Reba McEntire Opens Up About Divorce From Narvel Blackstock, Says She “Was Scared To Death”

Reba McEntire has always been known as one of the toughest and most iconic voices in country music. But even legends face heartbreak. The country superstar recently revealed just how devastating her divorce from Narvel Blackstock was — both personally and professionally.

Reba McEntire And Narvel Blackstock Divorced In 2015

Reba and Narvel were married for 26 years, tying the knot in 1989. Narvel was not only her husband but also her longtime talent manager, making their split in 2015 even more complicated.

In a new interview with Esquire published on September 16, 2025, Reba shared how frightening that transition was.

She admitted:

“My manager was my husband from 1989 to 2015. Everybody took care of everything. All I had to do was get up and sing. When that dissolved, all that team went with him, and I was scared to death. I was deserted, abandoned, and left. I threw a fit. And then there they were, my angels, right there beside me. ‘Hey, you’re learning. You didn’t know how much a gallon of milk was, now you do. Now get out there. You can do it. You’re tough. We taught you better.’”

This candid confession shows how deeply the split shook her. Losing both her marriage and her management team overnight forced Reba to rebuild her life from the ground up.

 

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Family Ties And Tragedy

Reba and Narvel share one son together, Shelby Blackstock, born in 1990. Narvel also has three children from his first marriage to Elisa Gayle Ritter: Shawna, Chassidy, and Brandon Blackstock.

Reba has always spoken warmly about her stepchildren, and she remained close to them even after her divorce.

Sadly, the Blackstock family suffered a heartbreaking loss this year. Brandon Blackstock, best known as a talent manager and former husband of Kelly Clarkson, passed away on August 7, 2025, after a private battle with cancer.

Reba honored him in a touching tribute, writing:

“Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence. There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again.”

 

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Brandon left behind four children, including River and Remington, whom he shared with Clarkson.

Reba McEntire Found Love Again

Despite these hardships, Reba has found happiness again with actor Rex Linn. The two first met while filming Kenny Rogers’ movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. They stayed in touch over the years, but it wasn’t until January 2020 that their friendship turned romantic.

Since then, they’ve been inseparable, often referring to each other as “The Tots” (a nod to Reba’s love for tater tots). They’ve worked together on several projects, including The Hammer, Big Sky, and Happy’s Place.

On September 14, 2025, at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Reba and Rex revealed they are officially engaged. Her representative later confirmed the happy news to Country Rebel.

Meanwhile, Narvel Blackstock has also moved on and remarried. He and Laura Stroud exchanged vows in 2024.

A Story Of Strength And Resilience

Reba McEntire’s divorce from Narvel Blackstock may have left her “scared to death,” but she turned that fear into strength. From rebuilding her career to finding love again, Reba continues to prove why she is not only a country music icon but also a symbol of resilience and hope.