Reba McEntire Honors Loretta Lynn at Opry Centennial
At the Grand Ole Opry’s 100-year celebration this March, Reba McEntire paused her own performance to honor the women who helped shape her path: Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.
“Those two are my heroes,” Reba told the sold-out Nashville crowd before stepping into renditions of their signature songs. On April 14 — what would have been Loretta’s 93rd birthday — McEntire revisited the moment on social media, posting video of her fiery performance of “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).” She captioned it simply: “Happy heavenly birthday to my friend and country music trailblazer,” tagging Lynn’s still-active Instagram page. Fans flooded the comments with heart emojis and their own birthday wishes, a reminder of the love that still surrounds Loretta’s memory.
For McEntire, the connection runs deep. She first met Loretta at just 11 years old, when the star performed at a rodeo in Oklahoma. “I whipped off my belt for her to sign,” Reba recalled years later. “Man, I wish I still had that belt. I love Loretta Lynn.” That moment sparked not only admiration, but eventually mentorship — Loretta became both a role model and a guide as Reba carved out her own place in country music.
When Loretta passed away in 2022 at the age of 90, McEntire mourned her publicly, comparing her to her own mother — close in age, strong-willed, and fiercely protective. “I sure appreciate her paving the rough and rocky road for all us girl singers,” she wrote in her tribute.
That legacy was alive and well at the Opry centennial. As Reba belted Loretta’s words with a grin and a fire that hasn’t dimmed in her five decades on stage, the performance became more than a cover — it was a celebration, a thank-you, and a promise to carry that spirit forward.