The Best Reba McEntire Songs

She Got Drunk last Night

From the storytelling that Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally so elegantly crafted, to the soft acoustic guitar and pedal steel that dominates the arrangement, this track from Reba’s 30th studio album is a real hidden gem within the genre.

Perfectly delivered by her distinctive vocals, Reba takes a gentler approach than on some of her bigger hits, showing her versatility.

Is There Life Out There

Here, Reba’s trying to juggle work life, family life and her university studies – with a particular part filmed at the infamous Belmont University in Nashville, where many of our beloved country stars studied in real life.

The song is uplifting and inspirational - no wonder it went to number one.

Can't Even Get The Blues

Originally released in 1982, but recently revived for McEntire’s latest project, this toe-tapping track was Reba’s first number one.

It’s interesting to hear the two versions side by side; McEntire’s vocals have obviously matured yet still sound playful.

I Know How He Feels

Reba bumps into a “ghost from the past” at a party with his new girlfriend and he completely blanks her, so she starts mooning over him and salivating just at the memory of how it felt to touch him and kiss him.

“Oh, I’ve been there and I know how he feels”, she belts in the chorus. We’ve all been there, Reba, we’ve all been there. Have another smoked salmon blini and for goodness sake try to stop staring.

What Am I Gonna Do About You

Reba’s in recovery mode again, trying to get over a love affair that ended messily, as she imagines what a world without her ex-lover might look like.

It's all pretty much the same - some kid down the street mows the lawn, her neighbour fixes a roof, a guy at her work keeps hitting on her – but unfortunately she keeps thinking she sees her ex-lover everywhere she goes.

On the plus side, she’s saving a lot of time and money only shopping for herself these days. Every cloud.

Little Rock

We’re going back to the 80s for this no.1, which finds McEntire's vocals at their very best.

It’s a happy cheating song if ever there was one, the clever lyricism subverting the notion; “Oh Little Rock, think I’m gonna have to slip you off / Take a chance tonight and untie the knot.”

Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain

Tammy Wynette was one of the queens of the genre; she knew how to tug on the heartstrings and had a number of tear-jerkers in her catalogue.

This tribute, written by Brandy Clark, Mark Narmore and Shelley Skidmore, was an album cut on McEntire’s 2019 album Stronger Than The Truth.

The raw emotion Reba evokes really brings the lyrics to life.

I’m A Survivor

“I don't believe in self pity / It only brings you down / I may be the queen of broken hearts but I don't hide behind the crown”, Reba sings in this boldly triumphant anthem of self-empowerment.

‘I’m A Survivor’ tells the against-all-odds story of a baby girl born prematurely who grows up to be a “single mom who works two jobs” with “gentle hands and a heart of a fighter”.

Somebody Should Leave

This heartbreaking ballad was released in 1985, as the second single from the My Kind of Country album. It topped the US Country charts, with critics lauding it at the time as the tear-jerking centrepiece of the record.

The prominent swoon of the pedal steel throughout only tugs on those heartstrings harder, whilst the storytelling lyrics poignantly capture the emotional turmoil going on; “Somebody should leave but which one should it be, you need the kids and they need me”.

The Last One To Know

This song, released in 1987, was Reba McEntire’s 9th no.1 hit. The ballad was written by Jane Mariash and Matraca Berg; the latter of whom wrote other major hits, such as Deana Carter’s ‘Strawberry Wine’ and Kenny Chesney’s ‘You and Tequila’.

Somebody

Originally recorded by Mark Wills in 2001, this was McEntire’s 22nd no.1 hit. ‘Somebody’ boasts an evocative chorus that's full of hope; the melodic rises and list-style lyrics backing up the catchy hook.

“Somebody in the next car / Somebody on the morning train / Somebody in the coffee shop that you walk right by everyday”.

It’s an encouraging message for all the hopeful singletons - this story might just play out for you one day too and you’ll get your happy ever after, just like the couple in this song!

The Clown

‘The Clown’ is a track from McEntire’s 33rd studio album Stronger Than The Truth, which was released in 2019. Opening with an anticipation-building piano riff, the song is carried by it's image-rich lyrics; “So I painted a smile on my face / to cover the frown / in that room full of jokers and jesters / I was the clown”.

Yet again, with ‘The Clown’, McEntire has proved that she’s a bit of a pro when it comes to delivering a mid-tempo, heartbreaking ballad.

Back To God

‘Back To God’ ended up being such a big hit for McEntire, that she decided to release it twice. The first time was in 2017, when it dropped as the second single from her album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.

A few months later, she got together with Lauren Daigle; the pair took the duet to the top of the Christian music charts, marking Reba McEntire’s first number one on that chart. They performed the duet at the ACM Awards, with it also featuring on McEntire’s Christmas album later that year.

Cathy's Clown

This classic Everly Brothers song is rather unorthodox and pushes against the rules of popular song writing. McEntire recorded the song in 1989, with it going to number one both on the US and Canadian country charts.

Her vocals are flawless throughout here; her mastering of the melodies only emphasised by the backing vocalists, who harmonise beautifully. Reba manages to really make 'Cathy's Clown' her own, whilst simultaneously staying true to the original.

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

Originally a hit for Vicki Lawrence in the 70s, this southern gothic murder ballad was written by Lawrence’s then-husband Bobby Russell, and Lawrence only ended up singing it when Cher turned it down for being too controversial.

Reba covered it on her 1991 album For My Broken Heart, and took the twists and turns of this intriguing tale of loyalty, betrayal and vengeance up a notch with a stomping powerhouse vocal.

Does He Love You?

The only duet on our list, McEntire recorded 1993’s ‘Does He Love You?’ with Linda Davis. There’s a sort of theatrical element to this track, reminiscent of ‘I Know Him So Well’ from the musical Chess.

It’s certainly one of the most vocally powerful duets you’ll come across; the song is rumoured to have been turned down by Barbara Mandrell and Liza Minnelli.

Davis was part of McEntire’s backing band in the early 90s at the time this song was recorded, and the pair took it to the top of the country charts, winning a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

Turn On The Radio

Reba McEntire rebooted her career in 2010 when she signed to Valory Music, showing the world that she still had all the voice and sass that made her so significant for so many decades.

‘Turn On the Radio’ certainly packs a punch! It became her 25th no.1 on the country charts. At the time, she became tied with Dolly Parton for the most no.1 songs by a female country artist. The song has since been certified Gold by the RIAA.

Whoever’s In New England

Suspicions and emotions are both running high in the title track to Reba’s 1986 album, Whoever’s In New England, as she wonders just what sort of “business” it is that her husband’s been sweating away on up in Massachusetts.

The stormy ballad raced to number one and picked up the Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal, partly thanks to being accompanied by Reba’s first ever music video.

Fancy

Anyone that’s seen Reba McEntire in concert will know her encores are something special. After a quick costume change, McEntire will close the show with ‘Fancy’ - one of her most successful songs to date, but also one of the most controversial of its time.

The song, which Bobby Gentry made famous in 1969, discusses childhood poverty and prostitution. McEntire took it to number eight on the country charts, but despite it not being her highest charting song, it has become known as her signature tune, and is also now certified platinum.