Reba McEntire & Rex Linn Announce Engagement After 5 Years Together
Country music icon Reba McEntire is officially engaged to actor Rex Linn after five years of dating. The couple confirmed the happy news on the red carpet at Sunday night’s Primetime Emmy Awards, where they walked hand-in-hand before stopping for an interview with Live From E! host Zuri Hall.
Hall introduced Linn as McEntire’s fiancé during their chat, and the pair smiled while responding: “We’re having a blast on Happy’s Place and so glad to be here tonight.” Shortly after, a representative for McEntire confirmed the engagement to PEOPLE.
From Friends to Forever
McEntire and Linn first met back in 1991 while working on The Gambler and quickly bonded over their shared Oklahoma roots, their love of horses, and acting. “He made me laugh, and we became good buddies,” Reba later recalled.
The two remained friends for years before reconnecting romantically in 2020 on the set of Young Sheldon. Their relationship blossomed, with fans often affectionately dubbing them “Tater Tot and Sugar Tot,” the nicknames they use for one another.
Reba on Love & Faith
In past interviews, McEntire has been open about her deep affection for Linn. Speaking in 2024, she said she would gladly say “I do” if marriage was something he wanted to experience, noting: “He’s never been married before. So, if he wants to experience that, I’m OK with that.”
She later shared in a guest appearance on her sister Susie’s Circle TV show, Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith:
“I’ve waited 66 years for a man to pray with and to share a faith and love of the Lord and to be compassionate and have a compassionate heart. That’s very special.”
Looking Ahead
This marks McEntire’s third marriage. She was previously wed to Charlie Battles (1976–1987) and Narvel Blackstock (1989–2015).
For Reba, who has spent decades as one of country music’s most beloved voices, this new chapter with Linn is more than just romance — it’s the fulfillment of a long-awaited love built on laughter, faith, and companionship.