Reba McEntire and actor Rex Linn announced their engagement Sunday on the Emmys red carpet, the couple confirmed during an interview that aired on E! News.
When an E! reporter referred to Linn as McEntire’s “fiancé,” the country music star, 70, responded, “We’re having a blast on ‘Happy’s Place’ and so glad to be here tonight.” McEntire, who presented the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, was seen wearing a black ring on her left ring finger. Her representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Page Six.
McEntire and Linn, 68, have been publicly dating since January 2020. The pair first met and became friends on the set of the 1980 television movie The Gambler. They posed together on the red carpet at the ceremony and McEntire joined Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman to sing the theme to The Golden Girls, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” as part of the show’s 40th anniversary tribute.
In remarks to Page Six last October, McEntire said she had left the decision about marriage to Linn. “I said [to him], ‘If you want to that’s fine with me,’” she said at the Bring Change to Mind gala. “I’ve been married twice, he’s never been married so if he wants to that’s up to him.” She has described their relationship as filled with laughter, saying, “He makes me laugh all the time. That’s the best thing about our relationship. We make each other laugh,” and adding, “We say how dorky we both are and we have fun … We like each other and we love each other.”
McEntire was previously married to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987 and to Narvel Blackstock from 1989 to 2015; she is the mother of 35-year-old son Shelby from her marriage to Blackstock. Linn is best known for a long career in film and television, including roles that span several decades.
The engagement marks a new chapter for McEntire, who balanced a high-profile music and acting career long before her relationship with Linn. The announcement at the Emmy Awards, where she was part of both a tribute performance and the presentation of a major acting award, highlighted the couple’s public presence together since 2020.
Page Six reported the engagement and noted that McEntire and Linn have often spoken publicly about the joy they find in each other’s company. The couple’s confirmation on the red carpet provided the first public acknowledgment of their engagement.
Further details about a wedding or plans were not released Sunday.