Reba McEntire Almost Quit Country Music After 1991 Plane Crash
The singer makes shocking revelation: "By the grace of God and my faith, I realized they went to a better place."
Can you imagine the world of country music without Reba McEntire? Well, that almost happened. Thirty-one years ago, McEntire says she was on the brink of leaving her successful career behind after a deadly plane crash took the lives of her seven bandmates and tour manager. In a new interview with People, the “I’m a Survivor” singer is looking back on the 1991 tragedy and how her faith got her through it.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue,” McEntire revealed. The airplane, which departed from San Diego, was one of two private aircrafts the star had chartered to transport her band and crew members to the next concert venue. She was booked to fly out the following morning, on the second plane.
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Though McEntire “never blamed God” for what happened, she does have a few questions for the man upstairs that she plans on asking him “when I get up there.”
“But it showed me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place,” she said of her late friends. “From that I learned that you need to take it one day at a time and be very grateful for the things that you have.”
On that note, she adds: “Tell folks in your life how much you love and appreciate them.”
Later that year, in October, McEntire dropped “For My Broken Heart,” which went on to become her highest-selling album ever. She dedicated the record to her late tour manager and band members. The title track in particular is about grief and McEntire’s life after the accident.
