Reba McEntire’s name is closely associated with country music, television and a career that has lasted for decades. Yet before she became one of Nashville’s best-known stars, she was part of a close Oklahoma family where music, ranch life and rodeo were woven into everyday life.
Reba grew up with three siblings: older sister Alice Foran, older brother Pake McEntire and younger sister Susie McEntire-Eaton. The McEntire children were raised on their family’s large ranch near Chockie, Oklahoma, where their mother, Jacqueline, encouraged their musical abilities.
Three of the siblings eventually performed together as the Singing McEntires, giving the family an early connection to the entertainment world.
Alice Foran
Alice Foran is Reba’s oldest sibling and took a very different professional path from her famous younger sister.
While Reba and Pake pursued careers connected to music and entertainment, Alice chose public service. She worked as a social worker and later held a position as a county director with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Her role within the family has often been described as that of a dependable, grounding presence. Reba has spoken warmly about Alice over the years, including in her autobiography, where she portrayed her older sister as an important source of stability for the family.
Alice’s decision to remain outside show business also meant she avoided much of the public attention that followed Reba and Pake.
Pake McEntire
Del Stanley “Pake” McEntire, born in 1953, followed both sides of the family tradition. Like his father, he developed a connection with rodeo, while his musical ambitions eventually took him into country music.
Pake recorded during the 1980s and achieved a notable country hit with “Savin’ My Love for You.” His career gave him an opportunity to establish himself as a performer rather than simply being known as Reba’s brother.
Rodeo remained another important part of his life. He became involved in steer roping and continued the family’s strong connection with Oklahoma ranch and western culture.
Unlike Reba, whose career expanded into acting, television and other areas of entertainment, Pake eventually stepped away from the national spotlight. He has maintained a considerably more private life while continuing his connection to ranching in Oklahoma.
Susie McEntire-Eaton
Susie McEntire-Eaton is Reba’s younger sister and another member of the family who developed a professional career in music.
Born in 1957, Susie initially worked alongside Reba, including serving as a backup singer during the early years of Reba’s career. She later established her own identity as a Christian and gospel-country performer.
Her music has included contemporary Christian material as well as country influences, and she has earned recognition for her work in the Christian music community.
Susie has also remained connected to her Oklahoma roots and family. Her career eventually earned her a place in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, reflecting her contribution to the state’s musical heritage.
The Singing McEntires
The siblings’ musical story began long before Reba became a country superstar.
During their school years, Reba, Pake and Susie performed together as the Singing McEntires. Their mother encouraged the children to develop their vocal abilities, while their upbringing exposed them to the traditions of country music and western performance.
The group performed locally and even made radio appearances, giving the children an early taste of performing before Reba launched her solo career.
For Reba, those experiences were more than childhood memories. They helped develop the confidence and stage skills that would later become central to her career.
Ranch Roots
The McEntire siblings were raised in a world far removed from the modern Nashville spotlight.
Their family lived on an enormous ranch in southeastern Oklahoma, where their father, Clark McEntire, was a respected steer roper. Rodeo was an important part of the household, while their mother Jacqueline played a major role in nurturing the children’s musical interests.
That combination of ranch life and music gave the siblings an unusual upbringing. Reba eventually carried both influences into her public image, becoming one of country music’s most recognizable performers while retaining a strong connection to her Oklahoma background.
Different Paths
The most interesting aspect of Reba’s family story is that her three siblings did not simply follow identical careers.
Pake entered country music and rodeo. Susie developed a successful Christian music career. Alice pursued social work and public service.
Their choices created four very different adult lives from the same Oklahoma upbringing.
Reba’s extraordinary success ultimately made her the most recognizable member of the family, but her siblings played important roles in the story that came before the fame.
Reba McEntire’s career has taken her from Oklahoma stages to major country music awards, Hollywood productions and television screens. Through those changes, her family background has remained an important part of her story.
Alice, Pake and Susie each contributed something different to the McEntire family legacy. One chose public service, another combined music with ranching and rodeo, while Susie built her own place in Christian music.
