Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock's Relationship Timeline

Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock were together for over two decades before calling it quits on their marriage. Even though the iconic country star and the TV producer are no longer together, a timeline of their relationship proves they’ve shared some pretty monumental moments.

Reba and her ex-husband’s professional relationship began way before they became romantically involved. When the “Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” singer was cementing her status as a country music star in 1980, Narvel joined her band.

The two became close friends, but both Reba and Narvel were in other relationships. The “Fancy” singer was married to her first husband, Charlie Battles, whom she walked down the aisle with in 1976, while the God’s Country producer tied the knot with his first wife, Elisa Gayle Ritter, in 1973.

Reba and Narvel ultimately split with their respective partners and shortly after, she fired her band’s manager and made Narvel her new head person. By 1989, the two lovebirds tied the knot during a romantic wedding ceremony.

Over the years of their marriage, the former Reba actress and the handsome hunk — who are the parents of son Shelby Blackstock — shared tons of sweet memories. The former couple were always walking the red carpet at an awards show or working on a new Hollywood project.

However, their love story didn’t last as they eventually called it quits after 26 years together. The “Is There Life Out There” songstress and the Malibu Country producer shocked the world when they announced they were separating in 2015.

Even though the ex-pair were at “the end of their marriage,” Reba was still heartbroken about splitting from her longtime love. Years later in September 2020, the ACM Award winner said she “did not want” to go through with their divorce.

“The divorce was not my choice. I did not want it at all,” she told cohost Melissa Peterman and guest Dolly Parton during a new episode of her “Living & Learning” podcast. “So it was left up to me [to be like], ‘OK, kid, how are you going to handle this?’”

Because Narvel was involved in Reba’s music career for the last 35 years, she had to find a way to forge a path for “not only” herself, “but for [her] band, [her] crew, [her] organization,” Reba explained. “I had to say, OK, this has happened … we all know what’s happened because you all were involved. Now we’ve got to move forward.”

Even though Reba was hoping to work it out with the Secret of Giving producer, she’s doing just fine. Not only is her career as a beloved country singer thriving, but she’s also enjoying her life as a single lady in her 60s.

Scroll through the gallery below to see a complete timeline of Reba and Narvel’s relationship.

1987

After 11 years of marriage, Reba and her first husband, Charlie, called it quits. “I wasn’t the little girl anymore, taking orders and doing what he said,” she once said of the split, Taste of Country reported.

The following year, Narvel and his first wife, Elisa — who share kids Brandon Blackstock, Chassidy Blackstock and Shawna Blackstock — ended their marriage.

October 2013

Narvel’s son Brandon tied the knot with famous singer Kelly Clarkson in October 2013. Even though Reba was considered to be Kelly’s step mother-in-law, the two shared a very close bond.

“She’s a great gal, big-hearted and with Kelly what you see is what you get!” Reba exclusively told Closer Weekly in 2018. “I love her to pieces. She’s been one of my best friends since I met her in 2002.”

August 2015

On August 3, 2015, Reba and Narvel announced they separated months earlier. While fans were surprised by the heartbreaking news, a friend close to Reba revealed they weren’t the only ones.

“Narvel was her protector, her business partner and manager, and it was really tough on her. She had no idea it was coming,” the pal told Closer in 2019. “She felt sorry for herself for about a month, but then she snapped out of it.”

2017

Reba found love again in 2017 when she began dating Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo. The couple were together for over two years, but they sadly called it quits in November 2019.

“Skeeter is a great guy,” a friend told Closer at the time. “But her busy schedule and Skeeter’s way of life — he’s retired — just didn’t mesh very well. At the end of the day, they decided it wasn’t a match made in heaven, as they both initially thought. [The breakup] was amicable.”

June 2020

Five years after Reba and Narvel’s split, Brandon and Kelly revealed they were also going their separate ways. The TV producer and the American Idol alum announced their divorce in June 2020.

Following the announcement, a source told Closer that Reba was “supportive” of the decision. “She knows it’s hard enough working on your own relationship, but she saw this Kelly and Brandon split coming from a mile away,” the insider dished.

September 2020

Reba candidly opened up about her divorce with Narvel while chatting on an episode of her podcast titled “Forging Your Own Path” in late September 2020. The mom of one said she was “forced to put [her] feelings aside and go forward” after Narvel caught her off guard with a divorce.

“It was forging a path that I didn’t want to be part of, but I had to do it,” she explained, noting it was “kind of a ‘buckle up buttercup moment’” for her considering Narvel was her longtime manager. “I had to learn so much that was dumped on my lap.”

Even though her music career felt like “catch-up 101,” Reba said she’s grateful for the tumultuous journey. “I think it’s made me appreciate the business more,” she gushed. “There I was again, forging another part of the territory I never even thought I’d have to deal with.”