Reba McEntire Pays Tribute to Late Country Legend Loretta Lynn on Her Birthday

Reba McEntire may be a country music legend in her own right, but she still takes time to remember those who paved the way for her success. While performing at the 100-year celebration of the Grand Ole Opry in March 2025, McEntire expressed her appreciation for two other country greats: Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.

As Today reported, McEntire called both women her heroes, following her heartwarming speech by singing songs that made each icon famous. On April 14, McEntire shared a video of her performance of Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” in honor of a very special occasion: Lynn’s would-be 93rd birthday.

McEntire captioned the post, “Happy heavenly birthday to my friend and country music trailblazer,” and tagged Loretta Lynn’s official Instagram page, which is still active. Fans responded with plenty of heart emojis and their own birthday wishes for Lynn. As The New York Times reported, Lynn died at 90 in 2022.

McEntire Met Lynn When She Was Only 11 Years Old

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In a 2016 interview with her record label, Big Machine Label Group, McEntire shared that her connection to Lynn goes back decades. According to the singer, she first encountered Lynn as an 11-year-old girl in Oklahoma. As McEntire explained, she was starstruck when Lynn performed at a local rodeo. “That’s the first time I actually met her,” McEntire shared. “I whipped off my belt for her to sign, and man, I wish I still had that belt. I love Loretta Lynn.”

One of McEntire’s friends told Closer Weekly more about McEntire’s connection to Lynn, saying: “She was the ideal for Reba — confident, talented, nobody’s fool, and a woman who stood up for herself in her songs.” As the article explains, Lynn went on to mentor McEntire as she navigated her own career in the country music industry.

The Singer Posted a Lovely Tribute to Lynn When She Passed Away

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When Lynn passed away on October 4, 2022, thousands of fans and fellow musicians paid their respects and offered condolences. Her death was a massive loss for the country music world, and McEntire was among those who shared what Lynn meant to her on that sad day. The singer took to Instagram with a heartfelt post about her departed friend.

In the post, McEntire shared a sweet photo of Lynn and her. She compared Lynn to her mother because they were close in age and had similar personalities. McEntire concluded her post with a touching reflection on Lynn’s legacy for the women of country music: “I sure appreciate her paving the rough and rocky road for all us girl singers.”