“My main rule when anybody comes over is to feel at home,” the Happy’s Place star said.
Reba McEntire May Be a Superstar, But She’s Still a Country Girl at Heart
Reba McEntire may be a part-time coach on The Voice and the lead in NBC’s Happy’s Place, but at her core, she’s still the same down-to-earth country girl who grew up on an Oklahoma cattle ranch.
The “Consider Me Gone” singer was raised on an 8,000-acre working ranch, where she embraced the rural lifestyle—competing in rodeos and learning the values of hard work and Southern hospitality.
“I lived on a working cattle ranch all of my life. I was one of Daddy’s hired hands, and I was paid in room and board. It was a tough way of life, but it taught me a lot,” McEntire shared in a 2024 interview with Oklahoma’s News 9. “I love Oklahoma—the heritage, the history, everything about it.”
Even though her legendary career has taken her far from her home state, McEntire still brings that Oklahoma warmth into every home she owns. Her guiding principle for guests is simple: stay comfortable.
In her 2025 interview with People, she revealed that she doesn’t expect visitors to remove their shoes when entering her homes in Los Angeles and Nashville. “Nobody has to take their shoes off. It’s nothing fancy. Just livable, breathable—a place to come in and have fun,” she said.
That philosophy carries over into her book, Not That Fancy, which offers straightforward life lessons and easy-to-make recipes. True to its title, McEntire prefers her spaces to be inviting rather than immaculate.
The “I’m a Survivor” singer fills her homes with meaningful keepsakes and says the kitchen is always her favorite place to gather. “My main rule when anybody comes over is to feel at home, be completely relaxed, and have fun,” she told Better Homes & Gardens in 2023. “People will start taking their boots off when we’ve been out at the barn, and I say, ‘Hey, this is the farmhouse. You don’t have to take your shoes off.’ It’s shoes on—you stay comfortable.”
Though relaxed about house rules, there’s one habit she’s never let go of: making the bed. A discipline she picked up as a kid on the ranch, it’s a non-negotiable for her to this day.
“Daddy made us kids make our beds every morning, and that’s something I still do,” she said. “I taught [my son] Shelby the same thing. It’s important to start your day that way—it’s a standing rule.”
Southern Roots Run Deep
Growing up in small-town Oklahoma, McEntire’s parents, Clark and Jacqueline, instilled in her the true meaning of Southern hospitality. Even when money was tight, kindness was always in abundance.
“I knew Momma and Daddy couldn’t afford to feed everyone, but if someone walked through the front door, Momma would ask: ‘Are you hungry? Would you like something to drink? We have sweet tea, unsweetened tea—whatever you like,’” she recalled in a May 2025 interview with Realtor.com.
Now, she continues that tradition: “When people come see me, the first thing I say is, ‘Are you hungry? Want something to drink? When was the last time you ate?’”
For McEntire, that’s the essence of true hospitality—welcoming others with warmth, comfort, and a touch of country charm.
