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.
Seven Minutes In Heaven
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or have Elvis sing me a song
I wouldn't ask why Kennedy died
'Cause I know that I wouldn't have long
I wouldn't small talk with Peter 'bout those pearly gates
I'd ask him to let me on in
And I'd say there's somebody waiting on the other side
That I'd really like to catch up with
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I know just what I'd do
Take a walk down those golden streets
And find a quiet corner booth
I wouldn't spend all my seconds asking God questions
'Cause He knows I'd be back soon
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I'd spend them all with you
How's the fishing up there
Have you been getting our prayers
We've been sending them every night
The only issue here is oh, Lord, we miss you
But I swear we're doing alright
Does the weather get colder?
Do you ever grow older?
Does it feel like the blink of an eye?
'Cause I'm so glad to be here
And I sure hope they serve beer
'Cause, for me, it's been a long time
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I know just what I'd do
Take a walk down those golden streets
And find a quiet corner booth
I wouldn't spend all my seconds asking God questions
'Cause He knows I'll be back soon
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I'd spend them all with you
When it's last call, I'll hug you
And I'll tell you, "I love you"
But I won't say goodbye
Right now, I got to leave
But the next round's on me
And I know it won't be the last time
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
Then I know just what we'll do
Oh, we'll take a walk down those golden streets
And find that same old corner booth
But I might take a few seconds to ask God some questions
I didn't last time I was through
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I'd spend them all with you
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I'd spend them all with you
The lyrics of Reba McEntire's song "Seven Minutes in Heaven" revolve around the concept of spending precious time in Heaven with a loved one who has passed away. The singer begins by expressing that if given the opportunity, she wouldn't waste time asking famous figures like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, or Peter (associated with the biblical figure at the gates of Heaven) trivial questions or engaging in small talk. Instead, she desires to enter Heaven and reunite with someone important who is waiting for her on the other side, someone she's missed and wants to catch up with.
The singer then imagines what she would do with those seven minutes in Heaven. She envisions herself strolling down the golden streets, searching for a quiet corner booth, symbolizing a peaceful and intimate space. Rather than spending her limited time asking God questions, as He already knows everything, she would cherish every second by spending it with her loved one. Here, it becomes evident that the song's main theme is about the desire for a reunion and the longing to be together again in Heaven.
In the second verse, the singer portrays herself as sending prayers to her loved one in Heaven, hoping they're being heard. She wonders about the conditions there, asking if it ever gets cold or if time passes quickly in the afterlife. Despite the longing and missing her loved one, she reassures that she's doing alright. The reference to hoping for beer suggests a lighthearted desire for camaraderie and enjoyment, as if wondering if familiar earthly pleasures continue in Heaven.
The last verse contains heartfelt sentiments as the singer imagines embracing her loved one when "last call" is announced. She affirms her love for them but avoids saying goodbye, perhaps because they will be together again in the afterlife. The notion of the "next round" being on her implies an ongoing connection beyond death. The singer concludes by expressing that if she had another chance, in the following round of Heaven, she may take a few seconds to ask God some questions that she missed during her initial visit, but ultimately, all her time would still be devoted to her beloved.
Overall, the lyrics of "Seven Minutes in Heaven" convey the deep longing for a heavenly reunion and the overwhelming desire to spend time with a beloved person who has passed away. The song beautifully explores the concept of cherishing every precious moment in Heaven, focusing on the love and connection between the singer and her loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't ask Cash why he wore all black
I wouldn't inquire about Johnny Cash's choice of attire
Or have Elvis sing me a song
I wouldn't request Elvis Presley to perform for me
I wouldn't ask why Kennedy died
I wouldn't seek an explanation for the death of John F. Kennedy
'Cause I know that I wouldn't have long
Because I'm aware that my time would be limited
I wouldn't small talk with Peter 'bout those pearly gates
I wouldn't engage in casual conversation with Saint Peter regarding the gates of heaven
I'd ask him to let me on in
I would request Saint Peter to allow me entry
And I'd say there's somebody waiting on the other side
And I would inform Saint Peter that there is someone I'm eager to meet
That I'd really like to catch up with
Whom I genuinely desire to have a conversation with
How's the fishing up there
I wonder about the fishing conditions in heaven
Have you been getting our prayers
Have you been receiving the prayers we send
We've been sending them every night
We faithfully send them every night
The only issue here is oh, Lord, we miss you
The only problem we face is the longing we feel for your presence, dear Lord
But I swear we're doing alright
But I assure you we are coping well
Does the weather get colder?
I'm curious if the weather in heaven gets colder
Do you ever grow older?
Do individuals in heaven experience aging?
Does it feel like the blink of an eye?
Does time in heaven pass as quickly as a momentary blink?
'Cause I'm so glad to be here
Because I'm immensely grateful to be in heaven
And I sure hope they serve beer
And I sincerely hope they have beer available
'Cause, for me, it's been a long time
Because, from my perspective, it has felt like a significant duration
When it's last call, I'll hug you
When it's time to depart, I'll embrace you
And I'll tell you, "I love you"
And I'll express my love for you
But I won't say goodbye
But I won't bid farewell
Right now, I got to leave
Currently, I must depart
But the next round's on me
But I promise to treat you for drinks the next time we meet
And I know it won't be the last time
And I'm certain it won't be our final encounter
Then I know just what we'll do
Then I have a clear understanding of our activities
Oh, we'll take a walk down those golden streets
We will stroll along the magnificent golden streets
And find that same old corner booth
And locate the familiar corner booth we always enjoyed
But I might take a few seconds to ask God some questions
However, I might utilize a few moments to pose questions to God
I didn't last time I was through
Which I neglected to do during my previous visit
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
In the hypothetical scenario where I had a brief duration in heaven
I'd spend them all with you
I would allocate my entire time to be in your company
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matthew Wynn, Olivia Rudeen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@connerwynn1638
My brother wrote this song. I am so proud! Reba, the Queen, is the person that could give this song the justice it deserves. God Bless and thank you Reba! Shout out to Matt Wynn and Olivia Rudeen. Big things coming!
P.S. - I appreciate all the support on this comment. I love you hearing the stories that have been shared. That is what this song is about. It is supposed to be a song for everyone to relate to. God bless you all and thank you for sharing these lovely stories! I support and pray for you all. Someday we all will see loved ones we have lost and we won’t just spend 7 minutes in heaven with them…. We will spend eternity with them.
@LouisianaStyleMaven
Your brother wrote an absolutely beautiful song ❤
@davidallen405
It should have been Lukas Graham blue album last song. #Reba would you please duet with Lukas
@susangantzler7786
He did a wonderful job ❤
@pjchambers738
Please tell your brother THANK YOU!
@ellyb1876
Beautiful song
@sarawhite5654
I
Lost my mom 14 years ago and this song hit hard. Love Reba so much!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
@justiceharrison5142
Hello there Sara nice meeting you here
@OneTreeHill0930
What a beautiful song! I love Reba so much! Her music is so real and heartwarming. What I wouldn’t do to have 7 minutes in heaven with my little sister who passed away at 21 to cancer or talk to my grandparents who have been gone 10 years now. Thank you Reba for sharing your gift God gave you to us! You’re the queen of country always!
@Reba-xm5vc
Hello there! I wanted to reach out and say thank you for leaving a comment on my official page.
It's always great to hear from my fans and I appreciate your support. I know that it might not be the best place to keep in touch, so I took the initiative to reach out to you through this account. I would love to get to know you more, hear your thoughts and opinions on my work and maybe even more about you as a person. I think it would be great if we can keep in touch, and I would love to hear more from you. Thank you for being a fan and for making my day with your comment on my official page.