Despite many <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music">music</a> fans weighing in on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beyonce">Beyoncé&#8217;s</a> cover of the classic 1973 Dolly Parton single “Jolene,” one country star is opting to stay out of it.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/reba-mcentire">Reba McEntire</a> had a short and definitive response when asked by a <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/04/04/reba-mcentire-laugh-joy-behar-dolly-parton-jolene-anti-feminist-beyonce/">TMZ</a> interviewer, &#8220;Do you prefer one [version] over the other?&#8221;
&#8220;Nope [&#8230;] bye!&#8221; McEntire replied.
The interviewer asked during the same conversation what the “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music">Queen of Country</a>” thinks about Beyoncé experimenting with the genre on her latest album release, Act II: Cowboy Carter.
“Oh, lots of great things,” McEntire said. “I think she is wonderful and am glad to have her in country.”
Reviews of the song have been mixed so far, with critics questioning Beyoncé’s decision to drastically change the lyrics and overall tone of the song. While Parton’s “Jolene” presents an insecure and vulnerable narrator afraid of losing her man, Beyoncé’s version is full of threats and posturing. 
Parton seemed to appreciate the new spin, however, sharing her support via Instagram on the day of the new song’s release. “Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!” the country music legend <a href="https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/1773785045230030897">wrote</a>.
Beyoncé previously said her decision to dabble in the country genre was inspired in part by negative experiences she previously had with that audience. The Grammy Award winner said she faced backlash after performing alongside The Chicks at the 2016 CMA’s. 
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She also claimed the new release wasn’t really country. “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” she wrote on Instagram when announcing the new album. 
“Jolene” wasn’t the only cover featured on the new album. Former Beatles band member Paul McCartney had words of praise for Beyoncé’s version of the song, “Blackbird.”
“I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird.’ I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place,” McCartney said in an Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5WHmjnNPZj/">post</a>. “I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!”
“I spoke to her on FaceTime and she thanked me for writing it and letting her do it,” he continued. “I told her the pleasure was all mine and I thought she had done a killer version of the song. When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now. Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud.”

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire Gives Two-Word Response When Asked To Weigh In On Beyoncé’s And Dolly Parton’s Versions Of ‘Jolene’

Reba McEntire Gives Two-Word Response When Asked To Weigh In On Beyoncé's And Dolly Parton's Versions Of 'Jolene'

Beyonce

Country Music

Entertainment

Music

Country singer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/reba-mcentire">Reba McEntire</a> is being praised for her rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” during Sunday night’s broadcast of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/super-bowl">Super Bowl LVIII</a>.
The moment was especially poignant for the 68-year-old star as she had previously sang the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-anthem">national anthem</a> fifty years prior at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma when she was just 19 years old. This moment is believed to be the place where she was discovered.
While many modern artists have been criticized for trying to change up the song and make it their own, McEntire is being praised for keeping her version traditional. The singer and actress wore a sparkling outfit and big belt buckle as she belted out the lyrics with the accompaniment of a pre-recorded horn section, per <a href="https://variety.com/2024/music/news/reba-mcentire-national-anthem-2024-super-bowl-1235907333/">Variety</a>.
The entire performance was interspersed with patriotic imagery, including fireworks, American flags, and troops stationed abroad.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/reba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reba</a> sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVIII! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SBLVIII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SBLVIII</a> <a href="https://t.co/yEQi89hYGg">pic.twitter.com/yEQi89hYGg</a>
&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756823157359423954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Reba McEntire proving why she&#8217;s a living legend,&#8221; one social media user commented on X. &#8220;No gimmicks needed.&#8221;
Another agreed, <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Nomad_News/status/1756823752795714008">writing</a>, &#8220;An all-American choice here.&#8221;
“Now THAT&#8217;S how you show patriotism! Thank you Reba!” a third commenter <a href="https://twitter.com/Carrol10Venetta/status/1756829654248206627">echoed</a>. 
McEntire shared her thoughts on how she got ready to sing on football’s biggest night.
“I prepare by being prepared,” she said at a press conference. “I’ve been singing the national anthem in the shower, when we get in the car… Rex (Linn), my boyfriend, is a huge football fan. He’ll say, ‘Sing it one more time.’ I’ll say, ‘I think I know the words real good right now, so I’m all right.&#8217;”
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“It means that I get to sing a very special song for all American people around the world who have really worked so hard for our freedom and to give us peace…. It’s not about me. I’m a representation of this song, and I’m just honored to get to sing it. It’s a good one. I’ve been doing it for 50 years and I’m really proud to get to sing it,” McEntire added.
Country singers have been tasked with singing the national anthem before the last four Super Bowl games, including Chris Stapleton in 2023, Mickey Guyton in 2022, and Eric Church as part of a duet with R&amp;B singer Jazmine Sullivan in 2021. 
Demi Lovato was the last non-country star to take on the “Star-Spangled Banner” before the 2020 Super Bowl game.

Reba McEntire Praised For National Anthem Performance At Super Bowl, Said ‘It’s Not About Me’

Reba McEntire Praised For National Anthem Performance At Super Bowl, Said 'It's Not About Me'

Celebrities

National Anthem

Super Bowl

U.S.

Country superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/made-the-difficult-decision-country-legend-reba-mcentire-postpones-handful-of-shows-per-doctors-orders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reba McEntire</a> is coming to NBC where she will headline a yet-untitled sitcom that has scored a pilot order for the network.
The 68-year-old country singer will team up once again with former &#8220;Reba&#8221; showrunner Kevin Abbott, who will write the script for the project, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reba-mcentire-comedy-nbc-1235810074/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The </a>Hollywood Reporter.
The music legend will also work with executive producers from &#8220;Reba,&#8221; Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis, on the project, <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/reba-mcentire-nbc-comedy-pilot-1235808110/">Deadline</a> noted.
The series will reportedly center around the music legend whose character is less than pleased to learn she has a half sister and a new business partner after inheriting her father&#8217;s restaurant.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reba McEntire to Headline New Sitcom a Decade After Her Last Turn as a TV Leading Lady — Get the Details! <a href="https://t.co/i6kiDGACBL">https://t.co/i6kiDGACBL</a>
— People (@people) <a href="https://twitter.com/people/status/1752440580989169847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
In addition to the previous team who worked on her popular WB/CW series joining the show, Julie Abbott will also executive produce the new comedy, Deadline noted.
McEntire&#8217;s &#8220;Reba&#8221; series debuted in 2001 and ran for six seasons. The hitmaker previously talked about the idea of rebooting the series with stars such as Steve Howey, Christopher Rich, JoAnna Garcia, among others, <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1360319/reba-mcentire-weighs-in-on-a-possible-reba-reboot">E! News</a> noted.
&#8220;We talked about that a lot,&#8221; McEntire exclusively told the outlet in 2023. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s ever going to come to fruition, but maybe one of these days.&#8221;
Last year, Reba added to her acting credits when she starred in the ABC series &#8220;Big Sky.&#8221; She appeared in the series&#8217; third season where she played Sunny Barnes alongside real life boyfriend Rex Linn, Deadline noted.
The untitled &#8220;Reba&#8221; comedy is the first pilot order of NBC&#8217;s for the 2024 season which was greatly impacted by last year&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/studios-load-up-on-ai-specialists-as-actors-writers-remain-on-picket-line" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writers&#8217; and actors&#8217; strikes</a>, THR noted.
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NFL and Roc Nation recently dropped news — via posts on <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1747972040177713243?s=20">X</a> — that this year&#8217;s &#8220;Super Bowl LVIII Pregame Lineup&#8221; includes McEntire performing &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner.&#8221;
The &#8220;Fancy&#8221; hitmaker later shared the news with her followers and <a href="https://x.com/reba/status/1747972846108725676?s=20">wrote</a>, &#8220;I&#8217;m honored to be part of something as big and historic as the Super Bowl coming to Las Vegas for the first time!&#8221;
Reba, a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/01/18/post-malone-and-reba-mcentire-will-perform-super-bowl-pregame-nfl-announces/?sh=1f57b9ed4054">three-time Grammy Award winner</a>, spoke to <a href="https://x.com/CBSMornings/status/1747992554161791410?s=20">CBS Mornings</a> about getting the call to perform on the world&#8217;s biggest stage and admitted at first she wanted to think about it. However, Linn spoke up immediately and said excitedly, &#8220;Yes she&#8217;ll do it, absolutely.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-music-star-will-perform-national-anthem-at-super-bowl-lviii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Country Music Star Will Perform National Anthem At Super Bowl LVIII</a>

Reba McEntire-2

Country Superstar Coming To NBC With New Sitcom

The Voice

Country music superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/made-the-difficult-decision-country-legend-reba-mcentire-postpones-handful-of-shows-per-doctors-orders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reba McEntire</a> will perform the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVIII when the best of the NFL teams go against each other in Las Vegas in February.
On Thursday the NFL and Roc Nation dropped the news — via posts on <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1747972040177713243?s=20">X</a> — that this year&#8217;s &#8220;Super Bowl LVIII Pregame Lineup&#8221; includes the 68-year-old country music singer performing &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner.&#8221; She will be joined by pop star Post Malone singing &#8220;America The Beautiful&#8221; and Andra Day performing &#8220;Lift Every Voice and Sing.&#8221;
McEntire later shared the news with her followers and <a href="https://x.com/reba/status/1747972846108725676?s=20">wrote</a>, &#8220;I&#8217;m honored to be part of something as big and historic as the Super Bowl coming to Las Vegas for the first time!&#8221;
Reba, a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/01/18/post-malone-and-reba-mcentire-will-perform-super-bowl-pregame-nfl-announces/?sh=1f57b9ed4054">three-time Grammy Award winner</a>, has been topping the <a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/reba-mcentire/chart-history/csi/">country music charts</a> for almost four decades and is best known for such hit songs as &#8220;Fancy,&#8221; &#8220;Is There Life Out There,&#8221; and &#8220;The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Your Super Bowl LVIII Pregame Lineup: 
National Anthem: <a href="https://twitter.com/reba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reba</a> 
America The Beautiful: <a href="https://twitter.com/PostMalone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PostMalone</a> 
Lift Every Voice and Sing: <a href="https://twitter.com/AndraDayMusic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndraDayMusic</a>
See you on February 11th 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/RocNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RocNation</a>
📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SBLVIII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SBLVIII</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLonCBS</a> <a href="https://t.co/i3OPvxmYsJ">pic.twitter.com/i3OPvxmYsJ</a>
— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1747972040177713243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://x.com/CBSMornings/status/1747992554161791410?s=20">CBS Mornings</a> about getting the call to perform on the world&#8217;s biggest stage, McEntire admitted at first she wanted to think about it. However, her boyfriend, Rex Linn, spoke up immediately and said excitedly, &#8220;Yes she&#8217;ll do it, absolutely.&#8221;
Last year, the NFL shared the exciting news that R&amp;B superstar <a href="https://x.com/AppleMusic/status/1705937756885582266?s=20">Usher</a> had been picked to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.
It comes months after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-calls-rihannas-super-bowl-performance-worst-lip-sync-ever">Rihanna&#8217;s</a> halftime performance during <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/super-bowl">Super Bowl LVII</a> in Arizona, which was called the &#8220;worst lip sync ever&#8221; by fans of the game on X (formerly Twitter).
Many were quick to note as the singer danced, while suspended on platforms that looked like they were floating in the air, that it appeared that she was lip-syncing some of her biggest hits like, &#8220;Only Girl (In the World),&#8221; and &#8220;Umbrella&#8221; in the 13-minute long performance, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/13/rihanna-accused-of-lip-syncing-at-super-bowl-halftime-show/?utm_source=NYPSportsTwitter&amp;sr_share=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=SocialFlow">New York Post</a> noted.
&#8220;Rihanna not even having the mic near her mouth while the lyrics are playing. Why bother doing the halftime show if you&#8217;re not even gonna try and lip sync, bizarre,&#8221; one person wrote, according to the New York Post. 
&#8220;Amazing how Rihanna is able to keep singing even when she puts the mic aside and doesn&#8217;t move her lips at all,&#8221; another wrote.
One performance that was widely celebrated at the 2023 Super Bowl was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chris-stapleton-delivers-moving-rendition-of-national-anthem-at-super-bowl-lvii">Chris Stapleton’s</a> moving rendition of &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/super-bowl-champ-proposes-all-black-vs-all-white-bowl-sick-of-white-guys-commenting-on-football" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Super Bowl Champ Proposes &#8216;All-Black Vs. All-White Bowl,&#8217; &#8216;Sick&#8217; Of &#8216;White Guys Commenting On Football&#8217;</a>

Las Vegas Raiders Announce Allegiant Stadium To Host Super Bowl LVIII

Country Music Star Will Perform National Anthem At Super Bowl LVIII

Post Malone

Country singer Reba McEntire criticized Friday a new Tennessee law that bans drag shows from spaces where children could see them.
At the beginning of March, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill taking effect April 1 that will ban “adult cabaret entertainment,” including drag shows, on public property or where minors can witness it. State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a cosponsor of the bill, tweeted, “This bill gives confidence to parents that they can take their kids to a public or private show and will not be blindsided by a sexualized performance.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My bill, Senate Bill 3, is now headed to <a href="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovBillLee</a> to become law. This bill gives confidence to parents that they can take their kids to a public or private show and will not be blindsided by a sexualized performance.
&mdash; Jack Johnson (@SenJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnson/status/1631334571273854993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Asked by <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-03-31/reba-mcentire-drag-law-tennessee-hollywood-bowl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Los Angeles Times</a> about the bill, McEntire responded, “I wish they would spend that much time and energy and money on feeding the homeless children in those two counties.”
When asked if she was surprised that the bill was passed, she replied, “Disappointed.”
“You know your take on the drag bill is potentially alienating to some in your audience,” the Times claimed.
“Boy, why? I mean, we’ve got a real problem in this country, and to be worrying about men wanting to dress up as women? God bless ’em to wear those high heels — I feel for ’em. But let’s center our attention on something that really needs attention,” McEntire answered, then added, “I try to stay away from disagreements and confrontations.”
Someone who violates the new Tennessee law the first time may be charged with a Class A misdemeanor; subsequent offenses will be classified as a Class E felony.
In June 2021, McEntire <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/reba-mcentire-south-dakota-gop-b1864721.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted her irritation</a> that organizers for a Republican party fundraiser, at which South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was a guest, listed her as a “special guest.”
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“Last night, an invitation to a political fundraiser with my name attached was sent out without my knowledge or permission. I had and have no plans to attend this event and had told the event organizers as such,” she tweeted.
“Throughout my career, I have stated that I do not get involved in politics and that remains true today,” she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Throughout my career, I have stated that I do not get involved in politics and that remains true today.
&mdash; Reba McEntire (@reba) <a href="https://twitter.com/reba/status/1403344278730981383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Representatives for Noem’s gubernatorial campaign claimed McEntire had known about the fundraiser.
“The Kristi for Governor campaign follows standard operating procedure when it comes to confirming and listing hosts for the Governor’s events,” a campaign representative stated, adding that there was “written confirmation” that McEntire had planned to come and perform.

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Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire Gives Two-Word Response When Asked To Weigh In On Beyoncé’s And Dolly Parton’s Versions Of ‘Jolene’

Reba McEntire Praised For National Anthem Performance At Super Bowl, Said ‘It’s Not About Me’

Country Superstar Coming To NBC With New Sitcom

Country Music Star Will Perform National Anthem At Super Bowl LVIII

Reba McEntire Rips New Tennessee Law Protecting Children From Drag Shows