More than three decades after one of the darkest moments of her life, Reba McEntire reflects on the quiet acts of kindness that helped her survive unimaginable grief. In a recent Garden & Gun interview, the country icon revisited the aftermath of the 1991 plane crash that killed eight members of her touring band and crew—and revealed how Dolly Parton stepped in when Reba wasn’t sure she could carry on.
The tragedy struck in March 1991, shortly after a concert in San Diego. A charter plane carrying McEntire’s band and crew crashed after takeoff, claiming the lives of everyone on board. Reba, along with her stylist and her then-husband and manager Narvel Blackstock, had planned to fly separately the next day—a choice that spared their lives but left her devastated.
“It was really hard for me to get back onstage,” McEntire admitted. In the weeks that followed, she questioned whether her career could continue. Music, once a refuge, suddenly felt impossible.
That’s when the country music community quietly rallied around her.
One of the first calls came from Vince Gill, who simply said, “Buddy, I’ll be there for you.” But it was Dolly Parton’s gesture that left an enduring mark. Without hesitation, Dolly offered Reba something extraordinary: “Here, take my band.”
It wasn’t symbolic—it was a lifeline.
At a moment when Reba was emotionally shattered and logistically stranded, Dolly removed every barrier between grief and survival. She didn’t offer advice or platitudes—she provided practical help, giving Reba the support she needed to stand on her own again.
“It was such a gift,” McEntire recalled. “So many of us had hearts that were broken.”
In March 2024, McEntire marked the 33rd anniversary of the crash with an Instagram tribute to the eight lives lost: Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Tony Saputo, and Michael Thomas. “33 years today since Heaven gained some great angels,” she wrote.
McEntire has previously shared how close she came to leaving music entirely. In a 2022 People interview, she said, “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue.” It was her faith—and the support from friends and colleagues—that carried her forward.
Eight months after the crash, Reba released For My Broken Heart, dedicating the album to the victims. It became the best-selling record of her career—not because it chased commercial success, but because it spoke honestly from a place of loss.
Looking back, McEntire says the tragedy taught her to live differently: to cherish every moment, express gratitude, and tell loved ones she cares while she can.
At the heart of that lesson stands Dolly Parton—not just as a music legend, but as a friend who showed up when it mattered most.