Reba McEntire Honors Fallen Bandmates 34 Years After Tragic Plane Crash ✨
March 1991 marked one of the most tragic moments in Reba McEntire’s life, as a plane crash took the lives of eight members of her band. McEntire, along with her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, narrowly avoided the disaster by boarding a different plane. Despite the immense pain, she has continued to pay tribute to her fallen friends, with her most recent post acknowledging the 34th anniversary of the crash on March 16, 2025. She wrote:
“Always in our minds, thoughts and prayers no matter how many years have passed. Love and miss you all.” 💔
The loss was devastating, and McEntire admitted in a 2021 interview with Sunday World that it took her time to process the tragedy and find the strength to perform again. As she recalled, the idea of getting back on stage seemed unfathomable:
“It was such a shock, and it happened so fast that you don’t know how to regroup and get back on your feet, much less getting back on stage.”
However, McEntire’s resilience was bolstered by the unwavering support of her fellow country stars, including Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers, who reached out to help her through the unimaginable grief.
🎸 Vince Gill’s Offer of Help Soon after the crash, Vince Gill reached out to McEntire with encouragement:
“I said, ‘How am I ever going to get back on stage and turn around and they’re not there?’ He said, ‘I’ll get on stage with you, I’ll help you, I’ll play guitar.’”
🌟 Dolly Parton’s Support Dolly Parton, always a friend in times of need, offered McEntire her band to help her get back on her feet after the loss. Parton even sent her piano player to put a band together, ensuring that McEntire had the support she needed to rebuild.
🎬 Kenny Rogers Saves McEntire’s Sanity Perhaps one of the most impactful gestures came from Kenny Rogers. He invited McEntire to join the cast of The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, a made-for-TV movie, which McEntire later credited with saving her sanity in 1991:
“Kenny saved my sanity in ’91 when he asked me to come do ‘The Gambler’ movie.”
This film role marked the beginning of McEntire’s successful acting career and served as an emotional distraction from the grief she was facing.
❤️ Never Forgetting Her Bandmates Despite the invaluable support she received, Reba McEntire has never forgotten the eight souls she lost that tragic day. Whether it’s through heartfelt social media posts or personal visits to the crash site, McEntire continues to honor their memory, proving that while time may pass, the love and remembrance never fades.
In 2016, she shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook for the 25th anniversary:
“I feel in my heart that they know we still miss them so much. My love and prayers to all the families and friends.”
It’s clear that Reba McEntire’s legacy is not only one of incredible talent but also of deep love, resilience, and the power of friendship in the face of tragedy. 🌹
