Reba McEntire experienced a devastating loss in 1991 when a plane crash claimed the lives of her tour manager and seven band members. The tragedy occurred on March 16, 1991, after a performance in San Diego. Reba, her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist stayed behind while the others boarded a flight to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The plane crashed just ten miles from the airport, killing everyone on board.
In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Reba recalled, “The plane’s wing struck a boulder on the edge of Otay Mountain, taking the lives of everyone on board.” Narvel informed Reba of the crash in the early morning hours, leaving her in shock. She vividly remembered Narvel “traversed from one room to another, clutching a phone, desperately seeking answers.”
Reba found solace in the support of friends like Vince Gill and Dolly Parton, who offered their bands to complete her tour. Instead, she focused on healing and created the album “For My Broken Heart” in memory of her lost bandmates. The album was a success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Every year, Reba honors the memory of her lost friends. On the 25th anniversary, she visited the crash site in San Diego, sharing the experience on social media. She wrote, “Today is the 25th anniversary of the plane crash. I was overcome by the overpowering impression that people who have passed on know how much we miss them.”