Today, Reba McEntire is 68 years old, and she truly deserves all the praise she gets. It feels like she has been part of my life forever, and I still listen to her music several times a week.
However, Reba’s life hasn’t always been easy. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of a tragic plane crash that took the lives of several of her friends.
After breaking into country music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Reba McEntire was named “best singer” for four years in a row by the Country Music Association. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But despite her amazing career and success, Reba has faced many personal challenges. In 2022, her mother, Jacqueline, lost her battle with cancer at the age of 93.
“She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was absolutely ready to go. The cancer might think it won the battle, but we’re giving God all the credit for choosing the time for her to go home,” the country star wrote on social media.
Jacqueline McEntire always dreamed of being a professional country singer, and she was the one who taught Reba to sing, fulfilling her ambitions through her daughter.
“She left knowing how much she is loved, and we all know how much she loved us. We’re all going to miss her, but we have so many wonderful memories,” Reba said.
Reba truly understands what it means to face sorrow and loss.
Thirty-two years ago, on March 16, Reba McEntire lost seven of her band members and her tour manager in a tragic plane crash after a concert.
I remember that day in 1991. I was driving to work and heard about the crash on the radio. My heart skipped a beat when I thought Reba was also on the plane.
But she wasn’t.
Reba and her band had performed in San Diego on March 16, 1991, and were heading to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for their next concert on the tour.
Two planes were waiting at the airport in San Diego. The band members and tour manager flew on ahead while Reba, her husband, and her manager stayed overnight in San Diego.
The first plane tragically crashed just ten miles east of the airport.
Over the years, Reba has often remembered her lost friends.
In a heartfelt interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2012, she talked about the day her band died.
“The tip of the wing of the airplane hit a rock on the side of Otay Mountain, and it killed everyone on the plane,” McEntire told Winfrey.
“When we were notified, Narvel (Reba’s manager) went to meet with our pilot, and he told us what had happened. Narvel came back to the hotel room where I was — it was two or three o’clock in the morning — and he said one of the planes had crashed. I asked, ‘Are they OK?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I asked, ‘But you’re not sure?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’”
Reba had tears in her eyes as she remembered the details of the tragedy.
“Narvel was going room to room with a phone and calling…” she began, pausing as tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry — it’s been 20 years, but it’s just like — I don’t guess it ever quits hurting,” she said. “But I can see that room. I can see Narvel walking back and forth.”
Now, 32 years have passed since the crash. Recently, she shared a photo of her band on Instagram to remember the tragic events of that day.
In 2020, she also paid tribute to her friends.
“29 years ago today, I lost my friends in a plane crash. The timing of Mama’s passing with that anniversary seems appropriate,” she wrote.
“I know they’re all in Heaven together and taking care of each other. Let’s keep finding ways to take care of each other down here on earth and never take one moment with our loved ones for granted.”
Reba’s fans quickly offered their support to the country star. Many sent positive thoughts and prayers.
“Reba, I’ve always loved your music, our shared horse background, and now following you on Insta. Prayers for you and your mother,” one fan wrote.
In 2023, Reba showed once again that she will never forget her friends and still mourns their tragic loss.
“Their love for music and the stage gives us all the strength to go on,” she wrote, sharing a video of the group performing together.
Gal Gadot Suffers Brain Blood Clot While 8 Months Pregnant and on Bed Rest
Gal Gadot, known worldwide for her role as Wonder Woman, faced a real-life battle of her own while pregnant with her fourth child, Ori. The actress recently revealed she underwent emergency brain surgery after discovering a “massive” blood clot during her eighth month of pregnancy.
Gadot, 39, shared her harrowing experience in an emotional Instagram post, set to be published Sunday.
“In February, during my eighth month of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my brain,” she wrote. “For weeks, I endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed. Finally, an MRI revealed the terrifying truth. In one moment, my family and I were confronted with the fragility of life. It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change.”
Within hours of her diagnosis, Gadot underwent emergency surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Despite the uncertainty and fear surrounding the situation, Ori was born safely during this critical time.
Gadot and her husband, film producer Jaron Varsano, are parents to four daughters: Alma, 13, Maya, 7, Daniella, 3, and Ori, now 9 months. Married since September 2008, the couple chose the name Ori, meaning “my light,” with deep personal significance.
“Before the surgery, I told Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel,” Gadot explained. “Thanks to an extraordinary team of doctors at @cedarssinai and weeks of dedicated care, I made it through and began my road to recovery. Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back.”
Gadot reflected on the lessons she learned from the ordeal, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body.
“Pain, discomfort, or even subtle changes often carry deeper meaning,” she wrote. “Being attuned to your body can be lifesaving.”
She also highlighted the need for awareness about cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), the condition she experienced. “I had no idea that 3 in 100,000 pregnant women in their 30s develop a blood clot in the brain. While rare, it’s treatable if identified early. Sharing this isn’t to frighten anyone but to empower. If even one person takes action for their health because of my story, it will have been worth sharing.”
Gadot first announced Ori’s birth in March, sharing a photo of herself cradling her newborn in a hospital bed. “My sweet girl, welcome,” she captioned the post. “The pregnancy was not easy, but we made it through.”
Through resilience and courage, Gadot has emerged from her health crisis with a renewed sense of gratitude, inspiring others to prioritize their well-being.
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