Reba McEntire Celebrates Milestone Anniversary in Country Music

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Reba McEntire is celebrating a milestone anniversary in country music. The Country Music Hall of Fame member released her eponymous debut album on August 15, 1977. Four singles were released from the 11-track record, including her debut single, “I Don’t Want to Be a One Night Stand.”

McEntire celebrated the anniversary on social media.

McEntire might have been excited to release her first project, but it did little to predict her future in country music. None of the singles cracked the Top 40, and the album also failed to chart. In fact, it wasn’t until “Sweet Dreams,” her tenth single, released in 1979, that McEntire had a Top 20 hit. The Oklahoma native waited until 1981, and her fifth studio album, Unlimited, before she celebrated having a No. 1 single, with “Can’t Even Get the Blues.”

The 69-year-old has since enjoyed 25 No. 1 hits, not to mention platinum-selling albums, becoming one of the most successful country music artists of all time. It’s a success story she doesn’t take for granted.

“I didn’t do very well on my very first one,” McEntire previously told American Songwriter. “If I had started my career today and it went like it did in ’76, I would be home washing dishes, singing in the shower.”

47 years after her debut album was released, and McEntire is still as busy as ever. She just released her latest single, “I Can’t,” along with a theatrical new video.

“I love the lyrics of this song,” McEntire said when she released “I Can’t.” “I love the melody. I really am drawn to minor chords in a song, and that’s what this one has. A lot of people tell me they can relate to it.”

“I Can’t” is the first single from a forthcoming new album. After almost 50 years in country music, McEntire still loves every time she goes into the studio to work on new music.

“Recording this song was a lot of fun ‘cause I got to work with Dave Cobb and his musicians,” McEntire said. “We stripped it down, and then we recorded it and then started adding more things to the track. It was a lot of fun. We had a great time in the studio.”

In addition to working on another record, McEntire is also spending a lot of the next few months on TV. The Grand Ole Opry star will appear as a coach on Season 26 of The Voice, and on the brand-new sitcom, Happy’s Place.

“It’s lots of fun,” McEntire told NBC, speaking of being part of Happy’s Place. “I love all genres of entertainment. But the sitcoms are so much fun, cause it’s a brand new script every week. And you’re just having fun. It’s really hard memorizing dialogue you have to do, but it ain’t my first rodeo. I do love it. And it’s just playtime. We have a blast with it.”

All of McEntire’s music, including “I Can’t,” and upcoming shows are available at Reba.com