Long before they became one of country music’s most beloved family pairings, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson were already proving they were a vocal match made in heaven.
Fans are once again revisiting the unforgettable moment from the 2007 ACM Awards when the two powerhouse singers teamed up for an emotional performance of Clarkson’s hit ballad “Because Of You.” Nearly two decades later, the duet still stands as one of the most iconic collaborations in ACM history.
Taking the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Reba opened the performance with her signature warmth and control before Clarkson joined in during the chorus, instantly elevating the song into a powerhouse vocal exchange. Their voices blended effortlessly, balancing raw emotion with stunning harmonies that earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
At the time, few could have predicted how closely connected the two stars would eventually become off-stage as well. Years later, Clarkson married Brandon Blackstock, the son of Reba’s then-husband Narvel Blackstock, making Reba her mother-in-law for nearly a decade. Although the family dynamic would later change following Clarkson’s divorce in 2020 and Reba’s split from Narvel years earlier, the bond between the two singers has remained strong throughout the years.
The song itself carried deeply personal meaning for Clarkson. She famously wrote “Because Of You” at just 16 years old, inspired by the emotional pain caused by her parents’ divorce. Released in 2005, the track became one of the defining songs of her career, eventually reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning multi-platinum status, and accumulating hundreds of millions of streams worldwide.
Reba clearly recognized the song’s emotional power early on, recording a duet version with Clarkson for her 2007 album Reba: Duets. Their ACM Awards performance marked one of the first live showcases of the collaboration and instantly became a fan-favorite moment.
Over the years, the duo continued sharing the stage for memorable performances of songs like “Fancy,” “Does He Love You,” and “Why Haven’t I Heard From You,” further cementing their chemistry as one of country music’s most iconic pairings.
Now, with the ACM Awards once again approaching, fans are looking back on legendary performances from years past — and Reba and Kelly’s stunning rendition of “Because Of You” remains near the top of the list.