Since first entering the Country music scene in 1976, scoring her first hit in 1983, and remaining one of the biggest names in Country music for 47 years, Reba McEntire knows what it’s like to work hard for music success.
LISTEN NOW: Reba McEntire shares career advice she received from Conway Twitty, Red Steagall, and more
While her great success is a product of her own hard work, determination and talent, she admits she had some sound advice from a number of the legends that came before her that served as her guiding light. “I usually say, ‘Be careful what you wish for and be specific,’ because this is a hard, hard way of life, but it’s very rewarding,” Reba told Audacy’s Rob + Holly when asked what advice she has for up and coming artists.
“If you surround yourself with great people — like Red Steagall told me to do — and treat it like a business — which Conway Twitty and Mel Tillis told me to do, and The Statler Brothers — ‘Treat it like a business and it’ll take great care of you.’ If you ‘hoop it off’ — like Grandpap used to say — it’ll let ya. You gotta tend to business and show up, be on time, be prepared and have fun.”
McEntire is full of wisdom she’s gained from across her nearly 50-year career and is in the perfect position to pass it on to the next generation of artists as she is a coach on the current season of NBC’s The Voice.
“That’s something I see a lot on 'The Voice' with these young kids,” she said of struggling to keep their heads up when things get tough. “They’re in their teens — and if they don’t do real well, they get so upset. It’s all we can do to say, ‘Listen, you’re just starting out. Keep working on it. Keep working on your craft. Sing everywhere you can and have fun with it… Have fun. Take a deep breath, move forward.’”
Catch more of Reba’s wisdom every Monday and Tuesday night on The Voice and to hear more from her interview with Rob + Holly above.