Reba McEntire may be the Queen of Country, but the kindness, warmth and humor she displays onThe Voiceand Happy's Place makes it easy to forget that she's sold over 75 million records and released 25 No. 1 hits over the course of her career! From music to acting to hosting, McEntire has not only done it all, she's done it all exceptionally and is still going strong. But behind that iconic red hair and unmistakable voice is a woman whose life has been shaped by curiosity, courage and resilience.
McEntire was born on March 28, 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma and raised on a cattle ranch. Her mom was a gifted singer, while her father was a rancher and champion steer roper. By her freshman year of high school, Reba and her siblings had formed a vocal group and were already performing at local rodeos and events.
She wasn't even out of her teens when country artist Red Steagall heard her sing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in 1974 and invited her to Nashville to record a demo. But a young Reba was terrified and on the car ride there, she kept making up excuses about why they should turn the car around. In her memoir—My Story—Reba revealed that her mother finally said, "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." And they continued on.
The demo Reba recorded on that trip would land her a deal with Mercury Records. For the next six years, she worked tirelessly—writing, recording, touring—and released a whopping 13 singles. Nothing seemed to move the needle, but she refused to give up. One day, she heard a song and knew she had to record it. At first, her producer told her no—thinking her voice was best suited for demos—but she fought for herself and he eventually agreed. On Oct. 2, 1982, "Can't Even Get the Blues"—Reba's 14th single—was officially released. Three months later, it became her first No. 1 hit. "It took a long time," she told Billboard in 2020. "But boy, it was worth it."
From there, Reba was off to the races with multiple platinum albums, sold-out tours and radio hits. Starting in 1984, she won Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMAs four times in a row. In 1987, she earned her first Grammy for "Whoever's in New England" and three years later, made her film debut in Tremors.
On March 15, 1991, McEntire and her band performed a private show for IBM executives in San Diego, California. After the concert, they needed to get to Fort Wayne, Indiana for their next show. However, because Reba was recovering from bronchitis, she decided to stay behind and fly out the following day. It was a decision that saved her life: Just minutes after takeoff, the chartered plane carrying her band crashed into the side of a mountain. All ten people on board were killed—seven of her band members, her tour manager Jim Hammon and both pilots.
Her heart was completely shattered. "I didn't know how I could go on," she said. She seriously considered walking away from music entirely. But instead of giving up, she channeled her grief into an album she dedicated to her fallen friends. For My Broken Heart was released on Oct. 1, 1991, and it would become one of the best-selling records of her entire career.
Since then, she's made her dazzling Broadway debut, had her own sitcom—Reba—that ran for six seasons, earned a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame and received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Currently, you can see her on two hit NBC shows: The Voiceand Happy's Place. Through every hit song and accolade—and every setback and heartbreak—Reba continues to inspire—and that's why she's our quote of the day.
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Quote of the Day by Reba McEntire
"The flip side of fear isn't fearlessness. It's curiosity."
This quote is from Reba's 2023 book—Not That Fancy. It's so Reba—meaning it's so unique that I've never heard anyone else describe fear in this way. We've always been taught that the opposite of fear is being brave; that we have to face challenges head-on. And that can be so stressful and overwhelming. But the "Fancy" singer presents it as something entirely different. When we encounter something that scares us, it's not about finding the strength to tackle it; it's about being curious enough to want to discover what the other side of that feels like. It makes fear feel so much more manageable.
Related: Quote of the Day: Paul Newman Says Anything Is Possible
Reba McEntire performs on The Tonight Show in 1995.Photo by NBC on Getty Images
Deeper Meaning of Reba's Quote—Fearless Curiosity
Now that you've seen this quote, think about Reba's career one more time. For over 50 years, she's been living by these words. She was terrified on that drive to Nashville to record her first demo, but she was curious about what could happen once she finished it. She landed her first record deal. While her producer previously only had her sing ballads, Reba fought to record "Can't Even Get the Blues" because she loved it and was curious about how an upbeat song would do. It became her first No. 1 single! And when she was curious about acting, she dove in and got her own TV show.
Life is not about finding the courage to face something that scares you—it's having the curiosity to discover what could happen after you take a chance and try.
Reba is engaged to her Happy's Place co-star, Rex Linn. They first met in 1991 and started dating in 2020.Photo by Jeff Kravitz on Getty Images
Related: Talk About ‘Fancy’! Reba McEntire’s Net Worth in 2026 Is ‘Out of a Dream’ Indeed
More Inspiring Quotes From Reba McEntire
"I learned that you need to take it one day at a time and be very grateful for the things that you have. Tell folks in your life how much you love and appreciate them.""To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.""When I learned to forgive, it was like a million pounds were lifted from me.""Be different, stand out, and work your butt off.""Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking. Loving might be a mistake, but it's worth making."Next, Quote of the Day: Dolly Parton on Staying True to Yourself
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