Is Reba Dead?!
In 2012, everyone thought Reba was dead. The news was reported as a real story by the website, Global Associated News, but at the bottom of the page, it read: “THIS STORY IS 100% FAKE! This is an entertainment website, and this is a totally fake article based on zero truth and is a complete work of fiction for entertainment purposes!” Unfortunately, many people don’t bother reading to the bottom of such articles.
The false news of Reba’s tragic death (having apparently falling more than 100 ft) spread like wildfire throughout the internet. in a remote area of Austria at the time, Reba’s sister immediately called her in terror upon hearing the news. She was relieved when Reba answered the phone, very alive and well. Reba then posted on Twitter telling everyone that she was fine. However, she commented that making fake news and jokes about death is very cruel and is definitely not funny.
Doing Malibu Country
In 2011, Reba returned to television with her second television series, Malibu Country. Reba’s character on the show is Reba Gallagher, who has two kids and was recently divorced because her husband cheated on her (a familiar refrain for Reba it seems?). Her character, Reba, then moves to Malibu, California to restart her music career. The broadcast schedule of the sitcom was every Friday night on ABC.
The television series received a mixture of reactions and criticisms, but with 8.7 million views in its debut season, it was the most-watched comedy show on ABC at the time. After eighteen episodes, the show was canceled eventually in 2013. Another TV series that Reba supposedly would take a lead on in 2017 was Red Blooded, a Southern drama series. However, ABC turned down the show.
Breaking Records
Reba collaborated again with Brooks & Dunn in 2008 for a re-recorded version of "Cowgirls Don't Cry," making it her fifty-sixth Top 10 country hit. And by doing this, Reba broke the record set by Dolly Parton for having the most Top Ten country hits for a solo female. Reba announced at the end of that year her departure from MCA, her record label of twenty-five years. She then signed a contract with Valory Music Group, which is distributed by MCA and Universal Music Group.
Over the twenty years she worked with MCA, Reba was very successful in her music career, sold sixty-seven million records worldwide in total and won two Grammy Awards. Reba was thrilled though to work with Valory, as she was going to be reunited with Scott Borchetta, the label's president. She had been working with Borchetta for some of her biggest hit singles during her entire music career when Borchetta was the senior vice president of promotion at MCA in the 90s.
Reba’s Number One Fan
The year 2014 was a sad year for Reba, as her father, Clark McEntire, passed away after suffering a stroke and going into a coma. During that time, Reba was supposed to have an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Because of the tragedy, on her behalf, Reba was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame by Dolly Parton.
For Reba, her father was her greatest fan ever. Her song “Just Like Them Horses” was dedicated to her father. The music video of that song was filmed at her family’s property in Oklahoma. Reba thought of her father like the horses, running all the way to heaven.
Faith And Good Luck
Faith Hill auditioned for Reba as a touring backup singer, but she didn't get the part. Reba didn't think that Hill was right for the job. Hill accepted the fact that she was not good enough for the part, but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.
Paula Kaye Evans got the job, but it turned out to be an unfortunate fate for her. She died, together with the other band members in that plane crash not far from San Diego, California in 1991. She was one of Reba’s eight band members and crew who died tragically that day. Upon knowing this, Faith Hill still believes that it was nothing more than just a stroke of luck for her to be saved like that. She maintains she was just not a good fit as a background singer for Reba, and that was the only reason she didn’t get hired.