With a contract to Mercury Records (1975), McEntire began her professional career singing heavily pop-influenced ballads, a far cry from the neotraditionalist movement she would help lead a few years later.
"I Don't Want To Be A One Night Stand" became her first charting single in 1976. Her first Top 10 hit "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" followed four years later, and in 1982 she scored her first #1 hit with "Can't Even Get The Blues."
Frustrated at her limited commercial success, McEntire left Mercury and signed with MCA Records in 1984. 1984's "Just A Little Love" wasn't much different form her Mercury material and was only moderately successful. However, another album followed later that same year, titled "My Kind of Country." This was a return-to-roots record, complete with fiddles and steel. It was comprised largely of covers of classic country songs, as well as original songs such as "How Blue" and the Harlan Howard-penned "Somebody Should Leave", both of which reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
In the early 1990s McEntire expanded her audience by adopting a softer, more pop-oriented sound. She became one of the best-selling country artists of all time, releasing three volumes of greatest hits collections.
Since that first #1 hit in 1982, she's forked out 21 more chartbusters, which are all recapped on "Reba #1s" released on November 22nd, 2005. The 2-disc compilation features all 22 number one singles (according to Billboard magazine) in chronological order, including two new tracks "You're Gonna Be" and "Love Needs A Holiday." "Reba #1s" also contains 11 singles that reached the #1 spot in publications other than Billboard.
She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times in a row (a record she holds with Martina McBride), and had dozens of Top Ten hits during the 80s. For her contribution to the recording industry, Reba McEntire has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
She is one of only six solo women (others include Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Taylor Swift), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, "Entertainer Of The Year". McEntire continued to hit the charts through the 2000s, as well as appearing in television and film, most notably Tremors, a cult horror movie series, Forever Love, and One Night at McCool's. She also starred as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim.
From 2001 to 2007, Reba starred in the hit WB television show, Reba (with Texan actor Christopher Rich as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country star Dolly Parton who played Reba's character's supervisor at a real estate firm.
Now You Tell Me
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never thought I'd hear from you
Whatever made you call
From out of the blue
What did you say
I must be hearing things
Things that I never thought would come from you
Now you tell me
That you love me desperately
Why did you wait so long to say those words to me
Oh you made me crazy
I don't know what to do
Now you tell me
Not that's there's somebody new
I think you should know
There's someone here with me
O bet he can tell you must be someone dear to me
So I better go
'Cause you still get to me
Just when I thought I was over you
This is all I need
[Repeat Chorus & tag]
The lyrics of Reba McEntire's song, "Now You Tell Me", describe a conversation between two lovers, who have been separated for some time. One day, out of the blue, the man calls the woman and confesses his love for her. The woman cannot believe what she is hearing, as she never thought she would hear from him again. She is overwhelmed with mixed emotions, as the man's confession is too little, too late. She wonders why he waited so long to express his feelings for her.
The woman realizes that there is someone else in the room with her, and she must end the conversation with the man. She wants to express her true feelings but cannot as she has moved on with someone else. The emotional turmoil between the two lovers is apparent in the lyrics. The song explores the theme of the value of time and how it can impact relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
What a surprise
I am shocked to hear from you unexpectedly.
Never thought I'd hear from you
I did not expect to receive any communication from you.
Whatever made you call
I am curious about the reason behind your sudden call.
From out of the blue
Your call came unexpectedly, without any prior warning.
What did you say
I am having trouble believing what you just told me.
I must be hearing things
I cannot believe the words I am hearing from you.
Things that I never thought would come from you
The words you are saying are things I never expected to hear from you.
Now you tell me
You are telling me something that you should have said a long time ago.
That you love me desperately
You are expressing intense feelings of love and desire for me.
Why did you wait so long to say those words to me
I am curious why you did not express your love to me earlier.
Oh you made me crazy
Your sudden admission of love is making me feel overwhelmed and confused.
I don't know what to do
I am unsure how to react to what you just said.
Not that's there's somebody new
You are telling me this despite there being someone new in my life.
I think you should know
I feel the need to inform you of something important.
There's someone here with me
I am currently in the company of someone special to me.
O bet he can tell you must be someone dear to me
I am sure that the person I am with can confirm how important you once were to me.
So I better go
I should probably end this conversation now.
'Cause you still get to me
I am still affected by you despite moving on from our past relationship.
Just when I thought I was over you
I believed that I had fully moved on from you, but your call is causing me to question that.
This is all I need
Your sudden call expressing love is the last thing I wanted or needed right now.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWNA HARRINGTON-BURKHART, DONNIE KEESEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kerry Houdashelt
I love her music and her the ability to sing like this in my eyes she's the most gorgeous lady in country music in my books i love you Reba McEntire
David Jones
No arguments here. I'm black and caught hell cause I thought Reba was beautiful
Rebecca Thomason
Her music takes me back to my childhood! Loved her alot then and still do!!
mommys boxes
@Rebecca Thomason me to! Reba is one of the best!
mommys boxes
Such a beautiful voice 💗💗💗
SouthernTexas
Always have and Always will love her music❤....Hope one day I get to meet her she is my favorite country singer
Robert Latimer Jr
Love Reba, saw her in concert ,best concert I've ever ❤
Cyndi Jones
That VOICE never disappoints me. Benn listening to Reba since the 80's
Cindy Kienbusch
Cyndi Jones yes ma’am it was and she’s just the same!! She’s a sweetheart and funny❣️😂😂😂😘 @reba
Cyndi Jones
@TheHardCoreNoob really old, 54😁