The 67-year-old channeled her grief into 'For My Broken Heart,' her highest-selling album to date.
Reba McEntire is opening up about her love life and how she met her boyfriend Rex Linn. McEntire appeared alongside her late friend and fellow musician Kenny Rogers in the film The Gambler Returns, an experience which she has said, "saved my sanity." While making the film, McEntire met her now-boyfriend Rex Linn. The singer went through a divorce from music manager Narvel Blackstock in 2015 and dated Linn years later in 2020. "I shot an appearance on the TV show Young Sheldon, which he is on," said McEntire, reported PEOPLE. "He said, 'Let's have dinner when you get through.' And I said, 'OK!' He made me laugh my butt off on our first date, which we didn't even know was a date." McEntire was forced to spend time apart from the 65-year-old during the pandemic. "He was in Los Angeles, and I was in Oklahoma because Mama had just died," McEntire explained.
"We didn't get to see each other from March to June, but we'd talk over Zoom and FaceTime four to five times each day. We created a bond and an intimacy that was getting to know each other without being physical. We fell in love after being friends." "He's the love of my life," McEntire added. "We're a wonderful team."
She also recently opened up about the 1991 tragedy that turned country icon Reba McEntire’s world upside down. According to Fox News, eight of her band and crew members and two pilots died in a plane crash leaving her concert in San Diego in March of that year. Pilots Donald Holmes and Christopher Hollinger were among those killed. McEntire's tour manager Jim Hammon, keyboardist and bandleader Kirk Cappello, keyboardist Joey Cigainero, drummer Tony Saputo, guitarist Michael Thomas, guitarist Chris Austin, bassist Terry Jackson, and vocalist Paula Kaye Evans died as well. McEntire was not on the plane and was scheduled to leave the next morning.
Reba McEntire remembers 1991 plane crash that killed 8 band members: 'It showed me how precious life is' https://t.co/5IVAnaAgra
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 20, 2022
According to PEOPLE, the 67-year-old musician questioned if she was "going to be able to continue" after the tragedy. "But it showed me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place. From that I learned that you need to take it one day at a time and be very grateful for the things that you have," she shared. "Tell folks in your life how much you love and appreciate them."
Reba McEntire Remembers the Plane Crash That Killed 8 Band Members https://t.co/lTwDeNWEAn
— People (@people) October 19, 2022
In honor of those who died, she channeled her emotions into the album, For My Broken Heart, which was released eight months after the crash. With songs like Is There Life Out There, The Lights Went Out In Georgia, and The Greatest Man I Never Knew, the collection ended up being her highest-selling album to date.
Reba's album, FOR MY BROKEN HEART, was released 31 years ago today!
— Reba News (@RebaNews) October 1, 2022
What's your favorite song from the album? This was a tough one for us, we found it impossible to narrow down to one! pic.twitter.com/8kC50XzpWT
Reba McEntire, Boyfriend Rex Linn 'Created a Bond Without Being Physical' https://t.co/YqXL8cwgmc
— People (@people) October 19, 2022
References:
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/reba-mcentire-remembers-1991-plane-crash-killed-8-band-members
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Mike Coppola
