced that McEntire will be joining the cast of the drama Big Sky, playing local businesswoman Sunny Barnes in season three.[168]
McEntire starred in Reba McEntire's The Hammer on Lifetime in 2023. The country star reunited with her Reba sitcom co-star Melissa Peterman in the film inspired by the life of traveling Nevada circuit judge Kim Wheeler.[169] The film also stars McEntire's boyfriend Rex Linn as Bart Crawford, a mysterious cowboy with unknown motives, and Kay Shioma Metchie as Vicky, the tough-talking bailiff who serves as Kim's right hand and trusted friend.
In May 2023, it was announced that McEntire would be a coach on The Voice, replacing Blake Shelton. She served as a coach from its 24th season to its 26th season.[170] On May 21, 2024, Asher HaVon, a member of Reba's team, won the 25th season, making McEntire the winning coach on her second season.[171] In May 2025, it was announced that McEntire would return to The Voice after a one season-hiatus for the 28th season, which premieres in late 2025.[172]
On September 20, 2023, McEntire reunited with Sofie Dossi, where they collaborated during a result show on season 18 of America's Got Talent, when McEntire sang "Can't Even Get the Blues", while Dossi did her contortion, hand-balancing, and aerial performances.[173]
In January 2024, McEntire was creating a new comedy for NBC, later announced to be titled Happy's Place and co-starring Melissa Peterman.[174]
Musical styles and legacy
McEntire's sound has been influenced by the country music of Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, and Patsy Cline.[175] In college, McEntire attended local dances at the Oklahoma–Texas border, so she could dance to Wills's music, commenting that, "it didn't get any better than dancing to Bob Wills music". She also explained Merle Haggard's influence on her career, stating, "I had every album he ever put out", and would sing "every song he did", along with her brother, Pake and sister, Susie. In addition, her first major hit, "Sweet Dreams", was a remake of Patsy Cline's version of the song, according to McEntire herself.[176]
McEntire's music has been described not only to be built upon traditional country music, but also expand into the genres of country pop, mainstream pop, soul, and rhythm and blues. At times, her music has been criticized for moving away from traditional country music. Many music critics have called her music to be "melodramatic", "formulaic", and "bombastic", particularly after her 1988 album Reba. Studio releases such as Sweet Sixteen, Rumor Has It, It's Your Call, and Starting Over have been described by these terms.[31]
McEntire possesses a contralto vocal range[177] and performs "vocal gymnastics" with her voice,[178] a musical technique in which a singer twirls a note around, using their vibrato. McEntire has credited Dolly Parton for influencing this trait, stating that she always listened to Parton's records and find her style of vocal gymnastics "so pretty".[153]
McEntire has often been regarded as one of country music's most influential female vocalists and most beloved entertainers.[31][175] She is highly credited for remaining one of country's most popular female artists for nearly four decades, maintaining her success by continually incorporating contemporary musical sounds without changing her traditional vocal style.[120][175] For numerous artists, she has been credited as an inspiration to their careers in music.[175] The Net Music Countdown second-handedly reported, "That influence has manifested itself in many ways. As a role model, she's shown others how to handle fame with grace and good humor while never backing down from her values or goals. Just as importantly, she's shown others to refuse to accept limitations on what she can do or how much she can achieve." McEntire also explained to the online website, "Whatever I'm doing, I feel like I'm representing country music". "It's always been my main career, and it's where my loyalties lie. I feel like I'm waving the flag of country music wherever I go, and I couldn't be prouder to do it."[179]
Personal life
McEntire is a Christian, and she has stated that her faith in God has helped her immensely throughout her life.[180]
Two of her siblings have also had careers in the music industry. Her brother Pake dabbled in the country music industry in the late 1980s, but returned to Oklahoma after a brief stint. He owns and operates a 1,000-acre (400 ha) ranch near Coalgate, Oklahoma, and continues to rodeo. Her sister Susie McEntire-Eaton (Martha Susan "Susie" McEntire-Eaton, formerly Luchsinger) is a successful Christian music singer, who travels the country with her husband, speaking and performing. She also has an older sister, Alice Foran, a retired social worker who resides in Lane, Oklahoma. Her niece Calamity McEntire is the associate head coach for the University of Illinois women's basketball team.[181][182]
Relationships and family
In 1976, McEntire married steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles, who was 10 years her senior and had two sons from his previous marriage. The couple shared a ranch in Oklahoma. In 1987, McEntire divorced Battles and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to further pursue her career.[183][184][185]
In 1989, McEntire married her manager and former steel guitar player Narvel Blackstock. The couple wed at Lake Tahoe on a boat in a private ceremony. Together, the pair took over all aspects of McEntire's career, forming Starstruck Entertainment, which was originally designed to help manage her career. From her marriage to Blackstock, McEntire gained three stepchildren, Chassidy, Shawna, and Brandon. She gave birth to a son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, in February 1990. On August 3, 2015, a joint statement on McEntire's website announced that Blackstock and she had been separated for a few months after 26 years of marriage.[186] McEntire announced in December 2015 that their divorce had been finalized on October 28, 2015. Despite the divorce, McEntire remains very close to her three stepchildren and the Blackstock family; she considers her stepchildren's children to be her grandchildren.[187]
McEntire's stepson Brandon Blackstock married singer Kelly Clarkson, with whom he has a daughter and a son.[188] Speaking about their impending marriage in 2013, McEntire stated she was "Thrilled to death, to have my buddy as my daughter-in-law. I mean, who could ask for more?"[189] Blackstock and Clarkson's divorce was finalized in March 2022.[190] He died of melanoma on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48.[191][192]
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In 2017, McEntire began a relationship with photographer Anthony "Skeeter" Lasuzzo. The couple met through McEntire's association with Kix Brooks. In describing her feelings about Lasuzzo, she stated in April 2019, "We're totally in love — absolutely," she says. "I wouldn't put up with somebody for two years if I wasn't in love with 'em!"[193] McEntire and Lasuzzo separated six months later.[194]
In 2020, McEntire began dating film and TV actor Rex Linn.[195] They first met on the set of The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) and reconnected almost 30 years later when McEntire guest-starred as June on Young Sheldon, where Linn has a recurring role as principal of Sheldon's high school.[196] In an interview prior to the 2025 Emmy Awards ceremony, McEntire and Linn announced their engagement.[197] However, the engagement took place months prior in December 2024. [198]
Philanthropy
In 1992, she opened Reba's Ranch House in Denison, Texas,[199] an extended-stay residence for relatives of patients undergoing treatment at Texoma Medical Center or other nearby facilities.[200][201]
Over the course of her career, she has been and continues to be an active supporter of various charitable organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Feeding America, and Celebrity Fight Night. She has been honored with the Minnie Pearl Award, the ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award, and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation Humanitarian Award for her efforts. In 2018, she was honored with the Horatio Alger Award for Education, Charity Work. Named after the "rags to riches" writer, the award recognizes perseverance and giving back.[202][203][204]
Accolades
McEntire has the second-most wins for the Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist Awards with seven. McEntire holds the record American Music Awards for Favorite Country Female Artist (12). She also holds the distinction of being the first to win the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year Award four times consecutively. Martina McBride won Female Vocalist four times, although not consecutively. In 2013, Miranda Lambert tied McEntire to win Female Vocalist four years in a row and in 2016 Carrie Underwood joined this elite club by winning her fourth Female Vocalist award. McEntire is also a rare musical artist to achieve solo number-ones across four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s). She holds the record for second-most CMA Award nominations for a female artist, with 51. McEntire has the second-most ACM Awards nominations for a female artist with 47, respectively.[205] She is also the recipient of three Grammy Awards, winning in 1987, 1994 and 2018. In December 2018, McEntire received the Kennedy Center Honor.[206]
When Reba McEntire made her Grand Ole Opry debut on September 17, 1977, she almost did not make it in the door after a guard at the Opry gate missed her name on the night's list of performers.[207] Her parents and older sister, Alice, drove 1,400 miles round trip from their Oklahoma home to see what turned out to be Reba's three-minute performance that night. Her act was cut from two songs to just one—"Invitation to the Blues"—because of a surprise appearance by Dolly Parton.[207] McEntire was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 17, 1986.[207] "The Grand Ole Opry is a home," she says. "It's a family. It's like a family reunion, when you come back and get to see everybody."[208]
In 2011, the Country Music Association announced that McEntire would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.[209] McEntire was unable to attend the announcement after her father had slipped into a coma following a stroke.[209] McEntire attended the official induction ceremony alongside the other 2011 inductees Jean Shepard and Bobby Braddock. She was inducted by Dolly Parton.
John Richard Schneider (born April 8, 1960) is an American actor and singer.[1] He is best known for his portrayal of Beauregard "Bo" Duke in the television action comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard (opposite Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach, and James Best),[1] Jonathan Kent in the 2001–2011 TV series Smallville,[1] and James "Jim" Cryer on the television series The Haves and the Have Nots, created by Tyler Perry.
Alongside his acting career, Schneider has been a country singer since the early 1980s, releasing nine studio albums, a greatest hits package, and eighteen singles. This total includes "I've Been Around Enough to Know", "Country Girls", "What's a Memory Like You", and "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight", all of which reached the top of the Billboard country singles charts.
Early life
John Richard Schneider was born on April 8, 1960, in Mount Kisco, New York, the youngest of three boys of Shirley (née Frasier; 1932–2016) Conklin and John "Jack" Richard Schneider III (1930–2013), a pilot who had served in the U.S. Air Force.[2][3] His mother was from Sanford, Florida.[4] His family included an older brother Robert, who became an artist living in southern New York. His other brother, who was also named John, died of lung failure when he was three years old, which was three years before John's birth. John's life as an entertainer began at the age of eight, when he put on magic shows for his peers and their families. This once got him into trouble, when he had himself chained up and tossed into a swimming pool with the intention of re-creating Harry Houdini's legendary escape act. When he was 14, he and his mother moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where his love for performing continued. He went to North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia.[5]
Career
Acting
At the age of 18, he won the role of Bo Duke, working alongside another newcomer Tom Wopat and veteran actor James Best. For his audition, he "borrowed a dilapidated pickup truck, put on a big ol' country accent and funky hat. I hadn't shaved and went in toting a beer. I don't know whether they believed it or not, but they liked it."[6] Schneider learned to drive the iconic Dodge Charger in the show, but to the disappointment of many fans, he admitted he never jumped the car due to the dangerous nature of the stunt.[7]
At the height of the series' popularity, he also became a recording artist and a face of merchandise. In 1982, a tangle of legal suits with the producers over the distribution of merchandising royalties caused Schneider and co-star Tom Wopat to leave the show for most of a season. They returned to their roles in February 1983 only after their claims were satisfied. The show was canceled in 1985, after seven seasons. Schneider directed the series finale, titled "Opening Night at the Boar's Nest," airing originally on CBS, February 8, 1985.
In 2001, he portrayed Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Clark Kent on Smallville, starring in 100 episodes. Schneider directed some episodes of Smallville, including "Talisman". Some episodes contain references to Schneider's work in The Dukes of Hazzard, e.g. the season five episode "Exposed" is notable for reuniting Schneider with his former Dukes co-star Tom Wopat. Schneider guest starred for the latter half of season five appearing in the episodes "Void" and "Oracle". Schneider returned for the season 10 premiere of Smallville, reprising his role as Jonathan Kent in a recurring role.[8]
Schneider has appeared in many films and TV series, including five guest spots on Hee Haw and the miniseries 10.5. He had a recurring role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and made guest appearances on such shows as Diagnosis: Murder, Touched by an Angel, JAG and Walker, Texas Ranger.
In 2009, Schneider made an appearance on CSI in an episode titled "Kill Me If You Can". He appeared in the first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, in which his real-life son Chasen Schneider had a recurring role. During the summer of 2008 and early 2009, John portrayed "Marshall Bowman". He declined to continue through the second season and his character was written off.
In 2010, Schneider appeared in the series Leverage as a corrupt music executive in the season three episode "The Studio Job", and in several episodes of Desperate Housewives as a retired military man and father of Keith Watson (Brian Austin Green), the love interest of Bree Van de Kamp.
In 2011, he starred in the film Doonby, as a drifter who comes into a small town and makes it better. However, a menacing force stalks him. "It's It's a Wonderful Life without the wonderful part," Schneider explains. "'Reach down into the throat of It's a Wonderful Life, pull it inside out and make a movie out of it."[9]
He returned to the role of Bo Duke, alongside Tom Wopat as Luke Duke, in a 2014 commercial for Autotrader.com.
Filmmaking
In addition to acting, John Schneider owns and operates the John Schneider Studios (JSS) where he writes and produces independent films in Holden, Louisiana. John Schneider Studios (JSS) has created an infrastructure to give independent filmmakers all the tools they need to create their stories and films in one location.
Music
During Schneider's Dukes of Hazzard days, he also entered into music. In the early 80s Schneider signed with Scotti Brothers Label and released his debut full-length album, Now or Never, which peaked at No. 8 on the US Country Billboard charts. The single "It's Now or Never," a remake of the Elvis Presley hit, peaked at number 4 on the US Country Billboard charts and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981 and is one of the highest charting Elvis covers of all time.
Schneider continued to release albums, including Quiet Man and If You Believe, and, in 1984, signed with MCA Nashville. Through MCA Nashville, Schneider released Too Good to Stop Now which included his first No. 1 hits, "I've Been Around Enough to Know" and "Country Girls," peaking at No. 1 on the CAN Country music charts. In 1985, Schneider unleashed Tryin' To Outrun the Wind, followed by A Memory Like You which debuted at No. 1 on the US Country Billboard charts, a first for Schneider.
The album A Memory Like You featured "What's a Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This)" and "You're The Last Thing I Needed Tonight," singles which both peaked at No. 1 on the US Country Billboard charts and CAN Country. In the late 80s, Schneider continued releasing albums including his Greatest Hits record. Taking some time off to pursue acting opportunities, Schneider returned with Worth The Wait, John's Acoustic Christmas, The Promise and Home For Christmas, with The Dukes of Hazzard co-star Tom Wopat in 2014.
In 2019, on January 29, LIVE, at a filming of the TV show "Good Rockin' Tonight," John Schneider was Inducted on the air into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "I hadn't done music since 1990. People responded to that music, and one thing led to another," shares Schneider. "It's funny. Even though I had a bunch of No. 1 songs, people say, 'Oh, I love that Dukes of Hazzard song you sang!' Well, I didn't sing it, Waylon Jennings sang it. I'm famous for music by a song I never sang. Crazy."
In November 2021, Schneider spoke and performed at Global Vision Bible Church in Wilson County, Tennessee.
In 2023, Schneider competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Donut". He finished in 2nd place where he also referenced the death of his wife Alicia Allain.[10]
Theater
Schneider has also been involved with a number of stage performances: 42nd Street [Pittsburgh, PA (Regional)] Pittsburgh CLO Revival, 2006 Julian Marsh [Replacement] Chicago [Broadway] Broadway Revival, 1996 Billy Flynn [Replacement] Grand Hotel [Broadway] Original Broadway Production, 1989 Felix Von Gaigern [Replacement] (source: Broadway World) Sound of Music [Hollywood Bowl, CA] Starring Melissa Errico, John Schneider with Ben Platt, Marni Nixon Broadway Revival, 2006
Audio books
Schneider took part In the "Word of Promise" Audio Bible series, which featured the voices of many famous actors and actresses. He voiced James in the Book of James.[11]
Dancing with the Stars
On September 12, 2018, Schneider was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 27 of Dancing with the Stars. His professional partner was Emma Slater.[12] They became the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition on November 5, alongside DeMarcus Ware and his professional partner Lindsay Arnold.
Personal life
In 1982, Schneider co-founded the Children's Miracle Network with Marie Osmond and her brothers.[13] In 1995, he founded FaithWorks Productions in order to produce family-oriented videos and recordings. In 1998, Schneider became a born-again Christian while living with Johnny and June Carter Cash for a short time, and speaking with Johnny about Christianity.[14]
Schneider was good friends with James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in The Dukes of Hazzard, until Best's death, April 6, 2015, at age 88.[15]
In a February 2024 interview with One America News Network, a far-right TV network, Schneider likened Beyoncé's entry into country music to a "dog peeing on a tree." Some criticized his comments as racist.[16][17]
Relationships
Schneider was married to former Miss America Tawny Elaine Godin from 1983 to 1986. He married his second wife, Elvira "Elly" Castle, on July 11, 1993. On December 12, 2014, TMZ.com reported that Castle had filed for divorce.[18] It was finalized in 2019.[19] They have three children: two are Castle's children from her first marriage (born in 1991)[20] and a daughter together.[21] Schneider began a relationship with Alicia Allain, his producing partner and owner of Maven Entertainment in April 2015. Alicia was also his personal and professional manager. They married in September 2019 and remained together until Allain's death from breast cancer on February 21, 2023.[22][19]
On July 23, 2024, Schneider married Dee Dee Sorvino (née Benkie), actor Paul Sorvino's widow. Both stars had lost their spouses in the previous two years leading up to their marriage.[23]
Morris Mac Davis[1] (January 21, 1942 – September 29, 2020) was an American songwriter, singer, performer, and actor. A native of Lubbock, Texas, he enjoyed success as a crossover artist[2] and writing for Elvis Presley during his early career, providing him with the hits "Memories", "In the Ghetto", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "A Little Less Conversation". A subsequent solo career in the 1970s produced hits such as "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me". Davis also starred in his own variety show, a Broadway musical, and various films and TV shows.[3][4][5][6]
Biography
Early life
Davis was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas as the son of Edith Irene (Lankford) and T. J. Davis, a building contractor.[7]
Career as a songwriter
Once Davis was settled in Atlanta, he organized a rock and roll group called the Zots, and made two singles for OEK Records, managed and promoted by OEK owner Oscar Kilgo.[3][4][5] [8] Davis also worked for the Vee Jay record company (home to such R&B stars as Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, and Dee Clark) as a regional manager and later became a regional manager for Liberty Records.[2]
Davis became famous as a songwriter and got his start as an employee of Nancy Sinatra's company, Boots Enterprises, Inc. Davis was with Boots for several years in the late 1960s. During his time there, he played on many of Sinatra's recordings, and she worked him into her stage shows. Boots Enterprises also acted as Davis's publishing company, publishing songs such as "In the Ghetto", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife", "Home", and "Memories", which were recorded by Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, B. J. Thomas and many others. During a short timespan Davis used the pseudonym "Scott Davis" for songwriting purposes (borrowing from the given name of his son) to avoid confusion with songwriter Mack David.[9] Davis left Boots Enterprises in 1970 to sign with Columbia Records, taking all of his songs with him.[3][4][5]
One of the songs he wrote in 1968, called "A Little Less Conversation", was recorded by Elvis Presley (and became a posthumous success for Presley years later). Presley also recorded Davis's "In the Ghetto" in sessions in Memphis. Mac Davis eventually recorded the tune after Presley's version became a success, and was released in a Ronco In Concert compilation in 1975. Presley continued to record more of Davis's material, such as "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "Clean Up Your Own Backyard". Bobby Goldsboro also recorded some of Davis's songs, including "Watching Scotty Grow",[2] which became a No. 1 Adult Contemporary success for Goldsboro in 1971. Other artists who recorded his material included Vikki Carr, O.C. Smith, and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. "I Believe in Music", often considered to be Davis's signature song, was recorded by several artists (including Marian Love, B.J. Thomas, Louis Jordan, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Lynn Anderson, and Davis himself) before it finally became a success in 1972 for the group Gallery.[3][4][5]
During the 1970s, many of his songs "crossed over", successfully scoring on both the country and popular music charts, including "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me"[2] (a number one Grammy-nominated success), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), and "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a no. 9 pop hit).[2] Also, during the 1970s and 1980s, he was very active as an actor, appearing in several movies, including 1979's North Dallas Forty, as well as hosting a successful variety show. In 2010, Davis co-wrote the song "Time Flies" with Rivers Cuomo which appeared on Weezer's Hurley album. In 2013 he was part of the Los Angeles writing and producing team that created the hit "Young Girls" for Bruno Mars.[10] Davis also wrote and collaborated with the Swedish D.J. and music producer Avicii, penning the song "Addicted to You" for Avicii's debut studio album True. They performed the song "Black and Blue" together at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami in 2013.
Success as a singer
Davis soon decided to pursue a career of his own as a recording artist. After several years of writing songs for other artists, he was signed by Clive Davis for Columbia, later topping the Country and Pop charts with the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" in 1972. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 1972.[11]
In 1974, Davis was awarded the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award. He had other successes including the songs "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a number one Adult Contemporary success in 1974) (pop no. 9), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" (pop no. 15), and "Burnin' Thing" (pop no. 53). At the end of the 1970s, he was signed by Neil Bogart and moved to Casablanca Records, which was best known at the time for its successes with disco star Donna Summer and rock'n'roll band Kiss. His first success for the company in 1980 was the novelty song "It's Hard to Be Humble", a light-hearted look at how popularity and good looks could go to one's head. The song became his first Country music top 10 and a rare top 30 hit in the UK. (It was translated into Dutch as "Het is moeilijk bescheiden te blijven" and became a hit for the Dutch singer Peter Blanker in 1981). Later that year, he had another top 10 song with "Let's Keep It That Way" written by Curly Putman and Rafe Van Hoy. In November, "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" was played by KHJ in Los Angeles as its last song before it switched from Top 40 to Country music.[12] He achieved success with other songs like "Texas in My Rear View Mirror" and "Hooked on Music", which became his biggest Country music success in 1981 going to number 2. In 1985, he recorded his last top 10 country music success with the song "I Never Made Love (Till I Made Love With You)".[13]
On January 19, 1985, Davis performed "God Bless the USA" at the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, held the day before the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan.[13]
Acting career
From 1974 to 1976, Davis had his own television variety show on NBC, The Mac Davis Show.[13] He made his feature film debut opposite Nick Nolte in the football film North Dallas Forty (1979)[14] and was listed as one of 12 "Promising New Actors of 1979" by Screen World magazine.[citation needed]
In 1980, Davis hosted an episode of The Muppet Show.[15] He performed "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", "It's Hard To Be Humble", and "I Believe in Music".[citation needed]
Davis also starred in the 1981 comedy film Cheaper To Keep Her, playing a divorced detective who worked for a neurotic feminist attorney.
In 1983, he appeared in The Sting II, as Jake Hooker, a younger relative of Johnny Hooker, portrayed by Robert Redford in The Sting.[3][4][5]
In November 1991, Davis checked into the Betty Ford Clinic, marking the beginning of his commitment to sobriety. Exactly four months later, he performed as Will Rogers in the Broadway production of The Will Rogers Follies at the Palace Theater, noting that it was his first-ever sober performance. Following each show, Davis shared his journey to sobriety and urged anyone battling addiction to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He continued to play Will Rogers for over a year during the show's national tour.[16]
In 1998, Davis starred in the sports comedy Possums, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. Davis served as the balladeer for the 2000 telefilm The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood, replacing Don Williams, who had served the part in 1997's The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and Waylon Jennings, who narrated the original Dukes of Hazzard television show. Davis was the first balladeer to appear on-screen to welcome the audience and provide exposition.[6] Davis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. He was awarded a star symbol on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard, for his contribution to the recording industry.[3][4][5]
In 2001, Davis played a fellow karaoke competitor to Jon Gries's Sunny Holiday in the Polish brothers' film Jackpot. In the film, a dispute began between Sunny's manager, played by Garrett Morris, and Davis's character about what song he should sing. The manager suggested Davis's "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", which Davis's character claimed just was not him.[citation needed]
From 2001 to 2003, Davis voiced the character of Barber Bingo on two episodes of the animated TV series Oswald; "Henry Needs A Haircut" and "The Naughty Cat".[citation needed]
Between 1999 and 2006, Davis provided the character voices of Sheriff Buford (two episodes) and a talk radio host named "Sports Jock" (three episodes), on the animated series King of the Hill.[citation needed]
Davis also guest-starred briefly in the 8 Simple Rules episode "Let's Keep Going: Part 2" in April 2004.[citation needed]
He had a recurring role as Rodney Carrington's father-in-law in the sitcom Rodney.[citation needed]
In 2000, Davis hosted Labor of Love, a live FM radio show for KZLA Los Angeles.
Personal life and death
At 21, he married Fran Cook from Georgia. Their son, Joel Scott, (Scotty in "Watching Scotty Grow") was born a year later; Davis shifted from playing in rock bands to learning the music business while working in Liberty Records' publishing division.[2] The Liberty job got him to Los Angeles and made it easier to "pitch his own tunes" to record producers. Davis commented, "One day Fran decided to do her own thing and she wanted me to do mine." They divorced and she went back to Atlanta.[citation needed]
Davis next met Sarah Barg, then 16 and living in his apartment building with her mother. Two years later, they were married. "We talked about having a family, but I was waiting for her to grow up," he says. She left him in 1976 for Glen Campbell, with whom she then had one child, Dillon. She also left Campbell shortly after Dillon's birth.
In 1979, Davis started to date a young nurse, Lise Gerard.[3][4][5][17] They married in 1983 when she was 25, and they had two children, Noah Claire and Cody Luke.[18] They remained married until Davis' death at age 78 on September 29, 2020, following heart surgery.[3][4][5] [19][20]