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.
The Day She Got Divorced
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made a pot of coffee extra strong
At the kitchen table sucking on a cigarette
Read the paper in a cloud of smoke
While the dirty dinner dishes soaked
Woke up the kids and coaxed them out of bed
The day she got divorced
Story continues below
Left the kids with the girl next door
Parked her car at the county court
Round and round 'bout the child support he'll never pay
Judge said we're gonna have to start
Without the party of the second part
'Cause the party of the second part was MIA
He was getting drunk just like the day before
The day she got divorced
Didn't feel any different than it ever had
She wasn't that sorry, wasn't that sad
Couldn't love him any less or hate him anymore
The day she got divorced
Wasn't working, had the whole day off
Bought a bottle then she called her boss
Waited for him at the motel lot til he got there
First he told her that her hair looked nice
Promised he was gonna leave his wife
Had two more lines but she didn't care
'Cause it was just like every other day before
The day she got divorced
Didn't feel any different than it ever had
She wasn't that sorry, wasn't that sad
Couldn't love him any less or hate him anymore
The day she got divorced
Kids are yakking with their hungry mouths
Dog scratching laying on the couch
Think she really outta clean this house, but what the hell
'Cause it's just as dirty as the day before
Yeah, she's divorced
"The Day She Got Divorced" is a country song sung by Reba McEntire. The lyrics describe a day in the life of a woman who recently got divorced. The song begins by describing how the woman wakes up, puts on makeup and makes strong coffee. As she reads the newspaper, she smokes a cigarette in a cloud of smoke. She then wakes up her children and drops them off at the neighbor's house. Then she drives to the county court to deal with child support issues. While in court, the judge informs her that her ex-husband is MIA, and the proceedings must begin without him. The woman leaves court and buys a bottle of alcohol. She then calls her boss and waits for him in a motel parking lot, where they have an affair. The song ends with her ignoring her messy house and her children with full mouths and a couch-scratching dog.
The song's lyrics were written by Reba McEntire and Shelby Kennedy, with the music composed by Kenny Greenburg. Reba McEntire released the song as part of her 1998 album, "If You See Him." The song did not do well on the charts, but it remains a favorite of many Reba McEntire fans.
Line by Line Meaning
She got up and put her makeup on
She tried to appear that everything was alright, and continued with her daily routine.
Made a pot of coffee extra strong
She needed an extra dose of caffeine to get her through the day ahead.
At the kitchen table sucking on a cigarette
She felt overwhelmed and helpless, trying to cope with the situation by smoking a cigarette.
Read the paper in a cloud of smoke
She was unable to concentrate and understand the news article, as she was lost in her own thoughts while smoking another cigarette.
While the dirty dinner dishes soaked
The reality of being alone with no partner to help with household chores started sinking in.
Woke up the kids and coaxed them out of bed
She tried to be a supportive mother and protect the kids from the negative impact of the divorce by acting strong and cheery.
Then she burnt the toast just like the day before
Her mind was preoccupied with the divorce and she struggled to focus, leading to her burning the toast, which reminded her of how her life was failing apart.
Left the kids with the girl next door
She had to leave the kids temporarily with someone she trusted, as she had to attend the court hearing.
Parked her car at the county court
She reached the court, seeking justice and fairness regarding child support payments.
Round and round 'bout the child support he'll never pay
The issue of the child support was unresolved, and she was frustrated with the ongoing court battles that seemed to have no end.
Judge said we're gonna have to start
The judge initiated the proceedings, as the other party was absent.
Without the party of the second part
The other party (husband) was absent, causing the court to proceed without his presence.
'Cause the party of the second part was MIA
The other party was found missing while the court hearing was in session.
He was getting drunk just like the day before
The other party was not taking responsibility and continuing his drinking habit without thinking about the impact it will have on his family.
Didn't feel any different than it ever had
After the divorce, she wasn't sad anymore but she wasn't exactly happy either, as the divorce just seemed to be an extension of the things that were already happening before.
She wasn't that sorry, wasn't that sad
She had resolved to the divorce and wasn't really that emotional about it anymore.
Couldn't love him any less or hate him anymore
Her feelings towards her ex-husband were stable, and the divorce didn't change it in any way.
Wasn't working, had the whole day off
She had the whole day to herself, but wasn't sure of what to do with her newfound free time.
Bought a bottle then she called her boss
She resorted to alcohol purchases, followed by a call to her boss seeking solace and support from someone familiar.
Waited for him at the hotel lot til he got there
She craved human company and waited for her boss to arrive.
First he told her that her hair looked nice
Her boss was trying to lighten the mood and make her feel good by complimenting her appearance.
Promised he was gonna leave his wife
Her boss made a promise he couldn't keep just to make her feel better in that moment of vulnerability.
Had two more lines but she didn't care
Her boss tried to sweet talk her with empty promises, but she had realized that it's better for her to handle things alone.
'Cause it was just like every other day before
Her boss was just like every other person; making promises that he couldn't keep.
Kids are yakking with their hungry mouths
The daily chaos of her kids was back and their needs came first, in spite of her emotional turmoil.
Dog scratching laying on the couch
The dog was at peace with itself, unaware of what the others were going through.
Think she really outta clean this house, but what the hell
She was overwhelmed by the chaos around her and didn't know how to start cleaning up the mess.
'Cause it's just as dirty as the day before
The house was in a state of disarray that was already present before the divorce and after the divorce it remained unchanged.
Yeah, she's divorced
The reality of her divorce hits her in a moment of calm amidst the chaos.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRANDY LYNN CLARK, SHANE MCANALLY, MARK D SANDERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Longbranchred1
I admit when I first heard this song, I didn't really like it but I kept listening and it grew on me. I now love it. It is different for her. I love the part where she laughs. Of course if REBA sang the phone book I would still buy it. She rocks.
Laura Foxworth
Only Reba is brave enough to sing it like it is!!!
Shawna Grewe
Love this lady’s voice! So great! So beautiful too!
ILOVEDUSTINFOREVER1
I love this song, and I love all of Reba's music :) <3
mlccH
I love Reba & her music . She sings with her heart , u can’t help but feel the emotion of her song
Kristin Middleton
Love this song, wonder why I've never heard it before?
cartash86
I'd have to agree cj.. I thought staying together for the kids was the best way to do it til my kids started seeing the abuse..I walked away after eight yrs..its one of the best thing I've ever done for my children..
V R
Same.
CJ Rennie
It's NEVER okay to stay together for the children's sake if two people make each other miserable.... It makes the children miserable too. It's not called being selfish.... It's called Keeping your children safe
V R
Yep.