Reba McEntire has built a super successful career as one of country music’s most iconic voices—all while embracing her role as a devoted mother and stepmother. The 70-year-old star has one biological son, Shelby Blackstock, and five stepchildren— Coty, Lance, Shawna, Brandon, and Chassidy—from her two marriages. Over the years, Reba has often spoken about how proud she is of her blended family and the joy her children bring to her life.
Like her, they too, have lived impressive lives both personally and professionally. Find out more about Reba’s children below.
Shelby Blackstock is Reba’s only biological child. He was born in Feb. 1990 to her and her husband at the time, Narvel Blackstock. After graduating from college, he went on to become a race car driver and has enjoyed a lot of success from it. He has raced at the US F2000 National Championship, the Pro Mazda Championship and the Indy Lights.
Reba hasn’t hesitated to express her pride for her son over the years and did just that in a memorable Instagram post in Jan. 2020, when he competed in the Daytona International Speedway. “A mama is only as happy as her kids are. Shelby, ‘Love getting back at Daytona International Speedway for the #roar,’” she wrote in the post.
In an Oct. 2022 interview, Reba gave some insight into what it was like raising Shelby and admitted she never went easy on him. “When we would play games or cards, I’d never let Shelby win,” she recalled to PEOPLE. “He wouldn’t have learned anything that way. I always told Shelby, ‘I’ll always love you, but I want other people to like you. So don’t be a little jerk. Don’t be a spoiled brat.’”
Shelby started a family of his own when he married Marissa Branch in Feb. 2022. The couple met on the dating app Tinder in 2014 and were friends for two years before they decided to start a romance. They spoke to People about their marriage and relationship after their wedding. “We’ve known each other for so long, from both a ‘just friends’ to a dating perspective,” they said. “Tackling whatever life throws our way as husband and wife — creating a family and legacy, together — excites us more than anything.”
Coty Battles became Reba’s stepson when she married his dad, Charlie Battles, in 1976. He reportedly followed in his father’s footsteps when he became a wrestler but eventually settled down as a rancher. Although he’s pretty private about his life, he settled down in Waco, TX with his girlfriend Amy Huffman, in 2016, according to his Facebook page.
