If you’ve lived through the last decade of country music drama, you know that some breakups don’t just sting—they completely reshape the landscape of Nashville. The split between Reba McEntire and her longtime manager-husband Narvel Blackstock was one of those seismic shifts. For twenty-six years, they were the ultimate power couple, the gold standard of "mixing business with pleasure." Then, in 2015, the house came down.
While Reba has since found happiness with actor Rex Linn (and let’s be real, we’re all rooting for them), curiosity hasn't faded regarding Narvel’s life after the Queen of Country. Specifically, people want to know: who is Narvel Blackstock’s new wife, and how did this whole situation go down? It’s a story that involves high-stakes real estate, a very awkward friendship, and a wedding officiated by one of the biggest names in music.
The Woman in the Center: Laura Putty Stroud
Shortly after the divorce was finalized in October 2015, rumors started flying faster than a fiddle solo. The name on everyone’s lips wasn't a total stranger to the inner circle. It was Laura Putty Stroud.
Laura isn’t a singer or a Hollywood starlet. She’s a powerhouse in her own right—a luxury real estate agent based in Nashville who handles the kind of properties most of us only see on HGTV. But here’s the kicker: she was actually part of Reba and Narvel’s social circle.
Honestly, that’s where things get kinda messy.
Back in 2014, just a year before the split, Reba actually posted photos of herself and Laura hanging out at a Katy Perry concert. They were also seen together at the racetrack supporting Reba’s son, Shelby. Imagine that for a second. One day you’re taking selfies at a concert with your friend, and a couple of years later, that same person is walking down the aisle with your ex.
Why the Relationship Caused Such a Stir
It wasn't just that Narvel moved on. It was how fast it seemed to happen and who it was with. Sources at the time described the news as a "bombshell." In the close-knit world of Nashville, where everybody knows everybody’s business, the optics were... interesting.
Laura had her own connections to the industry, too. Her ex-husband is James Stroud, a massive producer who actually worked on Reba’s 2015 album, Love Somebody. Talk about a small world. It’s the kind of interconnected web that makes your head spin if you think about it too long.
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When Did They Actually Tie the Knot?
For a long time, the public only had rumors to go on. People knew they were dating. They knew they were "serious." But for years, there was no official confirmation of a wedding. Narvel and Laura kept things relatively low-key, which is probably smart when your ex is a literal living legend.
However, details eventually leaked. It turns out they did make it official.
The wedding was a private affair, but it wasn't short on star power. Believe it or not, Blake Shelton officiated the ceremony. Blake has been managed by Narvel’s company, Starstruck Entertainment, for years, so the bond there is deep. Gwen Stefani was also in attendance, and according to reports, Kelly Clarkson’s children were there as well.
It was a full-circle moment for the Blackstock family, though notably, Reba was not on the guest list.
Reba’s Side of the Story: "The Divorce Was Not My Idea"
To understand why fans are so protective of Reba when it comes to Narvel Blackstock’s new wife, you have to look at how Reba herself handled the breakup. She has been incredibly candid—and heartbreakingly honest—about the fact that she didn't want the marriage to end.
"The divorce was not my idea," she told CMT back in 2016. "I didn't want it in any shape, form, or fashion."
She spent twenty-six years building a life and a business with this man. When the marriage dissolved, her professional life was thrown into chaos, too. Narvel had handled everything. Reba admitted she was "scared to death" because she suddenly had to learn how to run her own business at sixty years old. She even joked (with that classic Reba grit) that she didn't even know how much a gallon of milk cost.
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The transition was brutal. She lost her husband, her manager, and a significant portion of her support staff all at once.
The Financial Toll
While we don't usually talk numbers in polite company, the divorce settlement was public enough to raise eyebrows. It’s been reported that Narvel walked away with roughly $47.5 million. When you’ve worked that hard for that long, seeing half your life’s earnings walk out the door—along with your partner—is a pill that’s tough to swallow.
Where Do They Stand Now?
It’s 2026, and the dust has mostly settled.
Narvel and Laura Putty Stroud seem to be staying the course. They’ve been spotted together at high-profile events, like when Blake Shelton received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They look happy. They look settled.
And Reba? Reba is thriving.
Her relationship with Rex Linn is the stuff of rom-com dreams. They’ve been engaged for a bit now, and she constantly glows when talking about "Tater Tot" (her nickname for him). She took control of her own career, proved she didn't need a manager-husband to stay relevant, and is currently starring in Happy’s Place while continuing her work on The Voice.
Is there still bad blood?
Honestly, it depends on who you ask. Reba has always been a class act. She’s stated that she and Narvel are "amicable" for the sake of their son, Shelby, and their shared business interests. But the friendship with Laura? That seems to be a thing of the past. You can be professional without being buddies, and Reba has mastered that art.
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The dynamic with the rest of the family is also complicated. Brandon Blackstock, Narvel’s son from his first marriage, went through a very messy, very public divorce with Kelly Clarkson. Reba, who was Kelly's mother-in-law and remains her close friend, was caught in the middle of that, too. It’s a lot of history to navigate at Thanksgiving dinner.
The Reality of Moving On
What most people get wrong about this story is the idea that there has to be a "villain." In reality, people change, and sometimes they change in ways that don't align with a twenty-six-year marriage.
Narvel found a new chapter with Laura. Reba found a new chapter with Rex.
If you're looking for lessons in all this Nashville drama, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Business and marriage are a risky cocktail. When your spouse is also your boss or employee, a breakup isn't just a personal loss; it’s a professional catastrophe.
- Resilience is a choice. Reba could have retired or faded away. Instead, she used the fear of being "abandoned" to fuel a massive career comeback.
- Small circles have sharp edges. Dating within your social group (or your ex-wife's friend group) is always going to cause a stir, especially in a town like Nashville.
The fascination with Narvel Blackstock’s new wife persists because we all want to know what happens after the "happily ever after" fails. It turns out, life just keeps going. New weddings happen. New houses are sold. And the Queen of Country keeps on singing.
For those following the family closely, the best way to stay updated is to keep an eye on Shelby Blackstock's social media. As the bridge between both worlds, his life often provides the most authentic glimpse into how this extended, complicated family actually functions behind the scenes in 2026.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to understand the full scope of Reba's perspective on this era, listen to her album Stronger Than the Truth. It was recorded during the height of her post-divorce transition and captures the raw emotion of that time better than any tabloid interview ever could. You can also track the latest on the Blackstock family's professional moves through Starstruck Entertainment’s official announcements regarding their current roster of artists.