18 minutes ago, Farewell in tears, Family announced the sad news of Legend singer Reba McEntire
Country music icon Reba McEntire has lived through one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the industry’s history — a devastating plane crash in 1991 that claimed the lives of seven of her band members and her tour manager. Though decades have passed, the memory of that night remains a scar she carries with grace, strength, and deep sorrow.
It happened on March 16, 1991, after Reba and her band performed at a private concert in San Diego, California. Two small jets were waiting at Brown Field Municipal Airport, prepared to transport the group to their next stop in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The plan was simple: the first plane would carry the band and crew, while the second would take off later with Reba, her then-manager Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist Sandi Spika.
But just minutes after takeoff, tragedy struck. The first aircraft crashed about ten miles east of the airport, slamming into a mountain near Otay. Everyone on board was killed instantly. The second plane, unaware of what had happened, made it safely to its destination.
Reba stayed behind in San Diego that night, and the next morning, she received the call that shattered her world. “When I found out, my heart went completely numb,” she later said in a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey. “There were eight of them — my friends, my family — gone in an instant.”
In the years since, Reba has spoken sparingly about that night, but when she does, her words carry the weight of someone who has truly endured loss. “It’s something you don’t ever get over,” she said. “You just learn to live with it.”
The crash claimed the lives of Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Anthony Saputo, Michael Thomas, and Jim Hammon, who served as tour manager. They were more than colleagues to Reba — they were part of her creative and emotional family.
At the time, Reba was at the height of her career, already one of country music’s biggest stars. The loss could have easily broken her spirit. Instead, she turned to the only thing that ever gave her strength: her music.
Just months later, she released the album “For My Broken Heart,” a hauntingly beautiful collection of songs dedicated to those she lost. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling millions of copies and solidifying her status as not just a performer, but a survivor.
The title track, “For My Broken Heart,” and songs like “Is There Life Out There” captured her grief and resilience. Fans connected deeply with the emotion she poured into every lyric, making the record one of her most personal and enduring works.
Even decades later, Reba continues to honor her late bandmates. Every year around the anniversary of the crash, she takes to social media or speaks publicly to pay tribute. In one heartfelt post, she wrote:
“Their memory will always be with me — in my heart, in my music, and in every stage I step on.”
Today, Reba McEntire stands as a legend not only because of her voice but because of her courage. She has built a career defined by authenticity and heart — a testament to her strength in the face of unimaginable loss.
Though time has passed, that dark night in 1991 remains a pivotal chapter in her story — one that shaped her perspective, her artistry, and her unshakable empathy.
In Reba’s own words:
“You can’t forget, but you can choose to keep living — and keep singing for the ones who can’t.”