Biography

One of the biggest challenges in life is reaching that fine balance between wisdom and maturity, and youthful exuberance and curiosity. Once that balance is accomplished, the resulting attitude permeates everything you do.

It can be safely said that Reba has reached that point in her life where she has worked hard to prove herself, and has successfully done so to the tune of more than 40 million records sold, and countless trophies lining her shelves. Her live shows are second to none, and her business savvy has enabled her to establish her own multi-faceted music company with Starstruck Entertainment. 

But more than that, she has found a point in life where the "doing" is far more for the joy of it than the proving of a point. "I think you spend a lot of your youth just trying to prove yourself," Reba says. "When I first started in this business 20 some odd years ago, it definitely was a man's world. I had some great teachers and I learned a lot from them. And I'll always be grateful for that education. But I always felt there needed to be a different way of doing things in my career. That sort of thinking takes a lot of energy. But through it all, my saving grace was music. I love looking for songs. Months before it's time to record an album, I listen to a ton of songs that writers from all over the country have sent me. And when I find the song that just clicks, there are no words to describe how that makes me feel."

Her newest release, If You See Him, is full of songs that clicked for the singer, starting with the title track and first single release, a song destined to be a career song. "Ronnie, Kix (Brooks & Dunn) and I weren't looking for a song to do as a duet," Reba explains. "Terry McBride was traveling with Ronnie out on the road and they were using the time to write together for the next Brooks & Dunn CD. Terry heard Ronnie and I sing on stage at the end of our show, and later got the idea for 'If You See Him.' When we all heard the song, we couldn't wait to get into the studio to record it. It is such a powerful, emotional message, and one that so many of us can, unfortunately, relate to. And the best part is that because we are touring together again this year, we will be able to perform it live."

Last year's tour with Brooks & Dunn has the distinction of being the highest grossing tour in the history of country music. That party will continue through the end of '98, giving fans many opportunities to hear the soaring ballad.

Reba has always taken a song, befriended it, then made it her own. When you listen to her sing, you are carried away by her power of communication. The emotion she injects into each song is lethal. If she is singing about a broken heart, there is no doubt of the pain. When she tackles an upbeat, high energy song, spirits are lifted. And if she simply wants to take you somewhere you can leave your cares behind, you're going with her. When you listen to Reba sing, one thing is for sure: this woman loves what she does, and that knowledge is stamped all over If You See Him.

Some of the other standout numbers on If You See Him include "All This Time" and "Forever Love," two songs that will be featured in her CBS movie titled "Forever Love," scheduled to air in the Fall of '98.

"We probably never would have had these two songs, if I hadn't been doing the CBS movie," Reba says. "Our writers at Starstruck read the script and Sunny Russ, Liz Hengber and Deanna Bryant came up with 'Forever Love.' 'All This Time' was written by Tommy Lee James and Greg Guidry several years ago, and it fit the story of the movie perfectly. David [Malloy - her co-producer] calls me the 'Queen of the Victim Songs,' so it is unusual that I had two great love songs on this CD!"

Another song sure to catch attention is "Face To Face," a duet with Linda Davis. "One day David came in and played me a song he and Gary Burr had written," Reba says. "It had a great start and I thought it was going to tell the rest of the story of 'Does He Love You,' but it went in another direction. I discussed it with David, and they went back and wrote what I consider to be the sequel to the duet Linda and I recorded. It was wonderful to get back in the studio with Linda again."

When asked to compare this album to any of her previous releases, Reba said this one falls closest to Rumor Has It. "When I was pregnant with Shelby, I was looking for songs for my Rumor Has It album," she says. "I was having complications with the pregnancy, and was forced to slow down and stay in bed for several months. That gave me the opportunity to totally focus on listening to songs for that album, and I think we found some great ones. I found myself in a similar situation when looking for songs for If You See Him. I had broken my leg snow skiing in December of 1996, and had to take it a lot slower than normal. Once again, I was able to focus almost entirely on finding songs for this album. I think the result is the same. We have found some killer songs.

"I also have a new co-producer on this CD with David Malloy," she added. "David and I are so compatible. He brought things out of me vocally that I didn't know I had! Also we had plenty of time to record this album. We usually go in with the studio musicians and lay the tracks and some vocals down in five days. That's at least two songs a day. Then we go back for more vocals, overdubs, harmonies and then into mixing. With this one, David and I went into our Starstruck Studios with the musicians when we found the songs. We recorded this CD over a period of six months. When we were happy with the tracks and my vocals, we'd go on to another song. I'd live with my vocal for a few days or weeks and then go back in and re-sing it if I needed or wanted to. It was the least stressful time of recording I'd ever had.

"It's so nice to be at the point in life where you don't feel such an urgency to constantly prove yourself," she said. "I guess you could call it a sense of relaxation, although I'm not sure I ever really totally relax! It's also a case of being more secure. Like I've always said, 'everyone wants to be loved and accepted,' and security is born from that. I have a great family, wonderful friends, songs to sing and the ability to take this music and share it with anyone who wants to hear it."

But don't for a moment bet she is resting on past laurels, for you will lose that bet in an instant. Her curiosity still rivals that of any two-year-old. Her proper place as one of the trailblazing women of the music business is most assured. Many of today's newer female singers quickly cite Reba as one of their primary inspirations, not only as one of the purest vocalists the genre has known, but also as one of the smartest business women.

"I have been told that and read it in other peoples' interviews, and I am amazed each time," Reba said. "When you're in the middle of something, you seldom have the perspective to accurately see how what you are doing might have an impact on someone else. I am flattered, and I am proud that maybe I have been able to contribute something to this business, and to the younger people just entering it. If something I went through makes it just a little easier on the next person, that's great! Isn't that what life is supposed to be about: making the path a little gentler for those traveling behind you?"

Reba is also making a credible name in films and television. Her first film, the now cult classic "Tremors" introduced her to the world of big screen films, and won her some nice reviews from the critics. She has also starred in Rob Reiner's "North," and made a special guest appearance in "Little Rascals."

She has done several television films, including one of "The Gambler" series; "The Man From Left Field" with Burt Reynolds; "Buffalo Girls" with Anjelica Huston and Melanie Griffith; and "Is There Life Out There," based on her own hit song. She has also starred in two network specials, titled "Reba Live" and "Celebrating 20 Years." 

In 1998, the singer made lots of fans in the "land down under" when she toured Australia for the first time. She entered as a relative unknown, and left six weeks later the darling of the country.

"We were in Australia a little over a month," she says. "I never got homesick once. Sure I missed my family in the States, but the people in Australia made you feel so welcome, almost at home. It's a huge country and not many people knew anything about me. After the interviews on TV, radio and print, we were all friends and it was exciting to perform my songs for a new audience and see them respond. The cities were beautiful and clean; the beaches and water a sight to behold; the food was excellent; but it was the people who captured my heart. I can't wait to go back." 

Gratitude, wisdom and maturity mixed with youthful exuberance and curiosity: a nice place to be if you can get there. There's a certain little redhead in country music who is happy to show you the way, because she traveled that path and is certain her journey has only just begun. 

Track-By-Track

“If You See Him/If You See Her” (with Brooks & Dunn)

Last year when I was touring with Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie and I did a song at the end of the show called “You Don’t Know Me.” At the time, Terry McBride was going out on the road periodically with Ronnie and they were writing songs. After Terry saw and heard Ronnie and I sing that song on stage, he came back to Nashville, got together with a couple of other songwriters and wrote a song specifically for Ronnie and I to do. So the first time I heard the song, I fell in love with it. We went into the studio and recorded it. It’s called “If You See Him/If You See Her.” I hope you like it.

“One Honest Heart”

This is a song that the lyrics pretty well sum up how everybody feels in life. Everybody wants to be loved and accepted, and this song tells that story. And it has a great groove that goes along with it. It’s called “One Honest Heart.”

“I Wouldn’t Know”

It’s pretty ironic that when you get out of a relationship, you try to move on, go on with your life, try to make new friends, find someone new. But the people around you won’t let it go. That’s the story on this next song—sad but true.

“I’ll Give You Something To Miss”

Haven’t you ever wondered where do the songwriters get the ideas to write a song? I always have. Well, something happened here at the office one day that sparked one of those ideas. Two ladies were talking about this one girl was having trouble getting the attention of a guy she really did like. So the other girl says, “You better give him something to miss.” Well, David Malloy, my co-producer, was walking by, heard that, and went and wrote the song. We hope you like it. It’s called “I’ll Give You Something To Miss.”

“Invisible”

Relationships…That’s something that’s a very special thing in life. Something that you really have to work hard at all the time to make it good. This next song I’m going to sing for you is a song about relationships starting off great, wonderful…then the spark loses its luster. But the lady in the song does something really, really neat. She stays in there and she fights for her man, she works hard at it. It has a great happy ending, called “Invisible.”

“Up & Flying”

This song represents true heartache. And you know, sometimes you just have to bear your hurt to the world, get it all out. I used to shy away from songs like this because I wanted to do strong woman songs, and strong songs for people. Sometimes, you just need to sing songs like “Up & Flying.”

“Forever Love”

This year I got to film a CBS Television Movie Of The Week called Forever Love. Matter of fact, at the beginning, it was called something else. So we had the script here at Starstruck and we had some of the writers read the script. They came up with a couple of beautiful songs that I thought portrayed perfectly. One of the songs was called “Forever Love,” so we changed the title of the movie to that. It’s so funny…if we hadn’t had the script and the story for the movie, this song might never have been written. I’ve always been a firm believer of some things are just meant to be. Thank God this song was written. It’s called “Forever Love.”

“Face To Face” (with Linda Davis)

David Malloy and Gary Burr wrote a song and I listened to it and thought I knew where it was going. I was wrong. But I had a great idea where it was needing to go because this would be the perfect song to be the sequel to the song Linda Davis and I had out years ago called “Does He Love You. So I went back to Gary and David and said, “Guys, what do you think about changing it up a little bit?” And they did and it turned out great. Linda and I are going to have such a great time onstage performing this song. I hope you like it too.

“Heart Hush”

Carole Ann Mobley helps me find songs. She’s a great song finder. She gave me this tape, and I was driving down the road listening to the songs she’d given me. This song came on and it hit me so hard. I played it over and over again and didn’t want to get out of my truck because I wanted to keep listening to the demo. I loved recording it and I can’t wait to perform it onstage. It’s called “Heart Hush.”

“Lonely Alone”

When you listen to a song and you get a mental picture of where you are, or where that person is while they’re singing the song, that makes it more special to you. This next song hit me that way when I first heard it. It painted a very vivid picture of a woman having to make a decision to stay or go. She left. It’s a sad, sad song. One that unfortunately a lot of people can relate to.

“Wrong Night”

We were getting really close to the end of our project. We’d recorded like 15 songs, loved every one of them, but we were still trying to beat some out. So, we were at Starstruck Publishing Company listening to songs and they said, “Here’s one that’s a little different.” They played this song for us and we all went, “Wow!” Totally different than anything we’d recorded and I haven’t done a song like this in quite a few years. I hope you like it. I get a big kick out of singing it. It’s called “Wrong Night.”

“All This Time”

I’ve always been a firm believer that a song will find its home. This next song was written six years ago. When we were looking for songs for the movie Forever Love, it found its way into the movie. It’s called “All This Time”. And you know what…It would make a perfect wedding song, too.