f.REBA McENTIRE, 70, FINDS LOVE AND GETS ENGAGED — “I FEEL LIKE A TEENAGER” Nashville, Tennessee — Love is in full bloom for country legend Reba McEntire, who has announced her engagement to longtime partner Rex Linn.f
Country music’s beloved redhead, Reba McEntire, has found love again — and at 70, she says she feels like she’s “seventeen all over again.” The multi-award-winning singer and actress confirmed that she and longtime partner Rex Linn are officially engaged, marking a joyful new chapter in the life of one of country music’s most enduring stars.
The announcement came after months of quiet speculation, when Reba and Rex appeared on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, smiling radiantly as they confirmed the happy news. Reba’s diamond ring sparkled under the lights as she laughed with reporters, saying, “I’m as giddy as a teenager. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again.”
According to PEOPLE Magazine, Rex proposed on Christmas Eve 2024 at their home in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, surrounded by friends and family. It was an intimate, heartfelt moment — just the kind of romance that suits the down-to-earth country queen. “Rex is a very tender-hearted man,” Reba said. “He’s loving, kind, and he makes me laugh every day. I’ve never been loved by a man quite like this.”
The couple’s love story is one for the ages. They first met in the early 1990s while working in the entertainment industry, but their lives took separate paths. Decades later, they reconnected in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, and their friendship blossomed into something much deeper. Since then, the two have been inseparable — attending events together, co-starring in the NBC sitcom “Happy’s Place,” and becoming one of Hollywood’s most adored mature couples.
Reba, whose voice has been the soundtrack of American country life for more than four decades, said she wasn’t looking for love when it found her. “I’d made peace with where I was,” she explained. “I have a full life — music, acting, friends, family. Then God just dropped Rex right back into my life, and it’s been the biggest blessing.”
The couple hasn’t set a wedding date yet, preferring to enjoy the engagement for a while. “We’re not in a hurry,” Reba said with a smile. “We’re having fun. It’s a wonderful season to be in — no pressure, just joy.”
Fans around the world have flooded social media with congratulations, celebrating the country legend’s happiness. Messages poured in from fellow artists and longtime admirers, with many calling the engagement a “beautiful reminder that love can bloom at any age.”
Reba’s fiancé, Rex Linn, 68, is best known for his roles in CSI: Miami, Better Call Saul, and Young Sheldon. He and Reba often affectionately refer to each other as “Sugar Tot” and “Tater Tot,” playful nicknames that reflect their humor and warmth.
Reba, who has experienced both triumph and heartbreak in her personal life, has spoken openly about the lessons she’s learned over the years. After her divorce from Narvel Blackstock in 2015, she said she wasn’t sure she’d find love again — but now, she sees her relationship with Rex as a gift of grace. “When you’re young, love is all butterflies,” she reflected. “When you’re older, it’s about peace, laughter, and feeling truly seen for who you are. That’s what we have — and it’s wonderful.”
Her close friends describe the engagement as “the happiest anyone’s seen Reba in years.” One longtime friend told reporters, “She’s glowing. She and Rex just light up when they’re together.”
As for her fans, they’ll still see plenty of Reba in the spotlight. Between filming Happy’s Place, performing select shows, and working on new music, she shows no signs of slowing down. “I love my work,” she said. “But love makes everything sweeter. It’s like I’ve got a new song in my heart.”
At 70, Reba McEntire continues to prove that life — like music — only gets richer with time. Her engagement to Rex Linn isn’t just a love story; it’s a celebration of second chances, faith, and the enduring power of joy.
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