Exactly 40 years ago this week – a barely legal, 21 year old, Reba McEntire was excited as her first single was released to radio. 5 weeks later it fizzled at #88.

In other words, success didn’t come quickly for Reba. It took 7 tries before she had a top 10, and it took 17 singles over a span of 6 ½ years before she was able to celebrate a number 1 record.

And for perspective of what was going on around her at that time…Gas was 59 cents a gallon, Rocky was Movie of The Year, a new company named Apple had just formed, and Laverne & Shirley was the hot new comedy on television.

It’s rare that anyone continues to top their own game after this amount of time, but Reba does. Last year, the first single from her current album debuted at #1 on iTunes, making it her 36th #1 song. And this week she plays one of the most famous stages in the world as her residency with Brooks & Dunn at Caesars Palace continues in Las Vegas. Go Reba!

More Reba Notes
“I Don’t Want To Be A One Night Stand” was released May 8, 1976.

For more on Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas: http://www.thecolosseum.com/theresidents/artist/10533