In March 1991, country music icon Reba McEntire was plunged into a profound depression following a devastating tragedy that claimed the lives of eight members of her touring band. The fatal plane crash occurred just ten minutes after takeoff from San Diego, when the aircraft's wing struck the side of Otay Mountain in California.
Investigation Blames Pilot Error
The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a thorough investigation into the accident, ultimately holding the late pilot Donald Holmes and co-pilot Chris Hollinger responsible. The official report cited improper flight planning due to a lack of familiarity with the challenging mountainous terrain as the primary cause of the crash.
The Fallen Musicians
The 70-year-old singer, now reflecting on those painful memories, lost cherished colleagues and friends in the disaster. The victims included guitarists Chris Austin and Michael Thomas, keyboardists Kirk Cappello and Joey Cigainero, vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, bassist Terry Jackson, drummer Anthony Saputo, and road manager Jim Hammon.
McEntire, her then-husband and manager Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist had fortunately taken a separate private plane from San Diego to Nashville that day, escaping the tragedy that befell her band.
The Struggle to Return to the Stage
'It was really hard for me to get back onstage,' the three-time Grammy winner confessed in a recent interview with Garden & Gun magazine. 'But Vince Gill called and said, "Buddy, I'll be there for you." Dolly Parton said, "Here, take my band." It was such a gift to see how many people stepped forward to help, and to reassure, because so many of us had hearts that were broken.'
McEntire, who dedicated her 1991 album For My Broken Heart to her late band members, shared her philosophy on processing grief. 'You have to look at it as something that has happened. Now, how are you going to deal with it?' The Oklahoma native explained that through prayer, she came to realize that while the past cannot be changed, moving forward is essential. 'You might as well move forward, and find something to occupy your time. Go work, go do something else.'
Enduring Friendship with Dolly Parton
The bond between McEntire and fellow country legend Dolly Parton has remained strong over the decades. Recently, McEntire publicly wished Parton a happy 80th birthday, writing: 'I love you to pieces and I'm so thankful for all these years of memories we've shared. Can't wait to make many more together!'
Parton, who is only a Tony Award away from achieving EGOT status, celebrated her milestone birthday with surprises including a birthday cake and a bagpipe serenade arranged by U2 frontman Bono. The iconic singer also enlisted McEntire to contribute vocals to a new version of her 1977 song Light of a Clear Blue Morning, alongside her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, and pianist David Foster. All proceeds from this recording benefit pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
A Collaborative History
The musical partnership between these two country powerhouses dates back years. Parton had the honour of inducting McEntire into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011, and they collaborated on a 2021 version of McEntire's 1993 hit Does He Love You. While Parton has achieved 25 number one songs on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, McEntire has garnered an impressive 24 chart-toppers.
Current Projects and Recognition
Despite the passage of time, McEntire continues to honour her late band's memory while pursuing new creative endeavours. She is set to rerelease her 1995 album Starting Over, and currently executive produces and stars as Knoxville bar owner Bobbie in the second season of the sitcom Happy's Place, which airs Fridays on NBC. In the show, she appears opposite her fiancé Rex Linn, who plays cook Emmett.
McEntire's musical achievements continue to be recognised, as she, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson are nominated for the best country duo/group performance Grammy for their song Trailblazer at the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards. They face stiff competition from fellow nominees including Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, George Strait & Chris Stapleton, Margo Price & Tyler Childers, and Shaboozey & Jelly Roll.
Meanwhile, Dolly Parton has postponed her six-date Las Vegas residency, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace's Colosseum until September due to health reasons. This comes as March 3 marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Parton's husband Carl Dean, who passed away at age 82 after nearly 59 years of marriage.
