Reba McEntire Still Hurts After Splitting From Narvel Blackstock

Hey there, friends. It's been almost a decade since Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock called it quits, but the heartache lingers. People close to the country music icon say her feelings are still raw, and now, she's convinced Narvel took advantage of their marriage for financial gain. Can you believe that? It's a tough pill to swallow, especially for someone as beloved as Reba.

You might think a marriage that lasted 26 years would have been built on love and mutual respect, right? But according to Reba, it was all business. "Whether we were getting ready in the morning, pillow talk, whatever, but it was business," she reveals. Even vacations, which should be a time to relax and enjoy each other's company, were just another business opportunity for Narvel. That’s a pretty heavy realization to come to after so many years together.

From Bandmate to Business Partner to Spouse

Let me take you back to the early days of their relationship. Reba, now 69, first hired Narvel in 1980 to play the steel guitar in her touring band. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, becoming her tour manager, personal manager, and eventually her husband in 1989. That’s quite the career trajectory, wouldn’t you say? But things took a turn when Narvel decided to end their marriage in 2015. Reba wasn't having it—she didn’t appreciate the way he handled their divorce in any way, shape, or form.

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And guess what? Reba wasn’t the only one who left Narvel’s Starstruck Entertainment agency. In 2020, Kelly Clarkson, who was managed by Narvel’s son Brandon Blackstock, also parted ways with the company. Brandon was Kelly's manager, and their split happened around the same time as Kelly’s own divorce from Brandon. Then, in 2021, Blake Shelton, Narvel’s last remaining superstar client, left as well. Oof, that must have been a tough blow for Narvel’s business.

Reba’s Take on Narvel’s Motives

According to a close friend of Reba’s, she believes Narvel might have thought she wasn’t going to be a big moneymaker after turning 60. Can you imagine how that must have felt? Reba ended up feeling used, but here’s the twist: Narvel’s company took a nosedive after the divorce. Reba can now look back and say, “Hey, that decision didn’t work out so well for you, did it?” Karma’s a real thing, folks.