When you think of Reba McEntire, you probably picture that fiery red hair, a powerhouse voice, and a woman who seems to have it all figured out. But if you look back at her life, especially the parts involving her marriages, things weren't always as "Fancy" as the song suggests. Most fans know about her long-term marriage to Narvel Blackstock, but he wasn't the first reba mcentire ex husband to walk the red carpet with her. In fact, her history with the men in her life is a mix of high-stakes business, rodeo dirt, and a few heartbreaks that honestly left her "scared to death."
The First Chapter: Charlie Battles and the Rodeo Life
Long before the stadium tours and the sitcoms, Reba was a 21-year-old girl from Oklahoma who just wanted to sing and ride horses. In 1976, she married Charlie Battles. He was ten years her senior, a champion steer wrestler, and already had two sons, Coty and Lance, from a previous marriage.
For a while, it worked. They ranched together, traveled the rodeo circuit, and Charlie was her biggest supporter as she tried to break into the Nashville scene. But as Reba’s star began to eclipse everything else, the friction started. You’ve got to imagine the dynamic: a husband used to being the star of the arena suddenly becoming "Mr. McEntire." By 1987, the marriage was over. Reba has been pretty candid about this, basically saying she chose her career over the marriage because they wanted different things. Charlie passed away in 2013, but he remains a pivotal figure in her early story.
The Narvel Blackstock Era: Business Meets Pleasure
If Charlie Battles was the rodeo chapter, Narvel Blackstock was the empire-building chapter. They tied the knot in 1989 on a boat in Lake Tahoe. Narvel wasn't just her husband; he was her steel guitar player and, eventually, her manager. He was the architect behind the "Reba" brand that dominated the 90s and 2000s.
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They were a powerhouse. Together, they had one son, Shelby Blackstock, who went on to become a professional race car driver. Reba also became a stepmother to Narvel’s three children from his first marriage: Shawna, Chassidy, and Brandon. You probably recognize the name Brandon Blackstock—he’s the one who married (and later divorced) Kelly Clarkson.
The Shocking 2015 Split
After 26 years, nobody saw the end coming. Well, maybe Reba didn't even see it coming. When they announced their separation in August 2015, it sent shockwaves through the country music world. Here’s the kicker: Reba later admitted that the divorce wasn't her idea. Not in any "shape, form, or fashion," as she put it.
It was a "business" divorce as much as a personal one. Because Narvel managed every aspect of her life, she realized she didn't even know how to do basic stuff. She famously mentioned not knowing the price of a gallon of milk or how to pay certain bills because she had a "team" that handled it all. When the marriage dissolved, so did that team.
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Life After the Divorce: Finding Strength and New Love
The aftermath of being a reba mcentire ex husband usually means fading out of the spotlight, but Narvel stayed in the headlines for a bit, particularly because of the staggering $47.5 million settlement and his subsequent relationship with a family friend.
Reba, meanwhile, had to learn how to stand on her own two feet at 60 years old. She took over the reigns of her own business, started signing the checks, and realized she was much tougher than she gave herself credit for. It was a massive growing pain, but it led to a version of Reba that is more in control than ever.
Recently, she’s found happiness again with actor Rex Linn. They met way back in 1991 on the set of The Gambler Returns but didn't start dating until 2020. They are now engaged, and while she’s admitted that her two previous divorces made her a bit wary of "a piece of paper," she seems more settled now than she has in decades.
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Brandon Blackstock: A Tragic Recent Update
It's impossible to talk about Reba's extended family without mentioning the tragic loss of her stepson, Brandon Blackstock. In August 2025, Brandon passed away after a battle with cancer. Even though she and Narvel had been divorced for a decade, Reba shared a heartbreaking tribute, calling him her "oldest son" and saying she claimed all of Narvel's children as her own. It shows that despite the messy endings with her ex-husbands, the bonds she formed with their children remained unbreakable.
What We Can Learn From Reba's Journey
Reba’s history with her exes isn't just celebrity gossip; it’s a lesson in resilience. She navigated the transition from a rodeo wife to a corporate mogul, and then from a "deserted" divorcee to a self-made woman.
- Business and Love: Mixing them is risky. When your manager is your husband, a breakup isn't just a broken heart—it’s a career crisis.
- Self-Reliance: Reba’s "fit" after her second divorce taught her that knowing your own finances and business details is non-negotiable, no matter how much you trust someone.
- Blended Families: She proved that you can love stepchildren just as much as biological ones, even after the marriage to their father ends.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into Reba’s life, her memoir Reba: My Story covers the early years with Charlie in great detail. For the Narvel era, her recent interviews with Esquire and InStyle give the most raw look at how she rebuilt her life. Now, Reba is busy with her show Happy's Place and her life with Rex, proving there is absolutely life—and plenty of it—after being the "ex."
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to understand the business side of Reba's empire post-Narvel, check out her recent appearances on The Voice, where she often discusses her transition to managing her own career. You can also follow her son Shelby Blackstock on social media to see how the family continues to support each other through the recent loss of Brandon.