The Third Time's The Charm: Everything To Know About Reba McEntire's Fiancé, Rex Linn, And Her Surprising Wedding Plans
The question of "Who is Reba McEntire married to?" has a definitive, yet still evolving, answer in late 2025. The country music legend is currently not married, but she is happily engaged to her longtime partner, Hollywood actor Rex Linn, after a surprise Christmas Eve proposal in 2024. This exciting development marks a new, highly-anticipated chapter for the Queen of Country, who has been open about finding love again later in life.
The relationship between Reba McEntire and Rex Linn, which began in 2020, has captivated fans who watched her journey through two previous high-profile marriages. Their engagement, announced unexpectedly at the 2025 Emmy Awards, confirms they are taking the next step, though Reba has made it clear they are in no rush to walk down the aisle, preferring a "long engagement" and a "nontraditional" wedding.
Reba McEntire: A Complete Biographical Profile
To truly understand Reba McEntire's romantic journey, one must appreciate the scope of her life and career. She is not just a singer; she is a multimedia powerhouse whose personal life has often been intertwined with her professional success, especially in her past marriages.
- Full Name: Reba Nell McEntire
- Date of Birth: March 28, 1955
- Age (as of late 2025): 70 years old
- Birthplace: McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S.
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Record Producer, Entrepreneur, and Television Host/Coach (*The Voice*, *Reba*)
- Family Background: Raised on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma; her father, Clark McEntire, was a three-time world champion steer roper.
- Career Highlights: Recognized as one of the most popular female country vocal artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. She was the most successful female country artist in the 1980s and '90s.
- Children: One son, Shelby Blackstock (from her second marriage).
- Current Relationship Status: Engaged to Rex Linn.
This extensive profile highlights the longevity and depth of her career, which provides the backdrop for her personal relationships, each of which has shaped her life over the past five decades.
She Said Yes! The Surprising Truth About Reba McEntire's Current Relationship Status
The most current and exciting news in Reba's love life is her engagement to actor Rex Linn. The couple’s relationship is a testament to finding genuine connection and happiness later in life, proving that love doesn't have a timeline.
Who is Rex Linn, Reba McEntire's Fiancé?
Rex Linn is a veteran American actor, known for his roles in film and television. He is 68 years old and has a successful career that spans decades. He is perhaps best known for his role as Frank Tripp on the television series *CSI: Miami*.
Linn and McEntire now share screen time in the new NBC sitcom *Happy's Place*, where they co-star, further intertwining their personal and professional lives.
The Christmas Eve Proposal and the 2025 Announcement
Reba and Rex Linn began dating in 2020 after reconnecting following a dinner in 2019. Their relationship quickly blossomed, and they became a fan-favorite couple, affectionately known as "Reba and Rex."
The proposal itself was a cozy, intimate affair, taking place on Christmas Eve 2024 at their Tennessee ranch. Rex Linn had originally planned a more elaborate proposal during a safari trip in Africa, but ultimately chose the comfort of home.
The engagement remained a private secret for a period, until the couple surprised the world by confirming their new status on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards.
Why Reba and Rex Are Not Rushing to Get Married
Despite the excitement of the engagement, Reba McEntire has been vocal about her and Rex's decision to enjoy a long engagement. She has stated that they are taking their time and not rushing into marriage.
The country star, who has been married twice before, has opened up about her desire for a "very different" and "nontraditional" wedding. She is content with their current status as fiancés, famously stating, "God saved the best for last."
This patient approach reflects a maturity and focus on the relationship itself, rather than the ceremony. Their public appearances and work together, including their roles on *Happy's Place* and her coaching position on *The Voice*, show a strong, happy partnership that doesn't need a marriage certificate to be valid.
From Rodeo Champion to Manager: Reba McEntire's Two Previous Marriages
Reba McEntire's journey to finding love with Rex Linn was preceded by two significant marriages that profoundly impacted both her personal life and her career. These relationships are crucial to understanding her current perspective on marriage and partnership.
First Husband: Charlie Battles (1976–1987)
Reba's first marriage was to steer-wrestling champion and cattle rancher Charlie Battles. They married on June 21, 1976, when Reba was 21 and Battles was 31.
Battles was a rancher from Oklahoma, and their early years were tied to the rodeo circuit and ranch life. However, as McEntire's music career skyrocketed—becoming the most successful female country artist of the era—the marriage began to suffer.
The couple divorced in 1987 after 11 years of marriage. Reba has since spoken about the difficulties of balancing her exploding fame with the expectations of her first husband, leading to the painful decision to sever the relationship.
Second Husband: Narvel Blackstock (1989–2015)
Reba's second marriage was to her longtime manager, Narvel Blackstock. They married in 1989 and their partnership was both personal and professional, with Blackstock managing her career for decades.
They share one son, Shelby Blackstock, a professional race car driver. This marriage lasted for 26 years, making it her longest and arguably the most impactful on her career, as Blackstock's management helped solidify her status as a superstar.
The couple announced their separation in August 2015, and their divorce was finalized later that year. The split was a shock to the industry and fans alike. Reba has been candid about the emotional difficulty of the divorce, which she did not initiate, but has since found a way to forgive and move forward.
Narvel Blackstock is also the father of Brandon Blackstock, who was famously married to Kelly Clarkson, making Reba McEntire the former step-mother-in-law to the pop star—a complex family dynamic that has garnered significant public attention.
Topical Entities and LSI Keywords
The story of Reba McEntire’s love life is rich with influential figures and professional milestones. Key entities that provide topical authority to this story include: Rex Linn, Charlie Battles, Narvel Blackstock, Shelby Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock, Skeeter Lasuzzo (a previous boyfriend), *Happy's Place* (her new show), *The Voice* (where she is a coach), Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, and the Emmy Awards. The journey from a rodeo champion husband to a Hollywood actor fiancé highlights the evolution of her world.
The Future: A Nontraditional Path to "I Do"
As of late 2025, Reba McEntire is not married, but she is blissfully engaged to Rex Linn. Her current relationship is characterized by mutual respect, shared interests (including their work on *Happy's Place*), and a refreshing lack of urgency.
After navigating the complexities of two long marriages—one that ended due to career conflict and another due to a surprising split after two decades—Reba is embracing a new, slower, and more intentional approach to her love life. The world waits patiently for her "very different" wedding, but for now, the Queen of Country is simply enjoying her engagement to the man she calls the best thing saved for last.
Detail Author:
- Name : Devin Marks
- Username : elise23
- Email : daugherty.norbert@gmail.com
- Birthdate : 1984-12-04
- Address : 71881 Rebecca Estates Augustusland, MO 78110-0423
- Phone : 539.293.8414
- Company : Kirlin-Lynch
- Job : Forest and Conservation Technician
- Bio : Eveniet necessitatibus ducimus et consequatur. Consectetur cupiditate exercitationem ut. Odit pariatur voluptatibus ut quis et aut. Iure incidunt ut accusantium quis ut.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/borerh
- username : borerh
- bio : Suscipit quia tempora magni dolore eos molestias quos. Est doloremque eos corrupti molestiae qui. Ut maiores omnis similique adipisci.
- followers : 3187
- following : 1269
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/borerh
- username : borerh
- bio : Quia ea doloremque nesciunt et. Voluptatum ullam dolorem asperiores sed id. Nihil eligendi est et.
- followers : 778
- following : 2658
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@borer1996
- username : borer1996
- bio : Occaecati quis quia vero repellendus quibusdam et.
- followers : 1415
- following : 629
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/helene9479
- username : helene9479
- bio : Maxime nisi odio a numquam.
- followers : 5412
- following : 1924
