Introduction
Remember Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime show, where a “wardrobe malfunction” became a permanent part of our vocabulary? It’s a moment that changed her career. But you might not recall that years earlier, country legend Reba McEntire had her own shocking and controversial onstage moment.
Reba is the last person you’d expect to cause a scandal. An Oklahoma native known for her down-to-earth country love songs, her career was built on a wholesome, family-friendly image. But was this all just a facade?
In 1993, well before Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s infamous incident, Reba made headlines for a performance that seemed to betray her traditional reputation. Who was behind this unexpected change, and what was the lasting impact of the backlash? We’ll dive into all that and more. Before we start, make sure to give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for more great country content. Ready?
A Country Queen’s Roots
While many country artists adopt a rural persona, Reba McEntire is the real deal. Growing up on a ranch in rural Oklahoma, her childhood was spent not in front of a TV, but castrating bulls and helping with other ranch work. This background shaped her music and her image. She started her career performing at rodeos with her family band, The Singing McEntires, and her heartfelt songs always reflected the simple, powerful emotions of country life.
Unlike many stars who relied on sex appeal to sell records, Reba maintained a clean, traditional image. She favored jeans over low-cut dresses, and she once told Larry King, “I don’t think I’m sexy.”
But as the 1990s arrived and her music crossed over to mainstream audiences, the industry pushed her to leave her comfortable country bubble. Reba knew change was coming, but she had no idea how dramatically her life would be altered.
The Show Must Go On
The early ’90s were a difficult time for Reba. In 1991, a tragic plane crash killed eight members of her band. Crushed but determined, she dedicated her 16th album, For My Broken Heart, to their memory. That album, along with her 1992 follow-up, It’s Your Call, propelled her to new heights of fame.
Amid this success, Reba was scheduled to perform at the 1993 Country Music Awards. The performance at the Grand Ole Opry should have been a comforting return to a familiar stage, but it was anything but.
In the weeks leading up to the show, Reba was recovering from foot surgery and had to rely on her close friend and designer, Sandy Spiker, to make decisions about her wardrobe. Sandy decided to make a bold change, crafting a dress that would send shockwaves through Nashville and beyond.
A Daring New Look
When Reba arrived for the show, she was stunned by the dress. It was a complete departure from her usual style. The bold red fabric, which matched her hair, featured a plunging, revealing neckline that left very little to the imagination. This type of clothing was unheard of for a country star on such a stage in 1993. Reba considered leaving, but she knew the show had to go on.
She took the stage with Linda Davis to perform “Does He Love You,” giving her usual powerful and confident performance. But the audience’s focus wasn’t on her singing—it was on the dress. She could hear the jeering as she performed, and when she walked off stage, she was relieved. But the ordeal was far from over.
The Aftermath
The backlash was immediate and intense. People wrote angry letters to newspapers and called radio stations, complaining that the dress was a betrayal of country music and Reba’s values. They said it was corrupting the youth.
But Reba, who had recently survived a terrible tragedy, was not going to be stopped by a few angry letters. She recognized that all publicity is good publicity and continued to wear the dress. Years later, she would say the dress got her more press than if she had won Entertainer of the Year. In 2018, she even wore it again for a Christmas performance, proving she still had it a quarter-century later.
The controversy over the dress may seem a bit over-the-top today, but it speaks to how much times have changed. It also highlights Reba’s incredible beauty and magnetism, as she made a dress that seems modest by today’s standards look so alluring. Decades later, Reba McEntire is still our country queen, still pushing boundaries, and always owning the consequences.
Your Turn
Now we want to hear from you. Do you remember this controversial performance? Did you think it was too much back in 1993? Do you think it’s appropriate today? And what’s Reba McEntire’s greatest song? I’m looking for some new country recommendations, so let me know in the comments! Before you go, please hit that thumbs-up icon, subscribe, and come back often.