When Reba McEntire released her debut single, "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand" in 1976, country music was a far cry from what it is today. Only two years after women were legally allowed to get a credit card on their own, McEntire came into country music at a time when women, in country music and in life, had expected roles and scripts to follow.
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Fortunately, McEntire wanted nothing to do with that. Coming on the heels of artists like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, McEntire showed early on that she was willing to forge her own path, even if she had to work harder than most. Unafraid to tackle hard subjects and sing about tough topics, McEntire was - and is - willing to march to her own beat, even if its' different than most.
With that in mind, we found four times Reba McEntire redefined country stardom with her songs - making the genre better for it.
1. Reba McEntire Tells A "Fancy" Story
When "Fancy" came out in 1991, it had already been released by Bobbie Gentry, who also wrote the song. Not only did McEntire make "Fancy" her own, but she released a six-minute video, telling the story of an impoverished girl who became a wealthy woman, although how she starts out is heartbreaking. The fact that the story is about a young girl given to a wealthy man did little to dissuade McEntire from telling the story, her way.
"It's a rags-to-riches story. I love rags-to-riches stories. Cinderella, Annie Get Your Gun, all poverty and then make it big in the world," McEntire tells Country Living. "Well, she did, too. Fancy—she had a lot going against her and she persevered and moved on."
2. Reba McEntire Addresses Infidelity In "Does He Love You"
Plenty of country music songs address infidelity, but few like McEntire in "Does He Love You." The song, which McEntire sings with Linda Davis, is about two women - one the wife, one the cheater - who both know about the other person, but love the man too much to stop.
The song is powerful enough, but McEntire proved she can be a singer and an actress in the video for the song, which has a very surprising ending.
In 2021, McEntire released a new version, this one with Dolly Parton.
3. Reba McEntire Releases The Dark "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia"
When McEntire released "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" in 1991, it had already been a hit for Vicky Lawrence. The song, written by Bobby Russell, is about as dark as they come, about a man who comes home to find out his wife had been cheating on him. The sad tale ends in an incorrect murder conviction.
The multi-verse format, along with the subject matter, makes it an unlikely hit for anyone perhaps, except McEntire, who made it a Top 10 hit.
4. Reba McEntire Joins Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert on "Trailblazer"
McEntire might be 70 years old, but is still just as relevant as the generations after her, and maybe more. McEntire teamed up with Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert to sing "Trailblazer" at the recent ACM Awards, which McEntire also hosted. The song also set a new streaming record for the Grand Ole Opry member.
"I remember listening to it in the dressing room. I couldn't find a flaw in it, not a word," McEntire tells Billboard. "It was that great. I was very emotional when I heard it."
