Jacqueline McEntire: The Remarkable Woman Behind Country Music Legend Reba McEntire
A Life Well Lived
You know how they say behind every great artist stands someone who believed in their dreams? Well, for Reba McEntire, that someone was definitely her mom, Jacqueline McEntire. Most folks called her Jackie, though her grandkids knew her as Mama Jac or Grandma Jac, depending on their mood.
Jackie lived an incredible 93 years before passing away on March 14, 2020. Cancer took her, but not before she’d made sure her whole family knew just how much she loved them. She wasn’t just Reba’s mom – she was a teacher, a dreamer, and honestly, the glue that held one of country music’s most famous families together.
Early Dreams in Oklahoma
Picture this: November 6, 1926, in Reynolds, Oklahoma. That’s when Jacqueline Smith came into this world, right in the heart of America where dreams felt both impossible and within reach. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, music was everywhere – on the radio, at church, at local gatherings.
Like a lot of young women back then, Jackie had her sights set on Nashville and country music stardom. But life threw her a curveball. Instead of chasing those stage lights, she chose teaching – a decision that probably stung at the time but turned out to be perfect training for raising four kids who could sing.
Everything changed in 1950 when she met Clark Vincent McEntire. This guy wasn’t just any cowboy – he’d go on to become a three-time world champion steer roper and make it into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Their marriage? That was the start of something special.
Building a Musical Family
The McEntire ranch in southeastern Oklahoma wasn’t your typical quiet countryside. Between the cattle and the constant sound of singing, there was always something happening. Jackie might have put her own music dreams on hold, but she sure wasn’t going to let her kids miss out.
She taught all four of her children – Reba, Alice, Pake, and Susie – how to sing. What started as family time around the dinner table grew into something bigger. The “Singing McEntires” became a real thing, performing at dance halls and rodeos all over Oklahoma.
Here’s something interesting: Reba actually planned to follow her mom’s path into teaching. She even got her degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1976. But then came that performance at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, and well, the rest is country music history.
Equal Love for All Her Kids
One thing that really stood out about Jackie was how she treated all her children. People would come up to her and gush about Reba’s success, and Jackie would get this look – you know the one. “I’m proud of all four of my kids,” she’d say, with just enough edge to make her point clear. “All my kids are good. I love every one of them.”
That wasn’t just talk, either. Jackie made sure fame never divided her family. She celebrated each child’s achievements equally and kept everyone grounded in what really mattered – family, faith, and treating people right.
When Jackie’s time came, every single family member got to say goodbye. Kids, grandkids, great-grandkids – they all made sure she knew how much she meant to them before she passed.
Getting Her Musical Moment
At 91 years old, Jackie finally got her shot at country music stardom. In 2017, she worked with Reba on the gospel album “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.” Not only did she help write “I Got the Lord on My Side,” but she also sang “I’ll Fly Away” with Reba, Susie, and Alice.
Reba tells this funny story about those recording sessions. Jackie and Alice kept backing away from the microphone while she and Susie crowded right up to it. “Get back up here,” Reba would say. “What do you guys think you’re doing?” They’d all start laughing and have to start over.
The four women even performed that hymn together at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville – talk about a full-circle moment. Jackie also appeared in Reba’s music video for “Just Like Them Horses,” filmed right there on the family land in Chockie.
Rodeo Royalty
The McEntire family didn’t just dabble in rodeo – they lived it. Clark’s achievements as a champion steer roper brought respect to the whole family. When he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners, Jackie and all four kids got a standing ovation at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Reba always talks about being a “third-generation rodeo brat,” and that pride comes straight from Jackie. Growing up on a working cattle ranch taught all the McEntire kids about hard work, sticking to your word, and respecting tradition – values that show up in Reba’s music to this day.
Faith and Final Years
Faith wasn’t just Sunday morning for Jackie – it was woven into everything she did. Her Christian beliefs shaped how she raised her kids, how she treated neighbors, and how she faced her final battle with cancer.
Even in her last years, Jackie remained the center of a growing family. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren all knew they could count on Grandma Jac’s full attention, no matter what nickname they used for her that day.
When cancer finally won on March 14, 2020, Jackie faced it with the same grace she’d shown her whole life. As Reba put it, “She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was absolutely ready to go. The cancer might think it won the battle, but we’re giving God all the credit on selecting the time for her to go home to Him.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Jackie’s impact goes way beyond her famous daughter. The Jacqueline McEntire Library Fund, established in her memory, keeps her love of education alive for future generations. It’s a perfect tribute to someone who spent her life teaching, whether in a classroom or around the family dinner table.
Sure, Jackie never made it to the Grand Ole Opry stage herself, but her influence on country music is huge. The work ethic, family values, and authentic Oklahoma spirit that define the McEntire family? That all traces back to Jackie.
Maybe that’s the real measure of a life well-lived – not the spotlight you stand in, but the light you help others shine. Jackie McEntire spent 93 years doing exactly that, and the music world is richer for it.
