By Michaela Gordoni
Reba McEntire loved Merle Haggard, but she never wanted to meet him.
“I never wanted to meet my heroes, because I didn’t want them to disappoint me — ever,” she said in a “Behind the Mic” episode of THE VOICE on social media.
“I was doing shows with Merle Haggard, and I did not want to meet him, because I didn’t want to be disappointed, because I’d looked up to him for so long,” McEntire recalled. “And when I did, he was the nicest, most cordial gentleman. And just…I was like ‘phew!’”
She added some other country legends, like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and others, were all very sweet.
“My first big concert was Merle Haggard and the Strangers,” she said previously. “We all looked up to Merle Haggard.”
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“And it was a thrill in my life when I got to work with him on the road. We won state in 4-H club Share of the Fun contest singing ‘Okie from Muskogee,’” she said.
She thought of him as part of her family.
“I remember when he was winning all the CMA awards for ‘Okie from Muskogee,’ I went to bed that night and rehearsed my acceptance speech. He inspired me so much.”
The Oklahoman announced on April 9 that McEntire is one of the nominees for the 61st Academy Country Music Awards for her song with Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson, “Trailblazer.”
McEntire shared on Instagram, “From debuting the song together at last year’s #ACMawards, to now being nominated, #Trailblazer has had such an amazing ride. So thrilled to receive this @acmawards nomination alongside @mirandalambert & @laineywilson!”
McEntire just turned 71 on March 28.
She shared, “I have to put my 71st birthday as the best birthday of my entire life… I had a blast celebrating in Las Vegas. The @cirquedusoleil ‘O’ show did not disappoint. I’ve seen it so many times. It is the best!!!”
“Also getting to see the Wizard of Oz at the @spherevegas was out of this world!!! Absolutely nothing like it! But the highlight of this birthday trip was definitely going to see, for the second time, @eagles at the Sphere!! Best show ever!!!!!”
She spent her time in Las Vegas with her fiancé, Rex Linn, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Vince Gill.
She added, “@rexlinn13 knocked it out out of the ballpark this year and is already planning next year’s birthday:))))🎂”
She got many birthday wishes from her peers, including Melissa Peterman, John Legend, Leanne Morgan and others.
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