Country music icon Reba McEntire's engagement story has taken an unexpected wild turn. Her fiancé, actor Rex Linn, has revealed that his meticulously planned proposal during a luxurious South African safari was dramatically thwarted by the region's wildlife.
The Safari Proposal That Never Was
In a candid appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Linn, 69, recounted the moment his romantic vision collided with reality. The plan was set for December 2024 during their trip to South Africa, a destination the couple adores. Teaming up with their guide, Mumps, Linn scouted locations for the perfect moment to get down on one knee.
"We were driving back down this road, and over on the left side there was a little body of water down there, there was a pretty meadow, and I was thinking about doing that," the Better Call Saul alum recalled. His guide's response was a swift reality check. "He just looks at me and goes, 'Well, brother, that's an evening migratory walkway for male leopards. It wouldn't be a good time.'"
Linn immediately abandoned the search. "I knew then that I was done looking for another spot. I thought, 'Yeah, you know what, I'll just back off that one.'"
A Homely and Heartfelt Alternative
Undeterred, the Sheldon co-star crafted a new plan. On December 24, 2024, during a stroll by a creek on McEntire's Tennessee ranch, he popped the question. McEntire, 70, described the moment to USA Today, recalling her initial confusion when Linn asked what she was doing.
"He said, 'Would you marry me? I want to cross the finish line with you,'" she shared. After a tearful hug instead of an immediate answer, Linn pressed, "You're not saying anything!" to which McEntire finally exclaimed, "Well, yes! Yes!"
The three-time Grammy winner is radiantly happy. "I'm having a blast. I feel like a teenager again," she gushed. "I'm 70 years old, 50 years in the business, and I'm happier now than I've ever been in my life. God saved the best for last."
From Co-stars to Life Partners
The couple's history stretches back to 1991, when they first met on the set of The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. However, romance didn't blossom until 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their relationship has flourished since.
Professionally, they now star together in the NBC sitcom Happy's Place, where McEntire executive produces and stars as bar owner Bobbie, opposite Linn's cook, Emmett. McEntire also currently coaches on Season 28 of The Voice, which concludes this week.
In a poignant side note, McEntire recently paid tribute to the late filmmaker Rob Reiner, who directed her in the 1994 film North. "I enjoyed every minute I was around Rob Reiner," she wrote on Instagram. "He was one of a kind... What a gift he was to this world."
Looking ahead, McEntire has another reason to celebrate. She is nominated for a Grammy alongside Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson for their song Trailblazer in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1.
