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.
On My Own
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said our love would always be true
Somethin' in my heart always knew
I'd be lying there beside him
On my own, On my own, On my own
So many promises never should be spoken
Now you're even talking divorce
And you weren't even married
On my own
Once again I'm
One more time by myself
No one said it would be easy
But it once was so easy
Well I believe in love now here I stand
You wonder why
I'm on my own
Why did it end this way
On my own
This wasn't how it was supposed to be
On my own
I wish that we could do it all again
So many times I know I could have told you
That losing him would cut like a knife
He walked out and there went your life
I don't want to live without him
On my own
This wasn't how it was supposed to end
On my own
I wish that we could do it all again
On my own
I never dreamed I'd spend one night alone by myself
On my own
You've got to find out where you belong again
On my own
You've got to learn how to be strong again
On my own
I never dreamed I'd spend one night alone by myself
You've got to find out where you belong again
Your heart is saying that it's time again
And I know that you're gonna shine again
The lyrics to Reba McEntire's song "On My Own" convey a sense of heartbreak and loss as the singer reflects on the end of a relationship. The song's theme is one of independence, despite the pain that comes with it. The singer looks back on the promises made in the past and the belief in forever love, but ultimately, the relationship ends.
The lyrics suggest that the singer's heart always knew that they would end up alone, despite their initial belief in forever love. The pain of losing the relationship is evident in lines like "So many promises never should be spoken / Now you know what loving him costs / Now you're even talking divorce / And you weren't even married." The singer is left to deal with the aftermath of a relationship that did not turn out as planned.
The song's chorus, "On my own, on my own, on my own," reinforces the theme of independence and strength. Despite the pain and heartbreak, the singer knows that they must stand on their own and find a way to move forward. The song ends with an encouraging note, suggesting that the singer will find their place in the world again and "shine" once more.
Line by Line Meaning
So many times I said it was forever
I have repeatedly expressed to my partner that our love will last for eternity
Said our love would always be true
I have assured my significant other that our love will always be honest and pure
Somethin' in my heart always knew
Deep down, I always had a feeling that this would not be the case
I'd be lying there beside him
I would be next to him, but only in physicality, not in emotional connection
On my own, On my own, On my own
Repeatedly emphasizing my independence and loneliness
So many promises never should be spoken
Many assurances should never be made as they can lead to heartache and disappointment
Now you know what loving him costs
You now understand the true toll that loving him has taken on your life
Now you're even talking divorce
The situation has escalated to the point where divorce is being considered
And you weren't even married
Ironically, this is happening despite not even being married yet
No one said it would be easy
It was never promised that this journey would be simple
But it once was so easy
At some point in time, things were less complicated and less strenuous
Well I believe in love now here I stand
Despite the hardships, I still believe in the power and importance of love
You wonder why
You are left questioning why things have turned out this way
This wasn't how it was supposed to be
The current situation is far from what was envisioned or anticipated
I wish that we could do it all again
I yearn for the opportunity to restart and fix any mistakes made in the past
So many times I know I could have told you
There were countless opportunities where I could have expressed the potential for this relationship to crumble
That losing him would cut like a knife
The mere thought of separating from my partner would deeply wound me emotionally
He walked out and there went your life
His departure has significantly impacted and changed your way of life
I don't want to live without him
I cannot envision a future where I exist without the presence of my partner
You've got to find out where you belong again
You need to rediscover your place and purpose in life
Your heart is saying that it's time again
Your heart is communicating that it is time to move on and try again
And I know that you're gonna shine again
I have faith in your ability to regain your strength and happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Leighkyzer
For those of you who have issue with why so many country singers are covering a soulful song. You must look at Reba's history. This came out shortly after she lost most of her band to a plane crash. What better way for this woman to heal than to gather her best friends together and sing a song that she can relate to about doing something on her own. She did just that!
@sandratomes9000
4 beautiful women with beautiful voices. This was a spectacular video that's never been duplicated because it can't ever be.I'm sure of that. I love this song. I'm in awe of these women
@darknessislight3689
Love this cover ❤ as a POC I was excited 😆 about these Country Queens showing the world its music. And music shouldn’t have color lines . I love ALL genres of music 🎶 I give them their 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐. RIP 🪦🫶🏾 too the ones lost in that crash 🫶🏾
@danielaselvadoro9435
I love all of these singers
@kimberlycannida4549
This is great. I love it. She chose the right ladies with strong vocals. No others could’ve pulled this off except maybe dolly. Pattie has a strong voice so it took woman with strong voices. These are some of my favorite country singers too.
@danielaselvadoro9435
I love their videos and voices to
@taylorharris1796
I love, love, love how none of these women seem to have an ego and they all came, sang their parts and celebrated the moment of singing together. I can tell that even though Reba and Trisha were a bit more successful at the time, that they made Linda and Martina (who was a rising female vocalist at the time) feel as if they were equals.
@jessicalefay
They are all humble powerhouses!
@bclaverenz1
That Country Music…. People are just different…👍👍
@larryhardin4911
Love you