The first plane took off from Brown Field Municipal Airport at around 1:45 a.m. Reba and her husband at the time, Narvel Blackstock, stayed behind for the night. The plan was simple — they’d leave the following morning. Minutes after takeoff, the first aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 125 jet, struck a mountain near the U.S.–Mexico border. Everyone on board was killed instantly.
Among the victims were seven of Reba’s band members — Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Michael Thomas, and Tony Saputo — along with her tour manager, Jim Hammon. The second plane never left the ground. News of the crash reached Reba before sunrise. She later described that moment as one of the darkest of her life — an event that changed not only her career but the entire trajectory of her personal journey.
In interviews over the years, Reba has spoken about the deep emotional impact of that night. “Narvel came in and told me what happened,” she recalled in a 2012 conversation with Oprah Winfrey. “When he said one of the planes had gone down, I asked, ‘Which one?’ He said, ‘The first one.’ I said, ‘Are they okay?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’ And I lost it.”
For weeks afterward, she was inconsolable. The people she had shared her life with — those who had made her laugh backstage, helped shape her sound, and toured the world with her — were gone in an instant. Rather than rush back into work, Reba chose to take time to grieve. She poured her pain into music, finding solace in songwriting and performance. Later that same year, she released the album For My Broken Heart, a haunting and heartfelt tribute to the bandmates she had lost. The album wasn’t just a career move — it was a lifeline. “I had to do something,” she later said. “I had to find a way to honor them.”
For My Broken Heart became one of the most defining records of Reba McEntire’s career. Critics hailed it as one of her most emotionally raw and authentic works. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and went on to become double platinum — a commercial success powered not by promotion, but by the depth of feeling behind it.
Songs like the title track, “If I Had Only Known,” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” captured universal emotions — loss, love, and reflection — and resonated deeply with listeners who had suffered their own tragedies. Fans around the world connected with her vulnerability, and the album solidified her reputation not just as a performer, but as a storyteller of the human condition. Through her grief, Reba found a purpose: to keep the memory of her friends alive through her work. “Their music lives on every time I step on stage,” she has said. “I feel them with me.”
The years following the crash marked a turning point in Reba’s life. She became even more deliberate in her art — more grounded, more soulful, more real. While she continued to produce chart-topping albums and sell-out tours, her focus shifted inward. In addition to her music career, she expanded into television and film, starring in the hit sitcom Reba from 2001 to 2007. The show was beloved not just for its humor but for its heart, with Reba’s character embodying the same strength, compassion, and grit that defined her in real life. Even decades later, Reba has never shied away from speaking about the crash. Not to dwell on tragedy, but to remind people of the fragility of life — and of how important it is to hold on to the people we love.
At 70, Reba McEntire remains one of the most respected and enduring artists in country music. Her influence extends far beyond her songs — she has become a mentor to younger musicians, a philanthropist, and a public voice for perseverance. In recent years, she’s continued to record new music and tour, proving that her passion remains as strong as ever. In interviews, she often reflects on the events of 1991 not as something that defines her, but as something that shaped her. “You don’t get over something like that,” she said in a 2021 interview marking the 30th anniversary of the crash. “You just learn to live with it — and you do your best to make something good out of it. That’s what they’d want.” Her words carry a quiet power, rooted in decades of survival and faith.
Every year, Reba still honors her lost bandmates privately. Sometimes through music, sometimes through quiet remembrance. The tragedy that once broke her heart ultimately became the foundation of her resilience — a testament to her capacity for love, loss, and renewal. Fans who have followed her since that day often cite her grace through adversity as the reason they admire her most. “She taught us how to stand back up,” one fan wrote on social media during the 30th anniversary tribute. “Her songs helped me through my own loss. That’s what makes her a legend.” More than three decades later, Reba McEntire continues to sing, to inspire, and to remind the world that even the deepest sorrow can lead to something beautiful. Her story is not just about tragedy — it’s about survival, legacy, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.