Reba McEntire reveals why she performed in ‘beer joints and honky tonks’ at 13 years old

foxnews.com:

Reba McEntire has been performing since she was a child, but always with the support of her beloved "mama." McEntire appeared on TalkShopLive with fellow country superstar Garth Brooks, who interviewed her about her upcoming book, "Not That Fancy," which features lifestyle tips, recipes and personal stories.

The book, which features a foreword by Brooks, begins with McEntire reminiscing about her mom, who passed in 2020. "Well you and I are very blessed to have had mamas that loved us, cared for us, and we loved them so much and we miss them so much," McEntire said.  "It was mama who encouraged us kids to sing, taught us how to sing, took us to our singing jobs," she shared. "Thirteen years old playing beer joints and honky tonks, Peg, Susie and I getting up there and singing."  She continued, "And people would say, ‘You’re playing clubs at 13?' I’d say, ‘Yeah, mama and daddy are sitting right there.’ Took us.Took us home, encouraged us and kept us out of trouble.

We were [doing] rodeo, and playing basketball and singing. So mama was there for all three events." McEntire’s new single, "Seven Minutes in Heaven," is a tribute to her mother as well, one that was difficult for her to sing at first.  "Mama had passed in 2020 and so we’re hearing that song and I said I definitely want it but I couldn’t record it, I mean I couldn’t sing it in the studio probably the first two or three times through," she said. "I got so choked up because if I had seven minutes in heaven, I know exactly what I’d do.

I would pass by all of the formal introductions," she continued, her voice cracking, "and go find Mama and sit down and ask her if she gets to go fishing up in heaven and then I’d say I’ll come back and see you soon." Brooks agreed.