Reba McEntire and her band performed in San Diego on March 16, 1991. After the event, two planes were chartered to transport the artists to their next destination, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her husband at the time, Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist, McEntire, remained in San Diego, preceded by seven band members and their tour manager.
Unfortunately, the plane did not reach its destination. It crashed just 10 miles from Brownfield Airport, killing all on board. McEntire was constantly reminded of this terrible tragedy.
In a heartbreaking 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he described the deaths of seven band members and their tour manager. Despite the years of grief, McEntire finds the loss extremely difficult.
When Reba McEntire told Oprah about the plane tragedy, she recalled how her husband Narvel went to warn the pilot. Even though it was early in the morning, Nabel returned to his hotel room full of fear.
When McEntire walked in the door, he asked if everything was all right, but received a stern answer. McEntire recalled Narvell moving around the room trying to get more information, looking for answers, and the pain and fear he felt then is still vivid 20 years later.
But no matter how hard the two tried, time seemed to destroy any chance of survival. Many friends, including Vince Gill and Dolly Parton, offered McEntire a band on that tragic day, but she turned it down.
His next album, “For a Broken Heart”, was dedicated to his late bandmates. It was a huge success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Music Albums chart and selling 4 million copies.
Each year, McEntire remembers those who died on that fateful day. In 2016, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut, he went on a memorable trip to San Diego and shared his experience with fans through social media channels such as Instagram.
He said he was deeply moved by those in heaven who knew how much he was missed and concluded by offering his “heartfelt sympathies and prayers” to all those affected by the tragedy.