Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life ‘cowgirl’ on her family’s ranch in Oklahoma before stardom

Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom

As a dedicated follower of Reba McEntire‘s journey, I can’t help but be awestruck by her remarkable story. Born and raised on an 8,000-acre ranch in Oklahoma, Reba was not just a country music legend, but also a true cowgirl at heart. From the tender age of five, she was already working side by side with her family, managing the ranch operations while her father was away competing in rodeos.


Before becoming a legendary figure in country music, Reba McEntire spent time working on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma – her family’s homestead.

Instead of playing the role of a cowgirl as a child, Reba, aged 69, clarified that she was actually a cowgirl herself, given that everyone in her family took part in managing the ranch.

We resided on a spacious 8,000-acre ranch situated in Chockie, Oklahoma, and every year, my dad managed a significant number of cattle there, thousands to be precise.

As a young child of 5 years old, I started helping out on our family ranch, as the artist known for his hits with Fancy reminisced.

If it was necessary for Daddy to have someone drive his pickup truck to transport the grain, he’d simply call on whomever happened to be available.

Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom

Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, a star from Happy’s Place said that he would be eagerly ready to take hold of the steering wheel, while the truck would be shifted into low gear by someone else, who would then jump out and let me drive off.

In a compact, gray dwelling resided Reba, along with her siblings Alice, Susie, and Pake, as well as their parents Clark and Jackie.

There was only one bathroom, but the Turn on the Radio hitmaker said that wasn’t a problem.

According to the Voice judge, it was always a smooth situation when Alice, Susie, Mama, and I were all present together inside.

She mentioned that they deeply enjoyed each other’s presence, as they found themselves exceptionally close due to their secluded ranch location having no neighboring children for play. In essence, this isolation fostered an extraordinary bond between them.

Beyond his duties as a cattle rancher, Reba’s father was an active rodeo competitor, traveling with the rodeo circuit from June through September. Consequently, managing the ranch during these months became the responsibility of Reba and her siblings.

She shared that her father was off at the rodeos from June until September. During his absence, taking care of the large ranch became our responsibility as children.

Additionally, we had help from Louie Sandman, and John McEntire, our grandpa, who was an accomplished steer roper.

Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom
Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom
Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom
Reba McEntire, 69, reveals she was a real-life 'cowgirl' on her family's ranch in Oklahoma before stardom

Before heading off to school, Reba and her brothers and sisters rose early to finish their tasks around the ranch first.

During my teenage years, around autumn time, Pake and I used to round up the horses in a 40-acre area as Daddy prepared breakfast, according to McEntire’s remembrance.

She mentioned that once they had prepared the horses by putting on their saddles, we’d ride back for dinner. Following that, we’d climb into the truck, load the horses into a trailer, and transport them to assist in guiding the cattle towards the designated area where they would be weighed and auctioned off.

‘Then we’d go to school with Mama. She was the school secretary.’

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2024-10-28 21:33

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