Reba McEntire reflects on the 1991 plane crash that killed eight band members, revealing how Vince Gill and Dolly Parton helped her cope with the tragedy.<\/b>
\nReba McEntire is reflecting on a traumatic moment from her past.
In a recent interview with Garden & Gun, the 70-year-old musician spoke about the 1991 plane crash which resulted in the death of eight members of her band and the famous friends who helped her cope.
\u00ab\u00a0It was really hard for me to get back onstage, but Vince Gill called and said, ‘Buddy, I\u2019ll be there for you'\u00a0\u00bb, she recalled. \u00ab\u00a0Dolly Parton said, ‘Here, take my band.’ It was such a gift to see how many people stepped forward to help, and to reassure, because so many of us had hearts that were broken.\u00a0\u00bb
Her band and crew members were flying out of San Diego after a concert when their charter jet plane crashed. The singer was not on the plane, and instead was scheduled to leave San Diego the next morning.
The crash claimed the lives of McEntire\u2019s 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.
\u00ab\u00a0I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue\u00a0\u00bb, McEntire told People magazine in October 2022 about the crash. \u00ab\u00a0But 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.\u00a0\u00bb
Following the loss of her friends, McEntire wrote \u00ab\u00a0For My Broken Heart\u00a0\u00bb, which was released around eight months after the crash and honored those who died. The album featured hits such as \u00ab\u00a0Is There Life Out There\u00a0\u00bb, \u00ab\u00a0The Lights Went Out In Georgia\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0The Greatest Man I Never Knew.\u00a0\u00bb
Also in 1991, McEntire met her fianc\u00e9e, Rex Linn. However, they didn’t start a romantic relationship until 2020, after the country singer appeared on his show, \u00ab\u00a0Young Sheldon.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0We didn’t get to see each other from January till June 16 [due to COVID], but we created an intimacy by texting and talking over the telephone that we wouldn’t have gotten if we’d have been together all of that time\u00a0\u00bb, she told E! News in April 2024. \u00ab\u00a0It was very special. It was a great way to find out about each other without ever touching.\u00a0\u00bb
They publicly confirmed they were engaged when a reporter for E! News referred to Linn as McEntire’s fianc\u00e9 ahead of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, and they did not correct it. A representative for McEntire later confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.
When speaking with Fox News Digital in May 2025, McEntire said the two of them \u00ab\u00a0get along in every aspect.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0He’s a better cook than I am, so I like that, for sure\u00a0\u00bb, she said. We love Longhorns, we love the cowboy way of life, cowgirl way of life, and we both got into the entertainment industry.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0He’s an actor. I’m a singer. I love to act. Now we act together\u00a0\u00bb, she added. \u00ab\u00a0So it’s just the perfect union, absolutely. And we get along great. We do argue now. We argue a lot, but we have fun doing that too.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n