Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Country Star Reflects on 1991 Plane Crash That Claimed Eight Band Members and Crew in New Interview
Reba McEntire is opening up about one of the most heartbreaking moments of her life.
In a recent interview with Garden & Gun, the 70-year-old country icon reflected on the 1991 plane crash that claimed the lives of eight members of her band, as well as the support she received from close friends in its aftermath.
“It was really hard for me to get back onstage, but Vince Gill called and said, ‘Buddy, I’ll be there for you,’” McEntire recalled. “Dolly Parton offered, ‘Here, take my band.’ It was incredible to see how many people stepped in to help, to reassure us, because so many of us had broken hearts.”
The tragedy occurred when McEntire’s band and crew were flying out of San Diego following a concert. McEntire herself was not on the plane, as she was scheduled to depart the next morning. The crash claimed the lives of tour manager Jim Hammon, bandleader and keyboardist Kirk Cappello, keyboardist Joey Cigainero, drummer Tony Saputo, guitarist Michael Thomas, guitarist Chris Austin, bassist Terry Jackson, vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, and pilots Donald Holmes and Christopher Hollinger.
Reflecting on the tragedy, McEntire told People in October 2022, “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue. But it reminded me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place.”
In the wake of the crash, McEntire channeled her grief into music, releasing For My Broken Heart about eight months later in honor of her lost friends. The album included hits like “Is There Life Out There,” “The Lights Went Out in Georgia,” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.”
That same year, McEntire met actor Rex Linn, though their romantic relationship didn’t begin until 2020 after she appeared on his show Young Sheldon. She described the early phase of their connection during the COVID-19 pandemic as “very special,” noting that they developed closeness through texting and phone conversations rather than in person.
The couple confirmed their engagement publicly ahead of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, after a reporter referred to Linn as McEntire’s fiancé and the pair didn’t correct it. Their representative later confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.
In May 2025, McEntire told Fox News Digital that they “get along in every aspect,” joking about Linn being the better cook. “We love longhorns, the cowboy and cowgirl way of life, and we both work in entertainment,” she said. “He’s an actor. I’m a singer. I love to act. Now we act together. It’s the perfect union. We do argue, and we argue a lot, but it’s fun.”
