Reba McEntire didn't know if she 'would be able to continue' after 1991 plane crash killed 8 band members
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Country music singer Reba McEntire has opened up about the 1991 plane crash that turned her world upside down and how she repossessed her life after the heart-wrenching tragedy.
The 67-year-old country music icon recalled the saddening plane crash that claimed the lives of eight of her band and crew members in March 1991. The band members were flying out of San Diego after a concert when their jet plane crashed. Gratefully, Reba was not present on the plane as she was scheduled to leave the state the next morning. Mourning their death, Reba told People that she "never blamed God" for the loss but she does "have questions when I get up there."
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The crash claimed the lives of 10 people including McEntire’s tour manager Jim Hammon, keyboardist, and bandleader Kirk Cappello, keyboardist Joey Cigainero, drummer Tony Saputo, guitarist Michael Thomas, guitarist Chris Austin, bassist Terry Jackson and vocalist Paula Kaye Evans as well as the two pilots Donald Holmes and Christopher Hollinger.
McEntire, who was shattered by the news of the plane crash, admitted there were times when she doubted herself and questioned her career as a performer. But she comforted her heart with the belief that they had gone only to a better place. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue," McEntire said. "But it showed me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place."
"From that I learned that you need to take it one day at a time and be very grateful for the things that you have," she added. "Tell folks in your life how much you love and appreciate them."
Trying to cope with the tragedy, McEntire went on to channel her grief into her album 'For My Broken Heart', in honor of those who died. The album was released eight months after the crash and still remains her highest-selling album to date. 'For My Broken Heart' features chartbuster hits such as "Is There Life Out There," "The Lights Went Out In Georgia" and "The Greatest Man I Never Knew."
Then, a month after the release of her album, McEntire starred in a movie titled ‘The Gambler Returns’ alongside her late pal Kenny Rogers. She revealed the experience of the movie "saved my sanity." While filming the movie, she also met her now boyfriend Rex Linn, although the two didn’t start dating until years later in 2020.
"I shot an appearance on the TV show Young Sheldon, which he is on," McEntire says. "He said, 'Let's have dinner when you get through.' And I said, 'OK!' He made me laugh my butt off on our first date, which we didn't even know was a date."
Now, McEntire says she and Linn — who play husband and wife on the latest season of the ABC drama 'Big Sky' — are "pretty much inseparable." "He's the love of my life," McEntire says. "We're a wonderful team."