At 70, Reeba McIntyre finally tells the truth about Kelly Clarkson. Reeba McIntyre was born Reebanel McIntyre on March 28th, 1955 in Mallister, Oklahoma. She grew up in a family deeply connected to rodeo culture and the rural traditions of the American West. Her father, Clark McIntyre, was a champion steer roper, and her mother, Jquelin, was a school teacher who recognized her children’s musical talents early on.
Reeba, along with her siblings, learned to sing at an early age, often performing harmonies together during car rides. Music was not just a pastime, but a way of life. And this foundation would eventually guide Reeba toward an extraordinary career that blended her rural roots with the glamour of stardom. From modest beginnings, Reeba’s journey to fame was far from instant.
She was first discovered while singing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in 1974. Country star Redsteagle heard her performance and was impressed by her natural vocal strength and authenticity. With his encouragement, she traveled to Nashville where she eventually signed a recording contract with Mercury Records.
Her first singles in the mid 1970s achieved only limited success. But Reeba was determined. She worked tirelessly balancing her music career with her education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she studied elementary education and maintained her natural downto- earthth personality. By the 1980s, Reeba began to break through the competitive world of country music.
Songs like How Blue and Somebody Should Leave showcased her emotional delivery and crystal clearar voice, catapulting her to stardom. Her sound, rooted in traditional country, resonated with fans who craved authenticity during an era when country music was beginning to lean toward crossover pop. Reeba distinguished herself with her ability to interpret lyrics in a way that felt deeply personal, as though she was telling her own story through every song.
Her live performances were equally compelling, marked by warmth, charm, and an unwavering connection to her audience. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Reeba McIntyre rose to superstardom, becoming one of the bestselling female country artists of all time. Her ability to convey deep emotion in songs such as Whoever’s in New England and The Last One to Know made her a household name.
She had a knack for choosing songs that told stories of heartache, resilience, and everyday struggles, resonating deeply with fans who saw their own lives reflected in her lyrics. With her fiery red hair, commanding stage presence, and heartfelt performances, she carved out her own place in the country music world.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Reeba achieved superstar status, not only as a country singer, but also as a versatile entertainer. She earned numerous awards including Grammy Awards, Country Music Association, CMA Awards, and Academy of Country Music, ACM Awards, solidifying her reputation as a powerhouse vocalist. Her albums consistently topped the charts and hits like Fancy, Is There Life Out There? and the night the lights went out in Georgia became anthems that showcased her remarkable ability to combine storytelling with dramatic performance.
Beyond her recordings, Reeba expanded into acting, starring in films such as Tremors and later headlining her own successful television sitcom Reeba, which ran for six seasons and introduced her to an even wider audience outside the country music sphere. Reeba’s personal life also shaped her career and legacy.
She faced both triumphs and tragedies, including the devastating 1991 plane crash that killed several members of her touring band. Despite the grief, she continued to honor their memory by pressing forward, showing resilience and strength in the face of loss. Her marriages, including her long relationship with manager Narll Blackstock, played a significant role in her personal and professional journey, though she has spoken candidly about the challenges of divorce and starting over.
Through it all, Reeba’s authenticity and willingness to share her struggles with her fans made her not only admired, but deeply loved. Reeba McIntyre’s personal life, much like her career, has been filled with both joy and challenges, and her marriages played significant roles in shaping her journey.
Her first husband was Charlie Battles, whom she married in 1976. Battles was a champion steer wrestler, wellknown in the rodeo world, and significantly older than Reeba. At the time of their marriage, Reeba was still at the beginning of her career, just starting to find her footing in the country music industry.
Charlie was also a rancher, and together the couple shared a love of the western lifestyle. For a period, Reeba lived the life of a ranch wife, helping with chores and balancing the demands of a blossoming career with the expectations of married life. However, as her fame grew and her career required more time and dedication, strains began to appear in the relationship, Reeba has spoken candidly about the challenges of this marriage, explaining that their goals were often at odds.
Charlie wanted a traditional home life while Reeba’s star was rising and pulling her toward a larger world of performance, recording, and travel. Despite over a decade of marriage, the union eventually could not withstand the differences, and in 1987, the couple divorced. Though painful, this was a turning point in Reeba’s life, freeing her to pursue her music with full dedication and laying the groundwork for the incredible career expansion she would soon experience.
Two years later in 1989, Reeba found love again when she married Narll Blackstock, who had been a steel guitar player in her band before eventually becoming her manager. Narll was not only deeply involved in her professional life, but also became central to her personal one. Their marriage marked a new chapter for Reeba.
This time, her personal and professional worlds were closely intertwined. The couple created Starruck Entertainment, a management and production company, which played a huge role in turning Reeba into one of the most successful and recognizable figures in country music. Narville provided strategic guidance and support that complemented Reeba’s extraordinary talent and work ethic, and together they became one of Nashville’s most powerful couples.
Their marriage also expanded Reeba’s family life. Through Narville, she became a stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage. And in 1990, the couple welcomed their son, Shelby Blackstock, who would later grow up to become a professional race car driver. For over two decades, Reeba and Narll’s relationship seemed to be both a strong personal partnership and a highly productive professional collaboration.
However, after 26 years of marriage, the couple announced their divorce in 2015. a decision that stunned many of their fans. Reeba herself admitted that the separation was not her choice and that it was one of the most difficult and heartbreaking experiences of her life. Still, she displayed the resilience she had always been known for, continuing to maintain her career, her family ties, and her characteristic warmth even during this personal trial.
At the age of 70, country music icon Reeba McIntyre is reflecting on her life and career with a kind of openness that only comes with time, experience, and perspective. In recent conversations, she has begun sharing her true feelings about her former daughter-in-law and fellow powerhouse vocalist, Kelly Clarkson.
For years, speculation surrounded the nature of their relationship. Were they close? Were there tensions? And how did the dynamic between them change after Clarkson’s divorce from McIntyre’s former stepson Brandon Blackstock? Reeba, never one to shy away from speaking her mind, has decided that the time has come to clear the air.
Kelly is one of the strongest, most talented women I’ve ever known, Reeba explained with a mixture of admiration and warmth. For McIntyre, Clarkson was never just the girl who married into her family. She was an artist in her own right who brought a fresh energy to country and pop music alike. Reeba vividly remembers Clarkson’s meteoric rise to fame after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, saying, “I saw her perform back then, and even though she was young and still finding her style, I knew she had that rare gift that comes along once
in a generation.” Her voice can knock you flat on the floor and her heart comes through every note she sings. When Kelly married Brandon Blackstock in 2013, the connection between Reeba and Kelly deepened beyond the music industry. Reeba had already known Clarkson as a colleague and friend, but now she welcomed her into the family.
We laughed a lot together. Kelly has this downto-earth sense of humor that reminds me of home. Reeba admitted the two even shared the stage on multiple occasions, delighting fans with their powerhouse duets. Their rendition of Because of you during their 2007 collaboration remains one of Reeba’s favorite performances.
When you sing with Kelly, you don’t just trade lines, you share a story. She puts everything she has into her music and it makes you want to rise to the occasion and give your very best. However, Reeba also acknowledges that life is rarely simple, especially when personal relationships and family ties intertwine with careers lived in the spotlight.
When Kelly and Brandon went through a very public and painful divorce, the situation inevitably touched Reeba as well. Divorce is hard, no matter who you are or what your life looks like. I love my family deeply, and that includes Kelly. So, when their marriage ended, my heart hurt for both of them.
I didn’t pick sides. I just wanted what was best for everyone involved, especially the kids. Her honesty reveals not just affection for Clarkson, but also the balancing act Reeba has had to perform as a mother figure and mentor in the family. She was clear that her respect for Kelly never diminished. Some people think that when a relationship like that ends, you stop being close.
But love doesn’t just disappear. I’ll always care for Kelly. She’s a wonderful mother, a devoted artist, and she has a spirit that can’t be broken. Looking back, Reeba is especially proud of how Kelly handled herself during those challenging years. She stood tall. She didn’t let the hard times silence her, and that’s something I admire.
Kelly has always been true to herself, and that’s a lesson we can all learn from. I know what it feels like to go through divorce, and I know the pain of trying to find yourself again. Kelly did it with courage and grace. In sharing her truth, Reeba hopes to put to rest any rumors that she and Kelly were ever estanged.
The truth is simple. I love Kelly Clarkson. I always have and I always will. She’s family no matter what and I’ll keep cheering her on every step of the way. At 70 years old, Reeba McIntyre has reached a point in her life and career where she speaks with a wisdom that only comes from decades of living through triumphs and tragedies.
Known as the queen of country, she has not only sung about heartbreak and resilience, but has also lived through difficult losses in her personal life. That perspective has made her a source of comfort and strength for those around her, particularly her former step-daughter, Kelly Clarkson, and Kelly’s two children with Brandon Blackstock, River Rose, and Remington.
Recently, Reeba opened up about how the children are coping with the devastating loss of their father, Brandon. And her words carry both gravity and compassion. “Kelly’s kids are so strong, stronger than a lot of adults I know,” Reeba shared, her voice heavy with emotion. “When children lose a parent, especially at such a young age, the world becomes a confusing place.
But River and Remy, with Kelly guiding them, have shown resilience that inspires me. The death of Brandon Blackstock was not only a shock to his family, but also to those who knew him through his long connection to the music industry. As Reeba pointed out, the children were forced to confront grief earlier than most people do.
I’ve been around those babies since they were little, she said. Watching them go through this has been heartbreaking, but at the same time, I see in them a light and a strength that I know Brandon would be proud of. Reeba also highlighted the important role Kelly has played in helping the children process their loss. Kelly has been remarkable.
Reeba explained, “She’s been their rock, making sure they know it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to ask questions, and it’s okay to remember their daddy in their own way. She’s giving them the tools to grieve while still celebrating the life that Brandon lived. For Reeba, this subject hits especially close to home. Having lost her own band members and manager in a devastating plane crash in 1991, she knows the unique shape of grief.
“I know what it’s like to have your world ripped apart in an instant,” she said. “That’s why I want to be there for Kelly and those kids in any way I can.” Grief doesn’t go away. It changes you. But it can also make you stronger if you’ve got love and support around you. McIntyre admitted that the children are still young and that their journey with grief will be ongoing.
River and Remy are processing it differently. She noted. River is older. She has more questions. She wants to understand. Remy being younger just wants to feel safe and loved. And Kelly makes sure they both feel that every single day. She also emphasized that allowing children to keep memories alive is one of the most healing things a family can do.
Kelly tells them stories about their dad. They look at pictures together. They talk about the good times that keeps Brandon present in their hearts. And when they do that, the kids don’t feel like they’ve lost him completely. They carry him with them. Reeba admitted her admiration for Kelly. Not just as a powerhouse singer, but as a mother.
I’ve always loved Kelly ever since she came into the family, she said. But seeing her now, seeing the way she puts those kids first and carries herself with grace while grieving, too, it’s just remarkable. I couldn’t be prouder of her. For fans of both Reeba and Kelly, this reminder of their enduring bond offers comfort during a painful chapter.
Despite divorces and changing family dynamics, love and respect have remained constant between the two women. “Family is family, no matter what happens,” Reeba stated. Kelly and those kids will always be family to me, and I’ll always be here for them. In the end, Reeba’s words shine a light on the reality of grief. It is painful.
It is lifelong, but it can be carried with love and strength. Through her compassion, she offers both Kelly Clarkson’s children and fans everywhere a message of hope that even in loss, the bonds of family and memory can help carry us forward.
