Reba McEntire Shares the Hilarious Gift From Her Sister That Keeps Her “Grounded”
By Website Content Manager
Reba McEntire revealed that her sister, Alice, once gave her a humorous — and humbling — gift: a toilet seat cover embroidered with the words “The Twinkle.” The cheeky present came with a playful message — a reminder from Alice that Reba is “not a star.”
Reba McEntire Reflects on 50 Years in Country Music — and the Humorous Gift That Keeps Her Grounded
To the world, Reba McEntire is a country music legend and television favorite. But to her family, she’s still the redheaded rodeo cowgirl from McAlester, Oklahoma — the same one who’s never been allowed to take herself too seriously.
In her new PEOPLE cover story, McEntire, 70, recalls one of her favorite family memories. “My sister Alice, for Christmas one year, gave me a toilet seat cover,” she says with a laugh. “On the top, it said, ‘The Twinkle,’ to remind me I’m not a star — I’m just a twinkle. It keeps me grounded.”
Of course, despite her sister’s playful message, McEntire’s career has been nothing short of stellar. This year marks five decades since she signed her first record deal in 1976 — an incredible run that includes more than 75 million albums sold, 24 No. 1 hits, and three Grammy Awards. Beyond her music, she’s also become a television mainstay, currently starring in two NBC shows this fall: season 2 of Happy’s Place and season 28 of The Voice.
Reflecting on her journey, McEntire says her success still feels surreal. “Time flies when you’re having fun,” she shares. “I can still picture myself signing that contract 50 years ago. I didn’t know a thing about the music business. I was a rancher’s daughter — a rodeo girl. Leaving home was scary, but I was lucky to have great people who helped guide me. That’s what I cherish most — the friendships I’ve made along the way.”
When asked if her career unfolded the way she imagined, McEntire admits she never could have predicted where it would take her. “I thought once you got a record deal, you had a song on the radio, and boom — you had a tour bus and were rich,” she jokes. “My first bus came years later, and it broke down almost every day. Before that, we traveled in vans, pickup trucks, even horse trailers to haul the gear. I couldn’t have dreamed up what I’ve been blessed to do.”
Now serving as a coach on The Voice, McEntire is sharing her hard-earned wisdom with the next generation of artists. “The advice I give contestants is simple — have fun, and make sure this is really what you want,” she says. “It’s hard work, full of sacrifice and dedication. If you want to be a star, well, there’s a long road before you get there.”
Looking ahead, McEntire says she’s focused on enjoying life with her fiancé Rex Linn and staying present in the moment. “I’d love to see Happy’s Place go for a third, fourth, even fifth season,” she says. “That would be so much fun — and to still be making music along the way.”
While she has no plans to retire anytime soon, McEntire admits she’ll know when it’s time to slow down. “It might be in 20 years,” she says. “Dolly [Parton] and I have talked about that a lot. When she did the Reba show, I asked, ‘Are you going to retire?’ and she said, ‘Why would I? What else could I do that’s this much fun?’ I agree completely. Maybe I’ll slow down, but retiring? Not yet.”