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.
Rumor Has It
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But they didn't talk about us, only her again
I didn't want to listen but I hung on every word
They said some things I wish I hadn't heard
[Chorus]
Rumor has it she has you
Rumor has it you love her too
Rumor has it she has you
This town's so small a whisper can be heard a mile away
And people here will gossip when there's nothing else to say
I wouldn't have believed my ears but I see it in your eyes
The stories going 'round this town aren't lies
Rumor has it she has you
Rumor has it you love her too
Talk is cheap but the price is high when it's true
Rumor has it she has you
Whoa, rumor has it she has you
In Reba McEntire's song, "Rumor Has It," the singer overhears a conversation where her love interest's name is mentioned in connection to another woman, and immediately becomes uneasy. She goes on to reveal that the people she eavesdropped on didn't mention "us," only "her again." The singer admits she didn't want to listen, but found herself hanging on every word. The things she hears among the gossip are things she wished she hadn't heard.
The chorus goes on to repeat the rumors she heard, that the love interest is with another woman, and that there is mutual love between them. The singer expresses her understanding that talk is cheap, but when it's true, the price is high. She is resigned to the fact that the rumors are true, she can see it in his eyes, and finds the town's love for gossip unbearable. The song ends with the singer matter-of-factly mentioning that "rumor has it she has you."
The song is about the pain and frustration that comes with hearing false, or worse, true rumors about a loved one cheating. But it's not just about the betrayal, it's also about the discomfort of living in a small town where rumors spread quickly and can affect one's reputation, and anxieties from the insecurities that come with infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
I overheard a conservation your name was mentioned in
I heard someone talking about you
But they didn't talk about us, only her again
They weren't talking about us, just her
I didn't want to listen but I hung on every word
I didn't want to hear it, but I couldn't help but listen
They said some things I wish I hadn't heard
They said some things I wish I didn't know
Rumor has it she has you
People are saying she's got you
Rumor has it you love her too
People are also saying you love her
Talk is cheap but the price is high when it's true
Words are easy, but the consequences are serious if they're true
Rumor has it she has you
People keep saying she's got you
This town's so small a whisper can be heard a mile away
This town is so small that rumors spread fast
And people here will gossip when there's nothing else to say
People here will talk about anything, even if there's nothing to talk about
I wouldn't have believed my ears but I see it in your eyes
I couldn't believe it at first, but I can see it in your eyes now
The stories going 'round this town aren't lies
The rumors going around town are true
Rumor has it she has you
People are still talking and saying she's got you
Rumor has it you love her too
The rumor also says that you love her
Talk is cheap but the price is high when it's true
Words have consequences, especially when they're true
Rumor has it she has you
People are continuing to talk and say she's got you
Whoa, rumor has it she has you
Wow, people are really saying she's got you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE BURCH, VERN DANT, LARRY SHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Weeks
The best female country singer ever...this song is a classic and never gets old. I love Reba and I wish this type music would be popular again.
Chandra Miles
Reba McEntire is hands-down a big part of the foundation of females singers country music. if you can't feel the emotions in the words of her songs when she sings when you're not human. she's definitely one of the greats
Justice Harrison
Hello there Chandra nice meeting you here
Bryan Hall
Reba is simply put, The Best !!
davi8U
To sing like this you need to have talent, not just a band
Fran McCoy
Listened to this as a child, loved it. Now I listen to it, knowing this song personally. This song is timeless, and it's gotten me through rough times. Thanks Reba! ❤️
Jon Burrows
Lol
Joshua Harley
Reba poured her heart and soul into her music. Especially her earlier music. I've always been a huge fan.
Robert Hanson
Her voice sends shivers up and down my spine every time
Tyler Combs
Well, she did it. This is probably the greatest female countrymusic song ever what a voice. That " true" she hit in the first chorus gave me chills.