This year, Reba McEntire entered her fourth decade in Country music. Since making her chart debut in 1976, she's sold 60 million albums and scored 22 Number One hits. As VOA's Mary Morningstar tells us, Reba McEntire set a new chart record with her 31st and latest album, Reba Duets.
For the first time in her long career, Reba McEntire debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 and Country Albums charts with her new release, Reba Duets. It also gave Reba her biggest first-week sales with more than 300,000 copies sold.
Reba Duets features 11 collaborations with some of the biggest names in music. Although most are longtime friends from the Country field, she also teamed with Carole King, The Eagles' Don Henley, and Justin Timberlake, who's joins Reba on the ballad, "The Only Promise That Remains."
Most duets albums made these days have artists record their parts in separate studios. But, Reba insisted that her partners be in the studio with her and the musicians. "Kelly Clarkson came in, all the studio musicians were there, and she (Kelly) said, 'I can't believe you all are here at the same time!' Don Henley was even more surprised. Feeling a bit rushed, he said, 'You all have to give me some time here. I'm not used to this,' Reba remembers.
Many of the songs on Reba Duets address love and lost love. She also deals with the timely subject of war in her duet with Faith Hill, "Sleeping With The Telephone."
This month, Billboard magazine honored Reba with its first Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her contributions to the music business and inspiration to other female artists.
Reba will perform the new single from her duets album on the November 7 Country Music Association Awards show.
