Reba McEntire Recounts Terrifying Career Shift After Divorce From Manager Husband
The dissolution of Reba McEntire’s marriage to Narvel Blackstock ushered in a significant new phase for her, bringing with it an alarming shift in her professional life.
“From 1989 to 2015, my husband also served as my manager. Everything was handled for me; my sole responsibility was to perform,” McEntire, now 70, revealed to Esquire in a Tuesday, September 16 interview. “Once our relationship ended, that entire support team departed with him, leaving me utterly terrified. I felt deserted, abandoned, and isolated. I reacted strongly.”
The artist behind “I’m a Survivor” explained that she conquered her anxieties with the help of supportive “angels” in her life, who encouraged her by saying, “Listen, you’re gaining experience. You used to be unaware of the cost of everyday items like milk, but now you know. So go forward. You are capable. You possess strength. We raised you to be resilient.”
McEntire’s initial marriage was to steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles, lasting from 1976 to 1987. After their separation, she relocated to Nashville to further her musical aspirations.
A Chronology of Reba McEntire’s Relationship with Former Husband Narvel Blackstock
Blackstock, currently 69, originally became a steel guitar player in McEntire’s band in 1980, subsequently transitioning to her tour manager by the mid-1980s. Their professional connection evolved into a romantic one, culminating in Blackstock and McEntire marrying in 1989. That same year, he assumed control of McEntire’s career management via his firm, Starstruck Entertainment.
During their union, McEntire became a stepmother to the three children Blackstock shared with his former wife, Elisa Gayle Ritter: Shawna, 52, Chassidy, 47, and Brandon, who passed away on August 7 at 48 following a private struggle with cancer. Additionally, McEntire and Blackstock had a son together, Shelby, 35.
By 2015, Blackstock and McEntire issued a shared declaration through her label, Big Machine Records, disclosing their separation following 26 years as a married couple.
“Even though their marriage is concluding, they maintain mutual support,” the announcement, originally provided to Us Weekly, stated. “Having collaborated for 35 years, they intend to keep doing so. They have requested privacy during this period.”
According to ABC News, McEntire confirmed on Facebook in December 2015 that her divorce from Blackstock had been finalized back in October of that year.
Multiple sources indicate that Blackstock received a divorce settlement of $47.5 million, whereas McEntire acquired direct oversight of her professional management.
While appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2024, McEntire characterized her union with Blackstock as "a relationship consistently defined by business."
Reflecting on Brandon Blackstock’s Connection with His Former Stepmother, Reba McEntire
“I believe this arrangement can suit certain individuals. They might be married or in a relationship and also collaborate professionally. For us, work was ceaseless,” she clarified. “Our marriage spanned 26 years. We initially began as colleagues in the band. He was a band member, subsequently became my manager, and then my husband, yet the dynamic perpetually revolved around business — whether it was during morning preparations, intimate conversations, or anything else, it remained a business arrangement.”
McEntire subsequently entered a relationship with Rex Linn in 2020. Us reported during the 2025 Emmys on Sunday, September 14, that the couple has become engaged after five years together.
Conversely, Blackstock began a new relationship with Laura Putty Stroud.
