The country queen we know on a first-name basis brings her show to Grand Forks
By Paulette Tobin
When Reba McEntire speaks, every syllable is as down-home as biscuits and gravy, as country as cowboys and rodeos, as mellow as grandma's sweet tea on a Sunday afternoon.
Listening to that Chokie, Okla., hometown-girl drawl, it's easy to forget that Reba has catapulted herself from the queen of country music into a circle of entertainers the world has come to know by first name alone, stars such as Oprah and Madonna and Cher.
That doesn't mean her country-roots modesty has deserted her. Asked where she thought she fit into the big tent of country music with established female stars such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill and blazing newcomers such as Gretchen Wilson Reba turned down the chance to dish on the competition.
"I have no idea," she said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles on Monday morning, where she was taping the fourth season of her TV sitcom, "Reba." "I just hope I'm putting good music out there that people enjoy."
Grand Forks will get its chance to enjoy McEntire's music Sunday, when her tour to promote her latest album, "Room to Breathe," will come to Ralph Engelstad Arena. Chris Semrau, director of events at REA, has seen her show twice this year.
Top-notch show
"I'm excited for the show because of the elaborate stage set-up, and Reba's use of video monitors and top production equipment," Semrau said. "She has a great band, and they have a lot of fun."
Reba, who has recorded 40 albums, broke the record for longest span of No. 1 hits by a female country performer in July. Her span of chart-toppers stretches 21 years, 9 months, from "I Can't Even Get the Blues" on Oct. 2, 1982, to "Somebody" on July 26. She's won every music award imaginable, many more than once. Often lauded for the quality of her story-telling, short film style music videos, McEntire has a separate career as a movie and television actress and was the toast of Broadway as the star of "Annie Get Your Gun."
No offense to Shania and Faith, Chris Semrau pointed out, but they have yet to begin to achieve what Reba has since she released her first album in 1977.
Breathing room
Four years is a long time between album releases, but that's how long it was for McEntire before "Room to Breathe" came out earlier this year. The break from recording and touring did her a lot of good, she said.
"I just needed to get away from the politics of the business, and just be able to chill for a while," she said. "When I came back to the music business, all I wanted to do was just sing. I really had missed it."
Her latest album has resulted in hit singles "I'm Gonna Take that Mountain," "Somebody" and "He Gets that From Me," which is charting now. The album's been described by some as a showcase for what Reba does best sweet and sassy but always heartfelt country.
"A great country song has got a combination of several things," McEntire said. "Great lyrics, No. 1, a great melody and a feel to it. If it touches my heart when I sing it, it will touch your heart, if I deliver the song properly."
After 20-some years of accolades, the music award nominations keep coming. Currently, Reba is up for Favorite Female Country Artist from the American Music Association, and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year. The thrill of being recognized never gets old, even for the queen of country, Reba said.
"Everyone wants to be loved and accepted," she said. "When they say, 'Reba, hey, we like what you're doing,' that thrills me to pieces."
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
When Reba McEntire speaks, every syllable is as down-home as biscuits and gravy, as country as cowboys and rodeos, as mellow as grandma's sweet tea on a Sunday afternoon.
Listening to that Chokie, Okla., hometown-girl drawl, it's easy to forget that Reba has catapulted herself from the queen of country music into a circle of entertainers the world has come to know by first name alone, stars such as Oprah and Madonna and Cher.
That doesn't mean her country-roots modesty has deserted her. Asked where she thought she fit into the big tent of country music with established female stars such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill and blazing newcomers such as Gretchen Wilson Reba turned down the chance to dish on the competition.
"I have no idea," she said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles on Monday morning, where she was taping the fourth season of her TV sitcom, "Reba." "I just hope I'm putting good music out there that people enjoy."
Grand Forks will get its chance to enjoy McEntire's music Sunday, when her tour to promote her latest album, "Room to Breathe," will come to Ralph Engelstad Arena. Chris Semrau, director of events at REA, has seen her show twice this year.
Top-notch show
"I'm excited for the show because of the elaborate stage set-up, and Reba's use of video monitors and top production equipment," Semrau said. "She has a great band, and they have a lot of fun."
Reba, who has recorded 40 albums, broke the record for longest span of No. 1 hits by a female country performer in July. Her span of chart-toppers stretches 21 years, 9 months, from "I Can't Even Get the Blues" on Oct. 2, 1982, to "Somebody" on July 26. She's won every music award imaginable, many more than once. Often lauded for the quality of her story-telling, short film style music videos, McEntire has a separate career as a movie and television actress and was the toast of Broadway as the star of "Annie Get Your Gun."
No offense to Shania and Faith, Chris Semrau pointed out, but they have yet to begin to achieve what Reba has since she released her first album in 1977.
Breathing room
Four years is a long time between album releases, but that's how long it was for McEntire before "Room to Breathe" came out earlier this year. The break from recording and touring did her a lot of good, she said.
"I just needed to get away from the politics of the business, and just be able to chill for a while," she said. "When I came back to the music business, all I wanted to do was just sing. I really had missed it."
Her latest album has resulted in hit singles "I'm Gonna Take that Mountain," "Somebody" and "He Gets that From Me," which is charting now. The album's been described by some as a showcase for what Reba does best sweet and sassy but always heartfelt country.
"A great country song has got a combination of several things," McEntire said. "Great lyrics, No. 1, a great melody and a feel to it. If it touches my heart when I sing it, it will touch your heart, if I deliver the song properly."
After 20-some years of accolades, the music award nominations keep coming. Currently, Reba is up for Favorite Female Country Artist from the American Music Association, and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year. The thrill of being recognized never gets old, even for the queen of country, Reba said.
"Everyone wants to be loved and accepted," she said. "When they say, 'Reba, hey, we like what you're doing,' that thrills me to pieces."
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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