If you’re a fan of country music and addictively good sitcoms, you probably have a special place in your heart for redhead wonder Reba McEntire. The 67-year-old singer is widely revered as the queen of country music, though she’s had her fair share of silver screen debuts, too. She starred as Reba Hart in the early 2000s sitcom Reba, and, more recently, in the hit ABC drama Big Sky.
And to think, it all started in 1974 when she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. There, she amazed attendees, one of whom was songwriter Red Steagall. After hearing her sing, Red suggested she pursue a career in country music and the rest was history.
Since then, Reba has won 16 Academy of Country Music Awards and been nominated for a total of 47. Additionally, she’s won 14 American Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and three Grammys (and that’s not even all). As such, we’re taking the time to give the “Fancy” singer our full attention and invite you to do the same. Ahead you’ll find 21 photos from Reba’s past, which, together, only make us even more excited for her future.