This day in Oklahoma history: March 28
A popular country singer and actress was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on March 28, 1955. Reba McEntire, a popular country singer and actress, was born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma, and is the daughter of champion steer roper Clark Vincent and Jacqueline Smith McEnture. She grew up on her family's ranch in Chockie and attended Kiowa High School before attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University and graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in music. She married champion steer wrestler Charlie Battles in 1976 and later divorced in 1987. Her first major-label recording was recorded in 1974 by Cowboy poet-singer Red Steagall while singing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Her song "I Don't Want to Be a One-Night Stand" was released in 1976, and her first number one song, "Can't Even Get the Blues," released in 1982. She has won numerous awards for her music since 1978 and is also known for her acting roles in Broadway roles and an autobiography published in 1994.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Caroline Sellers/KFOR in
MCALESTER, Okla. (KFOR) – A popular country singer and actress was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on March 28, 1955.
According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, Reba McEntire was born on March 28, 1955, and is the daughter of champion steer roper Clark Vincent McEntire and Jacqueline Smith McEntire.
She grew up on her family’s ranch in Chockie in Atoka County. She attended Kiowa High School where she performed with the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band before graduating in 1973.
McEntire also performed with a family trio known as the Singing McEntires before attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She graduated in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in music.
OHS says she went on to marry champion steer wrestler Charlie Battles on June 21, 1976 in Stringtown. They later divorced in 1987. On June 3, 1989, McEntire married musician Narvel Blackstock in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They have one child, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, who was born in 1990 in Nashville, Tennessee.
McEntire’s first recording, “The Ballad of John McEntire”, was written about her grandfather. She was discovered in 1974 by Cowboy poet-singer Red Steagall while singing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. This led to her first major-label recording, “I Don’t Want to Be a One-Night Stand” in 1976. Her first number one song, “Can’t Even Get the Blues” was released in 1982.
She has been awarded numerous times for her music since 1978. She is also known for her acting roles, including a Broadway portrayal of Annie Oakley and “Reba”, a television comedy, both in 2001, and an autobiography published in 1994.