 Reba Nell McEntire was born March 28 , 1955 , in McAlester , Oklahoma , to Jacqueline ( née Smith ; born November 7 , 1926 ) and Clark Vincent McEntire ( November 30 , 1927 – October 23 , 2014 ) . She was named for her maternal grandmother Reba Estelle [ <unk> ] Smith ( October 6 , 1903 – May 12 , 1970 ) . Reba Smith was the daughter of Byron Williams " B.W. " Brasfield ( May 13 , 1874 – September 12 , 1906 ) and Susie Elizabeth [ Raper ] Brasfield ( February 2 , 1871 – April 18 , 1935 ) . Her father and grandfather , John Wesley McEntire ( February 19 , 1897 – February 13 , 1976 ) , were both champion steer <unk> and her father was a World Champion Steer Roper three times ( 1957 , 1958 , and 1961 ) . John McEntire was the son of Clark Stephen McEntire ( September 10 , 1855 – August 15 , 1935 ) and Helen Florida [ Brown ] McEntire ( May 19 , 1868 – May 16 , 1947 ) . Her mother had once wanted to be a country @-@ music artist but eventually decided to become a schoolteacher , but she did teach her children how to sing . Young Reba also taught herself how to play the guitar . On car rides home from their father 's rodeo shows , the McEntire siblings learned songs and harmonies from their mother , eventually forming a vocal group called the " Singing <unk> " with her brother , Pake , and her younger sister Susie ( her older sister Alice did not participate ) . Reba played guitar in the group and wrote all the songs . The group sang at rodeos and recorded " The Ballad of John McEntire " together . Released on the indie label Boss , the song pressed one thousand copies . In 1974 , McEntire attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University planning to be an elementary school teacher ( eventually graduating December 16 , 1976 ) . While not attending school , she also continued to sing locally . That same year she was hired to perform the national anthem at the National Rodeo in Oklahoma City . Country artist Red Steagall , who was also performing that day , was impressed by her vocal ability and agreed to help her launch a country @-@ music career in Nashville , Tennessee . After recording a demo tape , she signed a recording contract with Mercury Records in 1975 . 
