And now ... Reba's greatest fits
Country music superstar adds women's sportswear mogul to her long list of talents
MARK PRICE
Country music superstar adds women's sportswear mogul to her long list of talents Country icon supporting gold album "Room to Breathe," which recently produced her 54th Top 10 hit,"He Gets That From Me."
When Reba McEntire comes to Charlotte on April 16, it won't be a singer who steps onto the stage at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
It will be the red-headed conglomerate.
Music is only the tip of the horn for this Oklahoma rancher's daughter. McEntire is also an author ("Comfort From a Country Quilt"), a Broadway actress ("Annie Get Your Gun"), a film veteran ("Tremors"), a sitcom star ("Reba") and lately a women's sportswear mogul.
Her Reba clothing line was introduced just last month at 147 Dillard's stores, and it represents more than a celebrity endorsement deal. In Charlotte , the
collection is at the SouthPark mall store. It's also at the Dillard's stores in High Point , Winston-Salem , Cary , Greenville , S.C. , and Charleston .
McEntire, who just turned 50, says she is totally involved in the line, from approving colors to critiquing the fit on live models.
"I don't have any training in clothes design," she says. "But I've been in the entertainment business for 30 years, and I've seen the tricks of the trade from wardrobe people. I wanted to pass that on to the women of our country."
McEntire worked on the design process with New York City-based Icon Creations, and their intention from the start was to create a line that is classic and elegant, but also versatile and comfortable.
So proud is she of the finished product that McEntire is wearing favorites on her WB sitcom, including four pieces on the May 13 episode and three on an episode to run May 20.
The clothes work perfectly on the show, she says, because her character is a single mom who also holds down a full-time job.
"Busy women don't have time to mess with their clothes, always pulling at them up or down," she recently told reporters in Houston . "Busy women want clothes that fit AND feel good."
She won't be wearing any of the Reba line during the concert in Charlotte, which features Brad Paisley and Joe Nichols. McEntire's concerts are famous for glitzy outfits and multiple wardrobe changes. However, she says this year is going to be different.
"There are only two outfit changes," she says. "I'm 50, honey, and I'm getting too old for all that."
Q. With all these careers going at once, we're wondering if you can even remember what was your first job?
I was a hired hand on a working cattle ranch in southeast Oklahoma . My mom and dad had (thousands) of acres, and dad used us kids, worked us hard and taught us good work ethics. I owe him for that kind of training. That's really behind everything I do.
Q. Dolly Parton claims to have saved all her costumes and has them in storage. What about you?
Good Lord, I give them up for auctions and benefits. I don't keep that stuff. I do have something from every movie I've done, and they are in acid paper, in big Tupperware buckets in the garage.
Q. What's the one popular women's clothing item I'd never find in your closet?
Six-inch stiletto heels. Even 4-inch stiletto heels. Even 3.5- inch. (Laughing.) I asked Dolly one time, "Why do you wear those 3-inch heels?" And she said, " 'Cause I can't find 4-inch heels."
Q. You didn't initially like the designs shown to you by the company that first pitched the idea of a Reba clothing line. Why not?
We had this two-hour meeting, and they showed me the stuff and at the end I told them, "I wouldn't wear anything you'd showed me here. If I wouldn't wear the clothes, why would I put my name on them?"
I didn't like the fabrics. They were flimsy. I didn't like the patterns; they were bold, like paisley, and I don't like prints. I didn't like the quality of the clothes, either. I liked nothing about it.
I told (the company), "Thank you very much, goodbye."
Q. So what changed your mind?
I told them I'd let them know what kind of clothes I liked, and I did that by tearing out pages of books and magazines. I tore out what I liked and what I didn't like. I wanted them (the designers) to have freedom to go where they wanted, but don't do the stuff I don't like. ... I had about a 6-inch-high stack of papers, all pages I'd torn out.
Then we had another meeting, and it was a million times better.
Q. What's your favorite piece in the line?
I've got this one I call "my pretty white jacket," with hooks in front, and it's flying off the shelves. We're talking now about doing it for the fall in different colors, to see if it's the design, the texture or the color that is making it sell so well. I want to continue giving people what they want, just like I do with my music.
Q. Is there anything in the Reba line you don't look good in?
This is a funny story. There is one short-sleeve sweater that is black and it has white inserts on the sides, under the arms. When I saw it on the model, I said: "Turn it around. Let's go with white and make black inserts on the sides. It will make you look thinner." Well, later I see the sweater on the floor and it turns out they forgot to make the change -- and it was one of the No. 1 sellers for us! I said, "I quit. I don't know what I'm doing."
Q. You'll be in Charlotte on April 16 for a show, and we have to wonder why you even bother touring. You don't need the money.
You know, music is the love of my life. I adore the music. It's the creativity. It's a God-given gift, and I love everything to do with it. I appreciate it so much when I find songs that I love and I can't wait to sing them out in front of an audience.
Q. You've conquered TV, Broadway, the music charts and now fashion: What's left that Reba is crazy enough to try?
A vacation would be good. (Laughing.)
Q. At the height of your big-hair period, how high did your hair stand?
I had someone once refer to it as "jacked up to Jesus." It was pretty high. How high, I'm not sure. Two and a half inches, maybe? When I was taking prenatal vitamins, my hormones were raging and it got so big and thick that it took an hour and a half to do my hair. I got a lot of kidding about that.
Reba McEntire with Brad Paisley and Joe Nichols
Country icon supporting gold album "Room to Breathe," which recently produced her 54th Top 10 hit,"He Gets That From Me."
WHEN: Saturday, April 16.
WHERE: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
TICKETS: $29.50 to $54.25.
DETAILS: All Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or
by phone at (704) 522-6500;Verizon box office.
Reba's Hair-story
A look at McEntire's styles through her 22-year career
1983: At 28, a country music gal with big curls.
1986: Closer-cropped curls as she accepts Country Music Association's Entertainer of Year award.
1991: OK, this 'do at the American Music Awards is a little too curly (and is bordering on fried).
1993: Our favorite look: Long, flowing curls. Relaxed. Lovely.
1995: Hello, big hair -- a long-time requirement for female country singers (and some men).
1998: Big hair begone! McEntire's short 'do resembles that of a gymnast. (She's being inducted into Oklahoma Hall of Fame here.)
2001: The days of short hair continue as Reba conquers Broadway.
2002: 46 -- and as cute as a button with this pixie-ish cut.
2004: Longer, softer look with flippy pieces. Very modern cool.
-- CRYSTAL DEMPSEY, STYLE EDITOR
Reba Look-alike Contest
Dillard's at SouthPark mall is holding a "To Meet Her, You Got to Be Her" contest noon to 2 p.m. April 16. The winner gets tickets to the show that night at Verizon, backstage passes and an outfit from the Reba collection. The redhead look-alikes should head to the Reba department on the second floor. Details: (704) 365-3111.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
MARK PRICE
Country music superstar adds women's sportswear mogul to her long list of talents Country icon supporting gold album "Room to Breathe," which recently produced her 54th Top 10 hit,"He Gets That From Me."
When Reba McEntire comes to Charlotte on April 16, it won't be a singer who steps onto the stage at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
It will be the red-headed conglomerate.
Music is only the tip of the horn for this Oklahoma rancher's daughter. McEntire is also an author ("Comfort From a Country Quilt"), a Broadway actress ("Annie Get Your Gun"), a film veteran ("Tremors"), a sitcom star ("Reba") and lately a women's sportswear mogul.
Her Reba clothing line was introduced just last month at 147 Dillard's stores, and it represents more than a celebrity endorsement deal. In Charlotte , the
collection is at the SouthPark mall store. It's also at the Dillard's stores in High Point , Winston-Salem , Cary , Greenville , S.C. , and Charleston .
McEntire, who just turned 50, says she is totally involved in the line, from approving colors to critiquing the fit on live models.
"I don't have any training in clothes design," she says. "But I've been in the entertainment business for 30 years, and I've seen the tricks of the trade from wardrobe people. I wanted to pass that on to the women of our country."
McEntire worked on the design process with New York City-based Icon Creations, and their intention from the start was to create a line that is classic and elegant, but also versatile and comfortable.
So proud is she of the finished product that McEntire is wearing favorites on her WB sitcom, including four pieces on the May 13 episode and three on an episode to run May 20.
The clothes work perfectly on the show, she says, because her character is a single mom who also holds down a full-time job.
"Busy women don't have time to mess with their clothes, always pulling at them up or down," she recently told reporters in Houston . "Busy women want clothes that fit AND feel good."
She won't be wearing any of the Reba line during the concert in Charlotte, which features Brad Paisley and Joe Nichols. McEntire's concerts are famous for glitzy outfits and multiple wardrobe changes. However, she says this year is going to be different.
"There are only two outfit changes," she says. "I'm 50, honey, and I'm getting too old for all that."
Q. With all these careers going at once, we're wondering if you can even remember what was your first job?
I was a hired hand on a working cattle ranch in southeast Oklahoma . My mom and dad had (thousands) of acres, and dad used us kids, worked us hard and taught us good work ethics. I owe him for that kind of training. That's really behind everything I do.
Q. Dolly Parton claims to have saved all her costumes and has them in storage. What about you?
Good Lord, I give them up for auctions and benefits. I don't keep that stuff. I do have something from every movie I've done, and they are in acid paper, in big Tupperware buckets in the garage.
Q. What's the one popular women's clothing item I'd never find in your closet?
Six-inch stiletto heels. Even 4-inch stiletto heels. Even 3.5- inch. (Laughing.) I asked Dolly one time, "Why do you wear those 3-inch heels?" And she said, " 'Cause I can't find 4-inch heels."
Q. You didn't initially like the designs shown to you by the company that first pitched the idea of a Reba clothing line. Why not?
We had this two-hour meeting, and they showed me the stuff and at the end I told them, "I wouldn't wear anything you'd showed me here. If I wouldn't wear the clothes, why would I put my name on them?"
I didn't like the fabrics. They were flimsy. I didn't like the patterns; they were bold, like paisley, and I don't like prints. I didn't like the quality of the clothes, either. I liked nothing about it.
I told (the company), "Thank you very much, goodbye."
Q. So what changed your mind?
I told them I'd let them know what kind of clothes I liked, and I did that by tearing out pages of books and magazines. I tore out what I liked and what I didn't like. I wanted them (the designers) to have freedom to go where they wanted, but don't do the stuff I don't like. ... I had about a 6-inch-high stack of papers, all pages I'd torn out.
Then we had another meeting, and it was a million times better.
Q. What's your favorite piece in the line?
I've got this one I call "my pretty white jacket," with hooks in front, and it's flying off the shelves. We're talking now about doing it for the fall in different colors, to see if it's the design, the texture or the color that is making it sell so well. I want to continue giving people what they want, just like I do with my music.
Q. Is there anything in the Reba line you don't look good in?
This is a funny story. There is one short-sleeve sweater that is black and it has white inserts on the sides, under the arms. When I saw it on the model, I said: "Turn it around. Let's go with white and make black inserts on the sides. It will make you look thinner." Well, later I see the sweater on the floor and it turns out they forgot to make the change -- and it was one of the No. 1 sellers for us! I said, "I quit. I don't know what I'm doing."
Q. You'll be in Charlotte on April 16 for a show, and we have to wonder why you even bother touring. You don't need the money.
You know, music is the love of my life. I adore the music. It's the creativity. It's a God-given gift, and I love everything to do with it. I appreciate it so much when I find songs that I love and I can't wait to sing them out in front of an audience.
Q. You've conquered TV, Broadway, the music charts and now fashion: What's left that Reba is crazy enough to try?
A vacation would be good. (Laughing.)
Q. At the height of your big-hair period, how high did your hair stand?
I had someone once refer to it as "jacked up to Jesus." It was pretty high. How high, I'm not sure. Two and a half inches, maybe? When I was taking prenatal vitamins, my hormones were raging and it got so big and thick that it took an hour and a half to do my hair. I got a lot of kidding about that.
Reba McEntire with Brad Paisley and Joe Nichols
Country icon supporting gold album "Room to Breathe," which recently produced her 54th Top 10 hit,"He Gets That From Me."
WHEN: Saturday, April 16.
WHERE: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
TICKETS: $29.50 to $54.25.
DETAILS: All Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or
by phone at (704) 522-6500;Verizon box office.
Reba's Hair-story
A look at McEntire's styles through her 22-year career
1983: At 28, a country music gal with big curls.
1986: Closer-cropped curls as she accepts Country Music Association's Entertainer of Year award.
1991: OK, this 'do at the American Music Awards is a little too curly (and is bordering on fried).
1993: Our favorite look: Long, flowing curls. Relaxed. Lovely.
1995: Hello, big hair -- a long-time requirement for female country singers (and some men).
1998: Big hair begone! McEntire's short 'do resembles that of a gymnast. (She's being inducted into Oklahoma Hall of Fame here.)
2001: The days of short hair continue as Reba conquers Broadway.
2002: 46 -- and as cute as a button with this pixie-ish cut.
2004: Longer, softer look with flippy pieces. Very modern cool.
-- CRYSTAL DEMPSEY, STYLE EDITOR
Reba Look-alike Contest
Dillard's at SouthPark mall is holding a "To Meet Her, You Got to Be Her" contest noon to 2 p.m. April 16. The winner gets tickets to the show that night at Verizon, backstage passes and an outfit from the Reba collection. The redhead look-alikes should head to the Reba department on the second floor. Details: (704) 365-3111.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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