Today, Reba McEntire turns 68, and she definitely deserves a lot of praise. It feels like she has been a part of my life forever, and I still listen to her music several times a week.
But Reba’s life hasn’t been all smooth. This year marks 32 years since a plane crash took the lives of several of her friends.
After rising to fame in country music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Reba McEntire was named “best singer” by the Country Music Association for four years in a row. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite her successful career, Reba McEntire has faced personal hardships. In 2022, her mother Jacqueline passed away at 93 after battling cancer.
Reba wrote on social media, “She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was ready to go. The cancer might think it won, but we’re giving God all the credit for choosing the time for her to go home.”
Jacqueline McEntire always dreamed of being a professional country singer and taught Reba how to sing, making her own dream come true through her daughter.
Reba said, “She left knowing how much she was loved, and we all know how much she loved us. We’ll miss her, but we have so many wonderful memories.”
Reba definitely understands what it’s like to face sadness and loss.
32 years ago, on March 16, Reba McEntire lost seven of her band members and her tour manager in a tragic plane crash after a concert.
I remember that day in 1991. I was driving to work when I heard about the crash on the radio and was worried that Reba might have been on the plane too.
But she wasn’t.
Reba and her band had performed in San Diego on March 16, 1991, and were heading to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for their next show. There were two planes at the San Diego airport—one carrying the band and tour manager, and the other for Reba, her husband, and her manager. They stayed overnight in San Diego while the first plane tragically crashed just ten miles east of the airport.
Over the years, Reba has often honored her lost friends.
In a touching interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2012, Reba talked about the day her band members died.
She explained, “The tip of the plane’s wing hit a rock on Otay Mountain, and it killed everyone on board.”
Reba recalled that when they were informed of the crash, her manager Narvel went to meet with their pilot. Narvel then returned to Reba’s hotel room around two or three in the morning and told her that one of the planes had crashed. Reba asked if everyone was okay, and Narvel said he didn’t think so. Reba had tears in her eyes as she remembered the tragic event.
Reba recalled that Narvel was going from room to room with a phone, trying to reach people. She paused as she started to cry, saying, “I’m sorry — even after 20 years, it still hurts. I can still see Narvel walking back and forth.”
Now, 32 years have passed since the crash. Recently, Reba shared a photo of her band on Instagram to remember the tragic events of that day.
In 2020, she posted another tribute to her friends, writing, “29 years ago today, I lost my friends in a plane crash. It seems fitting that Mama’s passing coincides with that anniversary.”
Reba believes that her friends are in Heaven together, taking care of each other. She encourages us to keep looking after each other here on Earth and to cherish every moment with our loved ones.
Her fans quickly showed their support by sending positive thoughts and prayers.
One fan wrote, “Reba, I’ve always loved your music and our shared horse background. Now following you on Instagram. Prayers for you and your mother 🙏🏻”
In 2023, Reba once again showed that she hasn’t forgotten her friends and still grieves their loss. She shared a video of the group performing together, saying, “Their love for music and the stage gives us all the strength to go on.”