Long before she became the "Queen of Country," Reba McEntire got her start singing the national anthem at rodeo shows in her home state of Oklahoma. During one of those gigs, Reba caught the eye of country singer Red Steagall, who helped the teen land her first record deal with PolyGram Records.
Five decades later, Reba is set to headline Nashville's first-ever Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event alongside Jelly Roll and Tim McGraw. Ahead of next week's Music City Rodeo, the "Fancy" singer, 70, shared a throwback photo to social media.
On Friday (May 23), Reba McEntire delighted her social media following when she posted a photo of herself in her rodeo best. The Happy's Place star is decked out head-to-toe in hot pink, complete with a matching hat and boots.
"You know what they say...if you stay rodeo ready, you don't have to get rodeo ready!" Reba wrote in the caption.
The seven-time ACM Award winner is a founding member of Music City Rodeo, set for May 29-31 at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville's first-ever Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event is a collaboration between Down Home, McGraw's Skydance Media-backed entertainment company, and Humes Rodeo.
Music City Rodeo brings all the classic staples to Nashville, like barrel racing, bull riding, and mutton bustin'. Each night will close with a headlining concert by one of its founding members.
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As Reba McEntire has previously said, rodeo is quite literally in her blood. The "I'm a Survivor" singer grew up singing in the back seat of the family car with her two siblings as their father, three-time world champion steer roper Clark McEntire, toured the circuit.
Upon her move to Nashville, Reba carried the incredible work ethic she'd cultivated growing up in rodeo into her music career.
"When I started out in the music business, I didn't know anything about it. What I did know is that in rodeo and ranching, it's a man's world: You insert yourself, you work your ass off; you don't b -- - about it, you don't complain, you just work harder," she told Variety last month. "When I got into the music business, that work ethic was still there."