It’s been almost 50 years since Reba McEntire‘s debut single, “I Don’t Want to Be a One Night Stand” was released in 1976. Her longevity in country music is a testament to her talent and work ethic, but even she admits surprise at her historic career.
“[I’m] very grateful, very thankful,” McEntire tells People. “And I never thought at the 20th anniversary that I’d be hitting this one. But I have to give a lot of credit to people who have been before me — Tammy [Wynette], Dolly [Parton], Loretta [Lynn] — who have paved the roads for girl singers of my generation and the ones that are coming up after me. So it’s been a lot of fun.”
“You always want to work real hard and make them proud,” she adds.
It’s McEntire who has sung the songs, performed on stage, and used her success to launch other business ventures, including her foray into acting. But the 70-year-old is still quick to deflect much of the credit for all she has accomplished.
“God gave me a gift and I try to use it and to give Him all the praise and the glory,” McEntire says. “Because without Him, I wouldn’t have had it and could have given it to somebody else, so I try to make Him proud.”
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McEntire also credits her fans, many of whom have been with her since the beginning, and have supported her as she has evolved as an artist and entertainer.
“I thank God for the fans, because they are people who travel, spend their hard-earned money to buy tickets, to buy albums,” McEntire tells Variety. “They’re faithful. And I don’t care what kind of entertainment business you’re in, whether it’s race cars or movies, singing or writing books. If you don’t have the fans, you might as well be singing in the shower, because they’re the ones that put food on our tables.”
McEntire is currently starring in Happy’s Place, which airs on NBC. The show reunited McEntire with her Reba co-star, Melissa Peterman, and also stars her longtime boyfriend, Rex Linn.
“The first time we went into a table read, it was very nostalgic,” McEntire recalls. “It was very emotional … I’m getting choked up right now. That’s the way it was for all of us to be so blessed. If you get one really good sitcom that lasts for six seasons, you think, ‘Man, I’ve got the golden ring. That’ll be it. Probably never do it again, because that’s magic in a bottle.’ We got it again and we realize it.”
McEntire is returning to host the 2025 ACM Awards, for the second year in a row. The ceremony will take place on May 8 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Find all of McEntire’s music and upcoming shows at Reba.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the ACM