Reba McEntire, 70, Reveals the Near-Fatal Accident That Almost Stole Her Voice — and the Powerful Reason She Refuses to Stop Singing After 40 Years.LC
On September 2, 2025, the country music world was set ablaze when legend Reba McEntire, 70, revealed a gut-wrenching secret about a horrific accident in her youth that nearly left her paralyzed and derailed her stage dreams forever. In an exclusive interview with People, the queen of country bared her soul about her journey through adversity, from her early days in Oklahoma to global stardom with 3 Grammys and 24 No. 1 Billboard Country hits. Her story, paired with her timeless voice in hits like Fancy and Is There Life Out There, has left millions of fans in tears, sending #RebaStrong to the top 5 global trends on X with over 1.8 million posts in 24 hours. Her longtime partner, Narvel Blackstock, who’s stood by her through over three decades of highs and lows, couldn’t hold back emotions as she recounted her ordeal, stunning audiences worldwide. But what drives McEntire to keep singing despite fragile health, and is she plotting a new tour or crafting her final legacy?
Reba McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, into a rodeo and music-loving family, singing from childhood with her siblings in The Singing McEntires. At 19, a catastrophic accident during a rodeo performance—a fall from a horse causing severe spinal injuries—nearly ended it all. “I thought I’d never walk again, let alone stand on a stage,” McEntire shared, her voice breaking. During months in the hospital, she learned to embrace pain and channel it into music, starting to write songs that shaped her resilient spirit. “That pain gave me depth. I couldn’t sing Fancy the way I do now without those dark days,” she said.
McEntire’s career is a saga of inspiration, from small Nashville stages to global tours, with over 60 million records sold and hosting gigs at the CMA Awards. But she’s candid about recent health struggles, including vocal strain and age-related decline. In the interview, she confessed: “Some days, I thought I couldn’t sing anymore. But music is my medicine. It heals me, and I want it to heal others.” Her latest album, Stronger Than the Truth (2019), written partly during health recovery, earned praise for its raw emotion. A recent Fancy performance at a charity event had audiences on their feet, with a YouTube clip hitting 2 million views.
Narvel Blackstock, McEntire’s partner and former manager, witnessed her grit firsthand. During the interview, he sat beside her, eyes welling as she recounted the accident and days she thought were her last. “Reba’s the strongest fighter I know,” Blackstock said. “She doesn’t just sing for herself—she sings for everyone needing hope.” Their love story, surviving a 2015 divorce and later reconciliation, is a testament to endurance, making this moment deeply moving. Fans on X flooded with #RebaNarvel posts, praising Blackstock’s devotion, with one user writing: “Seeing Narvel cry for Reba shows their profound love. She’s an inspiration to us all.”
Despite health setbacks, McEntire remains unstoppable. She recently wrapped filming for Happy’s Place and is reportedly mulling a 2026 tour, per Variety sources. Rolling Stone critics call her story “a powerful testament to country music’s resilience,” especially as she continues inspiring through songs about life and grit. Yet, some Reddit fans worry her age and health could signal a stage farewell, with one user writing: “Reba still sings like an angel, but I’m scared these might be her final years performing.” McEntire dismisses this, declaring: “As long as I have breath, I’ll sing. It’s how I live, and it’s how I want to be remembered.”
Reba McEntire’s story transcends music—it’s about unyielding spirit in adversity. From an Oklahoma girl nearly broken by an accident to a country queen with an immortal legacy, her journey has touched millions. Will she conquer audiences again with a new tour? Or is this the final chapter of her legendary career? One thing’s certain: Fancy’s voice and McEntire’s spirit will forever ignite inspiration, keeping fans worldwide glued to her every move.
