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.
Suddenly There
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When a cloud holds the sunshine in
Suddenly there's a valley
Where the earth knows peace with man
When a storm hides the distant rainbow
And you think you can't find a friend
Suddenly there's a valley
Where friendships never end
Swept clean by the waving grain
Surveyed by a happy bluebird
And kissed by the falling rain
When you think there's no bright tomorrow
And you feel you can't try again
Suddenly there's a valley
Where hope and love begin
Suddenly there's a valley
Where hope and love begin
The lyrics to Reba McEntire's song Suddenly There's A Valley are not just beautiful and poetic, but they also convey a profound message about the ups and downs of life. The song talks about the journey of life, the challenges and obstacles that we may encounter along the way, and the moments of joy and hope that we experience when we least expect them.
The song starts by acknowledging that life can be tough and that we all face our own "mountains" and struggles. However, when we overcome these challenges, our outlook on life changes, and suddenly, there's a valley – a place where we find peace, tranquility, and joy. This valley is a metaphor for the moments of happiness that we experience, which are made all the sweeter because we have overcome our struggles.
The song goes on to talk about the beauty and serenity of the valley, where friendships never end, and we can find hope and love. The valley is a safe haven, where we can take refuge from the storms of life and bask in the warmth of friendship and love. The valley is also a place of renewal, where we can regain our strength and start anew.
Overall, the message of the song is clear – no matter how hard life may seem at times, there is always hope, and there is always a valley waiting for us, where we can find peace, love, and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
When you've climbed the highest mountain
When you've faced great challenges and accomplished difficult tasks
When a cloud holds the sunshine in
When you can't seem to find any rays of hope or positive outlooks
Suddenly there's a valley
Suddenly, there's a moment of peace and calmness in your life
Where the earth knows peace with man
A place where you can find resolution and harmony between people and nature
When a storm hides the distant rainbow
When your dreams and aspirations seem out of reach due to external circumstances
And you think you can't find a friend
When you feel isolated and alone in your struggles
Suddenly there's a valley
Suddenly, an opportunity emerges for you to make meaningful connections with others
Where friendships never end
A place where the relationships you build have lasting and genuine significance
Touched only by the seasons
A place untouched by human impact, yet still influenced by the natural cycles of the environment
Swept clean by the waving grain
A place where the simple beauty of the land and the crops that nourish us can take center stage
Surveyed by a happy bluebird
A place where even the smallest, most joyful creatures can find a home and influence the overall environment positively
And kissed by the falling rain
A place that receives the nourishment it needs to thrive and flourish
When you think there's no bright tomorrow
When you feel like there's no hope for a better future
And you feel you can't try again
When you feel like giving up because of past failures or setbacks
Suddenly there's a valley
Suddenly, a moment of clarity and rejuvenation arrives
Where hope and love begin
A place where you can find the determination and courage to move forward towards a happier, more fulfilling life
Suddenly there's a valley
A reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still a chance for joy and contentment
Where hope and love begin
A place where positive change can start and grow into a brighter future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHUCK MEYER, BIFF JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind