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Reba: My Story
With the same straightforward honesty that made her one of country’s top-selling female recording artists, Reba McEntire tells her phenomenal story.
From her childhood in Oklahoma working cattle with her ranching family to her days on the rodeo competition circuit, from her early days as a performer in honky-tonks to her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall, Reba relates her experiences with heartfelt emotion and down-to-earth humor/ With the same warmth and generous spirit that infuses her music, she introduces us to the most important people in her the family and friends who sustain her and the musicians and producers who have inspired her and helped her realize her artistic vision. With great poignancy, she also recounts the lowest points of her life, the breakup of her first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of eight of her band members; and the highest, her remarriage and the birth of her son Shelby. Her story is not only a chronicle of a remarkable life but a vivid testament of unshakable determination and faith in God.
Featuring 48 pages of photos, My Story is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved and successful entertainers.
From her childhood in Oklahoma working cattle with her ranching family to her days on the rodeo competition circuit, from her early days as a performer in honky-tonks to her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall, Reba relates her experiences with heartfelt emotion and down-to-earth humor/ With the same warmth and generous spirit that infuses her music, she introduces us to the most important people in her the family and friends who sustain her and the musicians and producers who have inspired her and helped her realize her artistic vision. With great poignancy, she also recounts the lowest points of her life, the breakup of her first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of eight of her band members; and the highest, her remarriage and the birth of her son Shelby. Her story is not only a chronicle of a remarkable life but a vivid testament of unshakable determination and faith in God.
Featuring 48 pages of photos, My Story is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved and successful entertainers.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1994
310 people are currently reading
1830 people want to read
About the author
Reba McEntire
56 books233 followersReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band, on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos.
She has sometimes been referred to as "The Queen of Country". She is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more 80 million records worldwide.
In the early 1990s, McEntire branched into film starting with 1990's Tremors. She has since starred in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun and in her television sitcom, Reba (2001–2007), for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series–Musical or Comedy.
She has sometimes been referred to as "The Queen of Country". She is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more 80 million records worldwide.
In the early 1990s, McEntire branched into film starting with 1990's Tremors. She has since starred in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun and in her television sitcom, Reba (2001–2007), for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series–Musical or Comedy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 22, 2020
I've always enjoyed Reba McEntire's music, she was one of the voices of my childhood. I grew up listening to her so the idea of finding out more of her life was lovely. There was a lot I discovered in reading this book, especially about her younger years. She had a tough childhood, but not a bad one. I never realized how slow a rise to prominence she had. But as I was growing up as she was hitting her stride it didn't occur to me as a child to think that she'd had years beforehand working towards her career. But I will say I do remember very clearly when the tragedy stuck her band. I can't imagine how devastating that could have been and reading through it from her perspective was hard. I'm very impressed with her as a woman and as a business woman. She took control of her career, she fought for everything she had. I really enjoyed this story and left with even more respect for the woman that Reba is.
April 4, 2012
I love when u read a memoir and you feel like the person you read about is sitting next to you telling the story instead of just reading it. This one was like that for me and I enjoyed every page.
August 12, 2009
I love Reba, she as close to country as a person can get, I love her attidude towards life, She always looks at things in a positive way and never lost sight of her dreams, even when at times she could have easily have given up, and when she had enemies that came against her she always did the right thing, this is what I loved most about Reba, is when she was asked to pay those certain people for that place she didn't falter, she held her head up high and paid even though she didn't have to, but she a woman with grace. and because of her spirit is why God had Blessed her so abundently, so I like to Thank Reba for not onl;y sharing her life with us, but also teaching me what it means to be a woman with such beautiful grace.,
October 19, 2025
Author: Reba McEntire
Title: Reba: My Story
Series:
Cover Rating:
Silver Star
Book Rating:
5 stars
About the Book:
With the same straightforward honesty that made her one of country’s top-selling female recording artists, Reba McEntire tells her phenomenal story.
From her childhood in Oklahoma working cattle with her ranching family to her days on the rodeo competition circuit, from her early days as a performer in honky-tonks to her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall, Reba relates her experiences with heartfelt emotion and down-to-earth humor/ With the same warmth and generous spirit that infuses her music, she introduces us to the most important people in her the family and friends who sustain her and the musicians and producers who have inspired her and helped her realize her artistic vision. With great poignancy, she also recounts the lowest points of her life, the breakup of her first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of eight of her band members; and the highest, her remarriage and the birth of her son Shelby. Her story is not only a chronicle of a remarkable life but a vivid testament of unshakable determination and faith in God.
Featuring 48 pages of photos, My Story is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved and successful entertainers.
My Thoughts:
Reba is one of those country stars you think would have came up in the fairy tale life that would take her to the glittering lights of both the film scene and music scene but as you find out in Reba: My Story, just like many of us in the world Reba didn't come from the fairy tale life, she had to fight, struggle and scrounge for the place in country music history she rightfully earned.
Reba built her way through good times and the bad and had enough inner strength and determination to continue on and say that she refused to give up on her dream no matter how much sorrow and how many road blocks she came to face.
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews purchased a copy for personal collection. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Note:
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Title: Reba: My Story
Series:
Cover Rating:
Silver Star
Book Rating:
5 stars
About the Book:
With the same straightforward honesty that made her one of country’s top-selling female recording artists, Reba McEntire tells her phenomenal story.
From her childhood in Oklahoma working cattle with her ranching family to her days on the rodeo competition circuit, from her early days as a performer in honky-tonks to her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall, Reba relates her experiences with heartfelt emotion and down-to-earth humor/ With the same warmth and generous spirit that infuses her music, she introduces us to the most important people in her the family and friends who sustain her and the musicians and producers who have inspired her and helped her realize her artistic vision. With great poignancy, she also recounts the lowest points of her life, the breakup of her first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of eight of her band members; and the highest, her remarriage and the birth of her son Shelby. Her story is not only a chronicle of a remarkable life but a vivid testament of unshakable determination and faith in God.
Featuring 48 pages of photos, My Story is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved and successful entertainers.
My Thoughts:
Reba is one of those country stars you think would have came up in the fairy tale life that would take her to the glittering lights of both the film scene and music scene but as you find out in Reba: My Story, just like many of us in the world Reba didn't come from the fairy tale life, she had to fight, struggle and scrounge for the place in country music history she rightfully earned.
Reba built her way through good times and the bad and had enough inner strength and determination to continue on and say that she refused to give up on her dream no matter how much sorrow and how many road blocks she came to face.
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews purchased a copy for personal collection. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Note:
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
June 25, 2020
I actually became familiar with Reba not through her music, but from her sit-com when my kids and I would watch it in reruns. However, she is a very talented singer, and I was slowed down in reading this because every now and then I would unlock my computer screen and listen to a song on Youtube (not all of them, of course), and of course stumbled across her latest video.
Her biography starts when she is small--her dad was a rodeo star, so she grew up around horses and cattle. Who knew? Not me, although no doubt her long time fans know all of this sort of thing. It has a good balance. It is overall positive, but obviously not everything is great (her career had a fairly slow start, she wrote this while married to her second husband, etc) but she doesn't resort to scathing gossip or nastiness. There was also tragedy, but I don't want to give any spoilers, other than the one that was all over the news when 8 members of her band died in a plane crash.
What I would like is if she'd write a sequel and bring us up to date from then until now, but of course that wouldn't be the same kind of tale.
Her biography starts when she is small--her dad was a rodeo star, so she grew up around horses and cattle. Who knew? Not me, although no doubt her long time fans know all of this sort of thing. It has a good balance. It is overall positive, but obviously not everything is great (her career had a fairly slow start, she wrote this while married to her second husband, etc) but she doesn't resort to scathing gossip or nastiness. There was also tragedy, but I don't want to give any spoilers, other than the one that was all over the news when 8 members of her band died in a plane crash.
What I would like is if she'd write a sequel and bring us up to date from then until now, but of course that wouldn't be the same kind of tale.
May 8, 2016
She was honest with this book. I went thru her early days on the ranch, getting started, a plane crash, and the birth and her son Shelby and her raising her son. . I figure there are many very good singers but she delivered on which songs to sing and the musicians that surrounded her. It makes a lot of difference to have a good management team. I wish she did a follow-up book because this was written in 1994. Bravo!
July 3, 2011
It took me two long weeks to get through this book. A biography is meant to be savored and not blown through. I am amazed at her frankness and details of her life story in these pages. Very good positive reading. She seems like a really nice person to know. I truly enjoyed this book. Now I have to turn it over to my wife. She is the one who loves musicians' stories. =)
February 17, 2019
I really really wanted to like this book. I'm a huge Reba fan but this book was just not the best read in town and for the first half of the book I found myself bored. It picked up some in the middle but then again fell flat at the end.
I think this book could have been better but there was just something off about the writing of it that made it hard to connect too.
In the end I'd probably give it 2.5 stars instead of 3. So I am rounding up.
I think this book could have been better but there was just something off about the writing of it that made it hard to connect too.
In the end I'd probably give it 2.5 stars instead of 3. So I am rounding up.
June 9, 2010
Reba's autobiography spans the period of her career prior to when I became a fan of her music, so for me, this book was an enjoyable learning experience. In fact, Reba tends to focus on her life outside of music, during her time working on the family farm and competing in roedos, for much of the book. However, if you think about where her music career was at the time of writing, those early experiences are what comprised the majority of her life.
That is not to say that she does not provide insight into her triumphs and tragedies during her early years as a country music performer. Both her failed first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of many of her band members were covered in depth, as they were milestones. Likewise, Reba expresses gratitude for the accolades she has earned for her music, as well as the greatest event in her life, the birth of her son.
All in all a great read, and some day, I suspect Reba will have enough material to include in a second volume. It should be a happier one, as her marriage to Narvel has held strong and her career has reached above and beyond music and the few movies she'd done to that point. I will be sure to read it if such a book is ever written.
That is not to say that she does not provide insight into her triumphs and tragedies during her early years as a country music performer. Both her failed first marriage and the plane crash that took the lives of many of her band members were covered in depth, as they were milestones. Likewise, Reba expresses gratitude for the accolades she has earned for her music, as well as the greatest event in her life, the birth of her son.
All in all a great read, and some day, I suspect Reba will have enough material to include in a second volume. It should be a happier one, as her marriage to Narvel has held strong and her career has reached above and beyond music and the few movies she'd done to that point. I will be sure to read it if such a book is ever written.
March 14, 2025
I like Reba as she has a distinctive sound to her voice and I enjoyed reading about her life. a very good book. Read this years ago but enjoyed reading it a second time through.
November 22, 2019
Reba has been one of my top favorite country singers and I find her not only beautiful but inspiring. This is a woman who has lived her life over and over again but even with that I was not ready for what this story would bring me, especially as right now I am in a tough spot in life.
Although the book is seriously outdated since it was published in 1994 it is a mesmerizing story of what it was like to grow up on a poor Oklahoma ranch, to have a loving life full of support and to see what it took to get this superstar off the ground when technology was limited. At the same time the reader is given in an inside look into the music industry and as a result you really do get a sense of how little the world is even when it seems so big to the fans.
The writing was done superbly and sounded like Reba all the way - humble, full of warmth, love and wisdom. She is comedic and fun mostly but can be serious when the time arises for it. And even though she mentions that no one should look to her as a role model but set their sights on God for it she just proves how much of a strong woman leader she is and why people continue to look up to her.
I know Reba might never see or read this review but she has inspired me in my own times of need right now while I have been blessed in this telling. And may we continue to see her beautiful growth and outreach to those around her while enjoying her music for many more years to come.
Although the book is seriously outdated since it was published in 1994 it is a mesmerizing story of what it was like to grow up on a poor Oklahoma ranch, to have a loving life full of support and to see what it took to get this superstar off the ground when technology was limited. At the same time the reader is given in an inside look into the music industry and as a result you really do get a sense of how little the world is even when it seems so big to the fans.
The writing was done superbly and sounded like Reba all the way - humble, full of warmth, love and wisdom. She is comedic and fun mostly but can be serious when the time arises for it. And even though she mentions that no one should look to her as a role model but set their sights on God for it she just proves how much of a strong woman leader she is and why people continue to look up to her.
I know Reba might never see or read this review but she has inspired me in my own times of need right now while I have been blessed in this telling. And may we continue to see her beautiful growth and outreach to those around her while enjoying her music for many more years to come.
May 12, 2024
I enjoyed this book overall as Reba tells about her life from kid in Oklahoma to an international sensation.
Growing up in Oklahoma she was on a horse basically as soon as she could walk and her daddy started her working with cattle with her ranching family. Basically living on top of a horse throughout her childhood and then to her days on the rodeo competition circuit. Her early days as a performer in honky-tonks are explained as well as her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall.
Reba is not just a performer but also the owner of many business's both inside and outside of the music industry. She is savvy and surrounds herself with smart, competent and loyal people. She spoke of her the highs and lows in her life and in her marriages and seemed honest about her divorces.
This book read like Reba was sitting beside you talking, it was engrossing and it was interesting. What I didn't like that book was written thirty years ago and as such did not cover the second part of her career, sitcom, and her life. For that reason alone I would suggest looking for a more updated book even though I found this book enjoyable.
Growing up in Oklahoma she was on a horse basically as soon as she could walk and her daddy started her working with cattle with her ranching family. Basically living on top of a horse throughout her childhood and then to her days on the rodeo competition circuit. Her early days as a performer in honky-tonks are explained as well as her many awards and a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall.
Reba is not just a performer but also the owner of many business's both inside and outside of the music industry. She is savvy and surrounds herself with smart, competent and loyal people. She spoke of her the highs and lows in her life and in her marriages and seemed honest about her divorces.
This book read like Reba was sitting beside you talking, it was engrossing and it was interesting. What I didn't like that book was written thirty years ago and as such did not cover the second part of her career, sitcom, and her life. For that reason alone I would suggest looking for a more updated book even though I found this book enjoyable.
October 10, 2024
5 ⭐️!!! I loved reading her autobiography, very vulnerable, honest, grateful, and humble. It felt like she was having a conversation with me. Really cool learning more about her childhood to age 39. She accomplished so much and still continues to this day!!! I would love to meet her someday or go to a show!! Y’all listen to her songs or watch the show Reba on Netflix, love both so much 🤠
May 19, 2021
I had such high hopes for this book, and I'm sad I didn't enjoy it more. I think my main issue was the narrative voice didn't sound authentic (which it usually does in these co-authored and ghostwritten books). There was a great deal of backstory and the book was more a history of the McEntire family than about "just Reba." The lack of inside information that usually comes with these books was missing, which made it fall flat for me as a long-time fan.
April 8, 2022
This was a good book. It was sad to read that her first band passed with the crash. I can't wait until I read the other's she wrote.
March 14, 2024
Youtube
December 28, 2024
I love Reba
November 4, 2011
I've read both books and just adore her too,
I love the fact she was so honest about everything to her family to her plane crush of killing several members of her band, I love how she talked about her son Shelby ( whom now is 22 years old ) and honestly i think she's genuine and real and so modest.. I love her work ethic that she follows in the footstepps of her very own idol Dolly Parton, though she continues too influnce many people around the world like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Patty Loveless,Kellie Pickler,Martina McBride.. just to name a few :)
Go read
- Jaylee
I love the fact she was so honest about everything to her family to her plane crush of killing several members of her band, I love how she talked about her son Shelby ( whom now is 22 years old ) and honestly i think she's genuine and real and so modest.. I love her work ethic that she follows in the footstepps of her very own idol Dolly Parton, though she continues too influnce many people around the world like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Patty Loveless,Kellie Pickler,Martina McBride.. just to name a few :)
Go read
- Jaylee
September 30, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. I have always been a fan of Reba McEntire - her singing as well as her acting. This book tells of her life growing up poor, her love for horses and being in rodeos, the singing she did in school bands, and her becoming the star she is today. It touched on the tragic plane crash when the members of her band were killed, and how her singing helped her cope with this loss. She wrote of the importance of her family throughout the book. This book read like she was actually in the room telling her story. Someday I will get to one of her concerts.
July 16, 2011
VERY INTERESTING book! MY FAVORITE female Country singer. She has a VERY interesting family. And lead a VERY interesting life. The tragic plane crash that killed her band members in the early 90's was just HEARTBREAKING! I didn't realize it happened in SanDiego! I also didn't realize that not only does Reba's current husband, Narvel had 3 children already before they got married, but her ex Charlie had also been married before with 2 boys. And that her son Shelby is now 21?!
August 4, 2015
It's always good and refreshing to read a country star's autobiography. Unlike most of my idols, Reba is not a songwriter, so it was interesting to get the insight from a performer on how she comes about her songs. She is a very talented woman who has had a great career, and at the time she wrote this book she was a legend in the making. Reba McEntire helped to set the bar for current country females, and her innovative ideas broke down barriers and changed country music forever.
August 6, 2013
I had a hard time getting into the writing style of this book, but once I got there, I enjoyed it. There were lots of funny at-home country anecdotes throughout, and I also enjoyed the sense of normalcy in her telling of her life story. There was relatively little drama and I liked that there was such an emphasis in family and normality in her life. :)
June 28, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book. I read it quickly due to being a huge fan and just wanting to know "more". The saddest part was reading about the plane accident that killed 8 of her band members. Her will to never give up and keep, keeping on attitude will stick with me forever. Huge respect for Reba!
February 1, 2016
I have always enjoyed Reba's music. I've had her autobiography for a while and it was after watching a Facebook live video that she did that I decided to pick it up and read.
I'm giving it 5 stars because I believe it deserves 5 stars. It's her story, it's her life and who am I to say it's less than what she says it is. I enjoyed it and hope that maybe one day she writes another one.
I'm giving it 5 stars because I believe it deserves 5 stars. It's her story, it's her life and who am I to say it's less than what she says it is. I enjoyed it and hope that maybe one day she writes another one.
Read
February 11, 2016Good book. She was just a simple country girl who liked to sing. I enjoyed reading the stories of her family life growing up and some of the comical situations from her childhood. You will read about her heartbreak after losing her band and backup singers in a plane crash. She's a very strong driven woman who has paved the way for other female country music stars.
January 27, 2009
AWESOME!!! I loved reading about Reba in her words. Hearing the stories of how she started out and about her childhood growing up on a ranch in Oklahoma. I learned alot about hard work and what you can attain if you want something enough.
January 9, 2016
This book was really inspiring. I love Reba and i am so pleased that i was able to gain some insight to her thoughts and feelings about her friends, family, and career. I learned a lot. I enjoyed this book.
April 29, 2016
Very enjoyable to read the early life story of this down-t0-earth country singer. She is multi-talented and continues to reach new heights. We have listened to her for years and saw a wonderful concert with her maybe ten years ago now. A treat for all fans.
October 14, 2008
Her early life is very interesting but after that it's pretty much just the country singer's rise to fame and fortune.
November 30, 2009
I read this book right after reading Dolly Parton's autobiography and it seemed to be same "rags to riches" story without the humor I enjoyed in Dolly's book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews