Reba McEntire and longtime partner Rex Linn are engaged, People magazine confirmed after the couple were referred to as fiancés during an interview ahead of the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
During an appearance in footage published by E! Online, a reporter addressed Linn as McEntire's fiancé and the couple did not correct the reference. A representative for McEntire did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The engagement follows a five-year romantic relationship that grew out of a decades-long friendship. McEntire and Linn first met in 1991 on the set of the film The Gambler and remained friends for years before reconnecting in 2020, after McEntire guest-starred on Linn’s television series Young Sheldon.
McEntire has publicly described the early months of their relationship as unusual and formative. She told E! News that the pair were separated from January until June 16, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and developed intimacy through texting and phone calls rather than physical proximity. "It was very special. It was a great way to find out about each other without ever touching," she said.
McEntire, a country music star and actress, has spoken candidly in recent years about her mixed feelings toward marriage. In 2024 she told E! News that after two divorces she did not have "much faith in…being bound by a piece of paper or a ring," though she added that she was committed to Linn and would be open to marriage if he wanted to pursue it. Linn, an actor known for roles in film and television, has been described in interviews by McEntire as never having been married.
The couple has shared anecdotes about how their romance began. On The Drew Barrymore Show, McEntire recounted a dinner that she said felt particularly special and recalled asking Linn why they had not dated earlier; he reportedly answered, "Probably because you would have killed me." Fans and interviewers have sometimes called Linn by the nickname "Sugar Tot," a term McEntire has used affectionately.
McEntire was previously married to manager Narvel Blackstock; the couple divorced in 2015. Her first marriage was to cattle rancher Charlie Battles, from 1976 until 1987. She has characterized her relationship with Linn as one built on knowing each other's personalities and faults rather than on immediate physical attraction.
Public details about the couple’s engagement — including when it was announced publicly, whether a proposal took place and any plans for a wedding — were not disclosed in initial reports. Media outlets confirmed the engagement after the E! Online footage; representatives for McEntire and Linn had not provided immediate comment to requests for further information.