Reba McEntire is sharing a touching tribute to her only child. The Grand Ole Opry member posted a video on social media, celebrating her son Shelby Blackstock's 35th birthday
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"One of the greatest blessings God has given me," McEntire writes, sharing a few throwback photos of when Shelby was a little boy. "I love you with all my heart, Shelby."
" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)">Shelby was born to McEntire in 1990, one year after she married her former manager, Narvel Blackstock. The couple divorced in 2015. Although busy with her legendary career, McEntire always made sure her relationship with her son came first.
"I had the best nannies, and I took him on the road with me," the Country Music Hall of Famer says (via People). "When I couldn't, I would fly home after a concert, get him up in the morning, take him to school and pick him up. We'd play until I had to fly out again for a concert that night. I wanted to be with Shelby. Still do."
Who Is Shelby Blackstock
With two parents in the entertainment industry, Blackstock could have easily followed in their footsteps. But instead, he pursued a career in race car driving.
"Shelby would jump on a golf cart, and he would be driving," McEntire recalls (via NBC). "He could barely touch the gas pedal. He would drive me around the place, and he would say, 'Hang on! It's going to be a bumpy ride!' and we would chase the geese all around."
McEntire might be one of the biggest country music superstars of all time, but she still understands her son's passion for racing.
"I'm very happy that he's racing because that's his passion," McEntire says. "I'm from a rodeo family. The scare tactics and everything are very similar in rodeo. The adrenaline does flow very fast, but I'm used to that."
In 2022, Blackstock married Marissa Branch, after they met on the dating app, Tinder.
"We made fast friends early on and have had a strong bond ever since," the couple told People in 2022. "We are twin flames. There's this indescribable feeling of déjà vu when we are together — as if life is reminding us that we're following our destiny."
