Reba McEntire has fond memories of her dad, Clark McEntire, who died late Thursday (Oct. 23) in Coalgate, Okla., after a lengthy illness - as many memories as there are stars in the vast nighttime sky of their native Oklahoma. The country superstar has those cherished remembrances because the 86-year-old McEntire, a three-time world champion steer-roper, spent a lifetime helping his red-haired daughter make them.
Born in Graham, Okla., McEntire was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Steer Roping World Champion in 1957, 1958 and 1961. He was a member of the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.
He and his wife, Jackie, were married 64 years and have four children, daughters Alice Foran, Reba McEntire and Susie McEntire Eaton and one son, Pake McEntire.
While growing up, Reba and her siblings spent time on the road going to and from the rodeo her dad competed in. Their mother nurtured her children's musical talent. During their many long, rodeo-related car rides, they would pass the time by harmonizing on songs they learned. When Reba was in ninth grade, she and her two younger siblings formed the group the Singing McEntires, and went on to perform at rodeos.
In 1974, Reba caught a break when country music star Red Steagall heard her sing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. The young singer's performance impressed Steagall, prompting him to help her record a demo and eventually sign with Mercury Records.
The hit-making songstress shared memories of her dad with The Oklahoman newspaper.
"When Daddy would tell you to go park yourself on your horse in a certain gate so if the herd of cattle tries to break and head back up into the hills, you'll be there to head them off, you'd durn sure better park your horse there in that gate," she said.
Asked how she was most like her daddy, Reba replied, "My competitiveness. The thing I learned from Daddy is to be competitive. He made a living by competing and so have I. The difference in his competition and mine was his winning was determined by a stop watch. Mine was voted on. As I've grown older, I find I listen like Daddy did before I make a decision. I get all the information first."
Then came a memory that Reba can always keep next to her heart.
The night Reba was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in May 2011, her father was unable to attend the ceremony in Nashville, Tenn. because of health issues. Even though he wasn't there, his presence was there with his daughter. After the induction ceremony, Reba shared a story with The Oklahoman.
"It was really cute, one time daddy was in the car with us and I'd won entertainer of the year and female vocalist and we were all in the limo," Reba said. "Daddy said, 'Sure is good to be riding home with the winner.'"
