Reba McEntire’s divorce from Narvel Blackstock marked a new chapter in her life — one that came with a frightening change in her career.
“My manager was my husband from 1989 to 2015. Everybody took care of everything. All I had to do was get up and sing,” McEntire, 70, told Esquire in an interview published on Tuesday, September 16. “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.”
The “I’m a Survivor” singer said she overcame her fears thanks to the “angels” she had beside her, who told her, “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.”
McEntire was first married to steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987. Following their divorce, she moved to Nashville to pursue her music career.
Blackstock, 69, who had joined McEntire’s band as a steel guitar player in 1980, became her tour manager in the mid-’80s. The pair’s relationship turned romantic, and Blackstock and McEntire tied the knot in 1989. He took over management of McEntire’s career through his company Starstruck Entertainment that same year.
Through their marriage, McEntire became a stepmother to Blackstock’s three children with ex-wife Elisa Gayle Ritter: Shawna, 52, Chassidy, 47, and Brandon, who died at age 48 on August 7 after a private battle with cancer. McEntire and Blackstock also welcomed son Shelby, 35.
In 2015, Blackstock and McEntire released a joint statement through her record label, Big Machine Records, to announce that they had separated after 26 years of marriage.
“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” the statement, which was shared with Us Weekly at the time, read. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”
In December 2015, McEntire confirmed via Facebook that her divorce from Blackstock had been finalized that October, according to ABC News.
Blackstock walked away with a $47.5 million divorce settlement, while McEntire gained control of her career’s management, according to multiple reports.
During a 2024 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, McEntire described her marriage to Blackstock as “a situation that was always business.”
“I think it works for some people. They can be married or have a relationship and work together. Our work was all the time,” she explained. “Our marriage was 26 years. We started out working together in the band. He was part of the band, and then became my manager, later on then my husband, but it was a situation that was always business — whether we were getting ready in the morning, pillow talk, whatever, but it was business.”
McEntire moved on with Rex Linn in 2020. Us confirmed at the 2025 Emmys on Sunday, September 14, that the two are engaged after five years of dating.
Meanwhile, Blackstock moved on with Laura Putty Stroud.