Country music legend Reba McEntire has faced unimaginable tragedy, despite her superstar status. In 1991, a devastating plane crash took the lives of her trusted tour manager and seven beloved band members.
On March 16, 1991, after a thrilling performance in San Diego, Reba and her team prepared to travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for their next show. However, fate had other plans.
Reba, her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, and stylist Sandi Spika spent the night in San Diego, while the band and tour manager boarded the first plane. Tragically, it collided with Otay Mountain, killing everyone on board.
Reba shared her emotional story with Oprah Winfrey in 2012. Narvel delivered the heartbreaking news, saying, “I don’t think so,” when Reba asked about their friends’ fate.
Reba found solace in friends Vince Gill and Dolly Parton, who offered their bands to finish the tour. Instead, Reba poured her heart into her album “For My Broken Heart,” a tribute to her lost bandmates.
The album achieved immense success, selling four million copies and topping the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Each year, Reba honors her fallen band members on the anniversary of the tragedy. She shares heartfelt tributes on social media, touching the hearts of her followers.
In 2016, Reba returned to San Diego for the 25th anniversary, sharing her emotional journey on social media.
“Today marks 25 years since the fatal crash,” Reba wrote. “I returned to San Diego and took a helicopter to the crash site… feeling overwhelmed, knowing those we lost know how much we miss them.”
Reba’s enduring tribute ensures her band members’ memories live on, inspiring fans with her resilience and love.
