Reba McEntire was brought up in the rodeo world. It turns out that this upbringing helped her introduction into the music industry in multiple ways.
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In a recent talk with Variety, Reba spills about how growing up ranching and in the rodeo forged her into the musical star we know her as today.
The Queen of Country isn't the only star in her family. Her father, Clarke McEntire, was a three-time world champion steer roper. While he toured the circuit, Reba and her siblings would sing in the back of the car together.
It was singing in the rodeo scene that got her discovered, kick-starting her musical career.
When she was singing the national anthem in a rodeo competition in 1974 as a teenager, one Red Steagall was in attendance. He saw her talent, and the rest is history.
But being discovered through singing at the rodeo isn't the only way her upbringing helped her.
Two years later, she moved to Nashville with her mother. Starting out in the music industry after having just moved to Nashville is a gargantuan task that breaks most who attempt. But it was nothing Reba couldn't handle.
Reba Says The Work Ethic Of The Rodeo World Helped Her Through Nashville
It turns out that growing up ranching gave her the grit and work ethic that helped her persist through the challenges of the music industry.
"When I started out in the music business, I didn't know anything about it," she said.
"What I did know is that in rodeo and ranching, it's a man's world: You insert yourself, you work your a-- off; you don't b---h about it, you don't complain, you just work harder," she explained.
"When I got into the music business, that work ethic was still there."
Being used to working hard, Reba was more than prepared for the unforgiving music industry. It's a harsh world to survive in. So it's no wonder she attributes her success to her resilience given to her by her upbringing.
