Reba McEntire and Rex Linn, the dynamic duo blending country music stardom with Hollywood charisma, offered a glimpse into their future nuptials during a recent interview, highlighting a laid-back vibe that reflects their shared love for simplicity and good company. The 70-year-old singer and actress, fresh off hosting the 2025 ACM Awards, described the event as “nontraditional” and “a lot of fun,” emphasizing comfort over convention. Speaking to E! News on November 3, 2025, McEntire noted, “It’s gonna be a nontraditional wedding because that’s Rex and me. We like comfort, we love friends, we love food.” The couple, who confirmed their engagement at the 2025 Emmy Awards in September, showed no rush to set a date, savoring what Linn called their “engagement era” amid busy filming schedules for NBC’s Happy’s Place.

Their romance, a slow-burn story spanning decades, adds warmth to the anticipation. McEntire and Linn first crossed paths in 1991 on the set of Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, where she starred and he made a cameo. Life pulled them apart until 2020, when a guest spot on Young Sheldon—where Linn had a recurring role—reignited their connection during pandemic lockdowns. Daily “coffee camp” Zoom calls turned into a steady partnership, with McEntire telling People in October 2025, “I’ve never been loved by a man like Rex Linn. He’s a very tender-hearted man, and I just love him with all my heart.” Linn, 68, echoed the sentiment to E! News: “We love being around one another. We like going to work, we like coming home from work.”

The proposal unfolded on Christmas Eve 2024 during a serene walk on McEntire’s 130-acre ranch near Nashville. Linn presented a custom rose gold ring accented with black diamonds, a piece he’d carried since acquiring it in early 2024—even during a June safari in Africa. McEntire, who said yes three times in the moment, later shared with USA Today that the ring “sparkles constantly, even though I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned it.” The news slipped out nine months later on the Emmys red carpet, when an E! reporter referred to them as fiancés, prompting Linn’s beaming confirmation. A source close to the pair told People at the time, “They are very happy,” after keeping the milestone private for months.

Wedding visions lean toward intimate and joyful, steering clear of formalities. McEntire envisions a gathering centered on loved ones, hearty meals, and easy laughter—perhaps barbecue spreads or homemade pies, nodding to their Southern roots. “We’ll throw a big party for friends and family to celebrate,” an insider shared with RadarOnline in late October 2025, hinting at a Nashville setting infused with country charm. A-list guests like Dolly Parton, who reportedly encouraged Linn to propose, top the wishlist, alongside fellow stars from McEntire’s orbit such as Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton. No elaborate venue or gown shopping yet; instead, the focus stays on what feels authentic. “We’re just enjoying our engagement and enjoying going to Happy’s Place every day,” Linn added, underscoring their contentment in the present.

This marks McEntire’s third marriage, following unions with Charlie Battles (1976–1979) and manager Narvel Blackstock (1989–2015), with whom she shares son Shelby, 35, a professional race car driver. Linn, entering his first, brings a fresh perspective shaped by his Texas upbringing and steady career in theater and TV. Their on-screen pairing as bar owner Bobbie and cook Emmett in Happy’s Place—premiering fall 2025—mirrors their off-screen ease, with Linn crediting their bond for enhanced scenes: “Our relationship in real life has made it a lot better for us.” The sitcom, created by Kevin Abbott, draws from McEntire’s real-life experiences, blending humor with heart in a Nashville watering hole setting.

McEntire’s career momentum adds excitement to the personal milestone. With over 75 million albums sold, five Grammys, and a Golden Globe-nominated sitcom Reba (2001–2007), she’s a genre cornerstone. Recent triumphs include her 2023 rock album For My Broken Heart tribute, a Las Vegas residency, and coaching on The Voice Season 27. She’s set to host NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special in December 2025, a longtime dream. Linn, with credits in CSI: Miami, The Ranch, and Young Sheldon, balances acting with voice work, often playing grounded everyman roles that echo his real-life steadiness.

Family integration brings added layers. Shelby, married to Kelly Clarkson’s ex-stepdaughter Kelly Clarkson since 2022, shares a close rapport with Linn, who has two adult children from a previous relationship. Blended gatherings at the ranch—complete with horses, dogs, and sunset strolls—highlight their harmonious dynamic. McEntire often posts ranch snapshots on Instagram, where her 1.2 million followers catch glimpses of Linn pitching in with chores, captioned with playful nods to their “engagement adventures.”

Public buzz has been overwhelmingly positive, with engagement searches spiking 400% post-Emmys. Fans flooded social media with memes reimagining McEntire’s hits like “Fancy” as wedding anthems, while merchandise like “coffee camp” mugs flew off her site. Relationship experts hail their story as a blueprint for later-life love: rooted in friendship, resilient through distance, and enriched by mutual careers. A Psychology Today piece in November 2025 called it “a reminder that deep connections can flourish at any age.”

No firm date looms, but insiders suggest spring or summer 2026, allowing flexibility around McEntire’s tour and Linn’s pilots. Venue whispers point to the ranch for its personal touch or a cozy Nashville spot like the Bluebird Cafe. Fashion fans speculate on McEntire’s attire: a custom Western frock from designer Justin Kennedy, blending rhinestones with ranch-ready ease. Charity ties in too; the couple supports animal welfare via Reba’s Ranch, and a wedding fundraiser could bolster those efforts.

As filming wraps on Happy’s Place‘s debut season, McEntire and Linn prioritize balance: workdays followed by quiet evenings cooking or stargazing. Her faith, a lifelong anchor from Oklahoma gospel roots, infuses optimism: “God saved the best for last,” she reflected in a Today interview. Podcast episodes tease more details, drawing eager listeners.

This chapter celebrates reinvention for McEntire, post-divorce and amid industry shifts. From 1991 plane crash survivor—where she lost eight bandmates—to 2025’s multifaceted force, her path inspires. With Linn by her side, the wedding promises not just vows, but a testament to enduring partnership.

Fans await the “I do’s” with bated breath, but for now, the engagement glow suits them perfectly—a prelude to a union as timeless as a Reba ballad. As McEntire sings in “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,” love finds its way, one heartfelt note at a time.