Reba McEntire to Tour This Fall While Filming ‘Big Sky’ (Exclusive)
Reba McEntire tells USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa that she’s touring arenas this fall. McEntire is also looking forward to her role on ABC’s Big Sky.
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Niall Horan may be the returning champion on The Voice, but the Queen of Country is a force to be reckoned with.
Country music icon Reba McEntire vied for Oklahoma-born singer Jordan Rainer alongside Horan and returning coaches Gwen Stefani and John Legend during Monday night’s Season 24 premiere. McEntire made her debut on the NBC singing competition following the exit of longtime coach Blake Shelton.
McEntire and Rainer bonded over their shared roots in Oklahoma after Rainer’s fiery rendition of McEntire’s song “Fancy.” But the two’s conversation was interrupted by Horan, who pressed his chair button to hear compliments like “Niall is a global superstar” and “Niall is a handsome guy” echo in Shelton’s voice.
In response, McEntire pulled out a sparkling scepter and walked over to Horan’s chair, blocking his view of Rainer. “I am the queen. “You can’t speak,” McEntire said.
In the end, Horan’s Shelton support was no match for McEntire’s icon status, as Rainer chose McEntire as her coach.
“Unfortunately, even the king of ‘The Voice’ couldn’t help me with Jordan, and now I have to deal with the queen of the country,” Horan said. “I’m really against it.”
Here’s what else happened in Monday’s episode.
Reba McEntire Loses “impressive” teenage singer Niall Horan after she crowned herself
Even queens need to be in the spotlight from time to time.
Teenage singer Sophia Hoffman, who unsuccessfully auditioned for season 23, won over McEntire and Horan with her soulful performance of Demi Lovato’s “Tell Me You Love Me.”
Horan praised the 18-year-old for her precocity as a singer. “There was so much more courage and maturity in it than I expected,” he said. “You showed us all sides of your voice, it was so impressive.”
McEntire, who had grabbed her scepter and donned a matching crown, showed off her triple-threat chops and threw shade at her fellow trainer.
“I’m overjoyed that you came back. This one didn’t turn around for you,” McEntire said to Hoffman, referring to Horan. “I’ve been in the business for a long time, not only on Broadway and television, but also spending a lot of time on stage, so I’d like to share my expertise with you.”
However, McEntire’s showbiz stature couldn’t surpass Horan’s charm. Hoffman decided to join Team Niall.
“Queen Reba wore the crown and she wore it well, but Prince Niall is here too and he’s coming for all of you,” Horan said.
Gwen Stefani was “super stunned” by the country singer’s loss to Reba McEntire
Gwen Stefani may be married to the country’s royalty, but McEntire’s reign remains supreme.
Country singer Jackson Snelling scored ahead of McEntire and Stefani with his warm cover of Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.”
“I grew up on a working cattle ranch: I’m a third-generation rodeo brat. So country music is my life, my foundation,” McEntire said. “To hear you come on (the show) and sing like you did today, I’m just so proud to be in the country music business and proud that you represent us.”
Stefani expressed her country savvy by citing her marriage to Shelton and her two country hits.
“I’ve had two No. 1 hits on country radio,” Stefani said, to which McEntire replied, “I’ve had more than two.”
McEntire’s track record seemed to shine through when Snelling named the country veteran his coach.
Stefani said she was “super bummed” about losing the Indiana singer to McEntire. “I really want to have a country artist on my team,” she said.
Did John Legend convince the “magical” 4-Chair singer with a spontaneous duet?
All is well in love and musical war on “The Voice.”
New Jersey singer Mara Justine blew coaches away with her powerful rendition of Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, earning the 21-year-old a seat in four chairs.
Legend endeared himself to Justine by pointing out that he was the first trainer to spin in his chair. “You just didn’t have the foresight that I did to understand what a magical gem you are as a singer,” he said.
Horan took a page from his “Voice” father Shelton’s playbook to win over Justine. The One Direction alum pressed his chair button to lower an enlarged red foam finger that read “Pick Niall” from the ceiling (Shelton used the same tactic last season). “He taught me how to do absolutely everything to make sure you became a team member,” Horan said.
But Legend didn’t want to let Horan have the last word – or the last vocal note. The Grammy-winning singer invited Justine to perform an impromptu duet of his song “All of Me” on stage, causing Horan to lie on the floor in frustration.
“That was pretty entertaining for all of us,” McEntire told Justine. “Who do you choose as your coach?”
Viewers will have to wait to find out which coach emerged victorious. Justine’s decision will be announced on Tuesday’s episode.
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