Reba McEntire made one decision about marriage that surprised everyone

Reba McEntire has been America’s country sweetheart for more than four decades.

She’s given fans countless reasons to love her over the years.

And Reba McEntire made one decision about marriage that surprised everyone.

Reba McEntire says "yes" to love after swearing off marriage

The "Queen of Country" shocked fans at the Emmy Awards when she casually let slip that she’s engaged to longtime boyfriend Rex Linn.

During a red carpet interview with E! Online, a reporter referred to Linn as McEntire’s "fiancé" – and neither of them corrected it.

That’s when everyone knew something big had changed for the 70-year-old country legend.

The engagement comes as a surprise because McEntire had been pretty vocal about losing faith in marriage after two divorces.

"I’ve been married twice. After the second one dissolved, I don’t have much faith in… being bound by a piece of paper or a ring," she told E! News just last year.

But here’s the thing about real love – it changes everything.

McEntire and Linn first met way back in 1991 on the set of "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw."

They stayed friends for nearly three decades before romance finally bloomed in 2020 when they both had roles on "Young Sheldon."

And you know what kicked things off? COVID lockdowns, of all things.

A love story that proves good things come to those who wait

The pandemic forced them to build their relationship the old-fashioned way – through phone calls and text messages from January to June 2020.

"We created an intimacy by texting and talking over the telephone that we wouldn’t have gotten if we’d have been together all of that time," McEntire explained. "It was very special. It was a great way to find out about each other without ever touching."

Think about that for a second – two people in their 60s and 70s falling in love through conversation instead of just physical attraction.

McEntire admitted she wasn’t even initially attracted to Linn physically when they reconnected, but their connection was "like a magnet."

"You know the ins and outs of their personality and their faults… You love them for the way they are, instead of it being a total attraction and sizing them up because of appearance," she said.

They’ve been "pretty much inseparable" since June 16, 2020 – the day they finally reunited in person.

Why this engagement means everything

Look, here’s what makes this story so special.

McEntire had every reason to give up on marriage after two failed attempts.

Her first marriage to cattle rancher Charlie Battles lasted from 1976 to 1987.

Her second marriage to her former manager Narvel Blackstock lasted from 1989 to 2015.

Both relationships left her questioning whether marriage was worth the risk.

But Rex Linn changed everything.

At 66, Linn had never been married – he was waiting for the right woman to come along.

And when McEntire realized this man was worth taking another leap of faith, she was ready to try again.

"I’m truly committed to Rex, so if that’s something he feels totally strong about, that’s fine with me," she said in 2024. "He’s never been married before. So if he wants to experience that, I’m OK with that."

The best part? McEntire calls him "Sugar Tot" – and if that doesn’t make you smile, nothing will.

What fans need to know

Reba McEntire proves that it’s never too late to find your person.

After decades in the spotlight, two divorces, and plenty of reasons to protect her heart, she chose to be vulnerable one more time.

And this time, it paid off big.

The couple’s engagement shows that real love isn’t about rushing into anything – it’s about finding someone who makes you want to believe in forever again.

For fans who’ve followed McEntire’s career since the 1970s, seeing her this happy feels like a win for everyone.

Sometimes the best love stories happen when you least expect them.

¹ Christina Dugan Ramirez, "Reba McEntire engaged to Rex Linn after admitting she lost faith in marriage following two divorces," Fox News, September 15, 2025.