Queen of Country Music, Reba McEntire, is proof that old-school values still win in modern love. In her own words, the “cowboy way of life” played a big part in her relationship with actor Rex Linn. And if you have seen the two of them together lately, it is clear that something real is going on.
Reba McEntire, 70, and Rex Linn, 68, first met back in 1991. But sparks didn’t fly until nearly 30 years later. The shift happened in 2020, when Reba guest-starred on Linn’s show “Young Sheldon.” COVID hit soon after, and instead of growing apart, they grew closer.
They spent hours on the phone. Texts turned into deep conversations, and slowly, a lifelong friendship shifted into something romantic. For Reba, the timing was no accident. She believes things fall into place when they are meant to. “Everything happens for a reason,” she said, and this time, it brought her real happiness.
A Friendship Begins
What connected them most wasn’t just their industry ties but their roots. Reba McEntire grew up in rural Oklahoma, raised on rodeos and hard work. Linn, a fellow Southerner, shares that cowboy mindset: loyalty, grit, and respect. It is not a role they play; it is who they are. And that, Reba says, is what made their bond feel so natural.
Since the two got together, Reba has been on a roll. From acting in the sitcom “Happy’s Place” alongside Linn to hosting the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, she has been unstoppable.
McEntire has always been a powerhouse. Her resume? Thirty-two studio albums, more than a dozen acting credits, and shelves of awards. But this chapter feels different. There is a calm in her confidence now, like she knows exactly who she is, and who is beside her. That stability, she says, came with Rex.
When Reba walked the red carpet before this year’s ACM Awards, she lit up the room. Reporters asked about her hosting gig, of course, but they really wanted to hear about Linn. “You never know. Absolutely, hope so one day,” she said, when asked if marriage was in the cards.
What makes this relationship work is that they share the same language. One built on trust, honesty, and cowboy ethics. Reba calls it the “perfect union” because they understand each other’s values at the core. Showbiz may be their world, but it is not what grounds them.
The Romance Is Built on Values
Their love story also reminds us that connection is not always instant. Sometimes, it is a slow build. Years of friendship turned into something steady and solid. COVID pushed them to communicate in new ways, and that emotional foundation became the heart of their relationship.
And that makes all the difference. They have made their personal lives blend with their professional ones, starring together in “Happy’s Place” and attending major events as a team.
So, will there be a wedding? Maybe. Or, maybe not. Reba is not in a rush, and she doesn’t need the label to feel secure. What she does have is something that feels true. And that might just be the rarest thing of all.