Remembering the Loss of Reba McEntire’s Band Members
Reba McEntire has firsthand experience with grief and tragedy. In 1991, the beloved country star tragically lost seven members of her band and her tour manager in a devastating plane crash during a concert.
On March 16, 1991, Reba and her band were performing at a private event in San Diego. Following the show, two planes were prepared at Brown Field Municipal Airport to ferry the band members to Fort Wayne, Ind., for their next scheduled performance.
The band members and tour manager departed ahead, leaving McEntire, her then-husband and manager Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist Sandi Spika in San Diego for the night.
During a poignant interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2012, McEntire recounted the tragic events that followed. The second plane took off and safely reached its destination, but the first jet, which left earlier, tragically crashed barely 10 miles east of the airport.
“The tip of the plane’s wing struck a boulder on the edge of Otay Mountain, claiming the lives of everyone on board,” McEntire recounted to Oprah. “When we received the news, Narvel went to speak with our pilot to understand what had happened.”
“When Narvel returned to our hotel room, it was two or three in the morning, and he shared that one of the planes had crashed,” McEntire continued. “I immediately asked, ‘Are they okay?’ ‘I don’t think so,’ he replied. ‘But you’re not certain?’ I pressed. ‘I don’t think so,’ was his somber reply.”
McEntire recalled the agonizing wait for details about the tragedy.
“Narvel was going from room to room, making calls…” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “I’m sorry – it’s been 20 years, but I don’t think the pain ever truly fades,” she added. “But I can still picture it vividly. Narvel pacing back and forth, that feeling of utter helplessness.”
Friends like Vince Gill and Dolly Parton generously offered their bands to help McEntire finish the tour, but she respectfully declined. Instead, she poured her emotions into her next album, “For My Broken Heart,” dedicated to the band members she had lost. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and went on to sell four million copies.
Every year on the anniversary of the tragedy, McEntire honors the memory of those who perished. In 2014, she took to Instagram to mark the crash anniversary. Then, on the 25th anniversary in 2016, she embarked on a poignant trip to San Diego, sharing her journey with fans on social media.
In a heartfelt post, McEntire wrote, “Today marks the 25th anniversary of the plane accident.” “Last November, I returned to San Diego and visited the accident site by helicopter. I believe they know how deeply we miss them. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends affected by this tragedy.”
