Country icon Reba McEntire opened up about waiting 66 years to meet actor Rex Linn, a partner who shares her deep Christian faith and brings joy to a love story decades in the making.

Nashville’s neon lights flickered over Lower Broadway as Reba McEntire, the red-haired queen of country with 56 No. 1 hits and a career spanning four decades, stepped into a new chapter of her life at 66. For the first time in years, the singer wasn’t talking about heartbreak ballads or sold-out arenas—she was talking about love. Real, quiet, faith-centered love with actor Rex Linn, a man she says “understands my faith” in a way no one else ever has.

The couple’s story began not with grand gestures, but with a shared laugh on the set of Young Sheldon in 2020. McEntire, guest-starring as June Ballard, and Linn, playing Principal Petersen, reconnected after meeting decades earlier on the 1991 film The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. At the time, both were in other relationships. Thirty years later, single and seasoned by life, they found themselves trading jokes between takes—and something clicked.

“It was just easy,” McEntire told People in a rare sit-down interview. “We started texting, then talking on the phone every night for hours. I’d never done that in my life.” By October 2020, they were official, dubbing themselves “Tater Tot and Sugar Tot” in playful homage to their favorite foods. But beneath the nicknames lay a deeper foundation: shared values, Oklahoma roots, and a mutual devotion to God.

McEntire, raised in the small town of Chockie, Oklahoma, on a 7,000-acre cattle ranch, grew up in a family where church was non-negotiable. Sunday services at the local Baptist congregation, nightly prayers at the dinner table, and hymns sung while branding cattle shaped her worldview. Even as fame pulled her to Las Vegas showrooms and Hollywood sets, she carried that faith like a compass. “I pray before every show,” she’s said. “I pray when I wake up. I pray when things get hard.”

Linn, a Tulsa native and son of a minister’s secretary, grew up with the same rhythm. He’s spoken of reading the Bible nightly and leaning on scripture during tough times—like the loss of his father in 2015. When McEntire shared her pre-performance prayer ritual, Linn didn’t just nod—he joined in. “He gets it,” she said. “He doesn’t just tolerate my faith. He lives it too.”

Their bond deepened during the pandemic, when most of the world slowed down. With tours canceled and film sets shuttered, they cooked together—Linn’s specialty: chicken-fried steak; McEntire’s: cornbread and pinto beans. They watched old Westerns, attended virtual church services, and took long drives through the Oklahoma countryside. “We talked about everything,” McEntire recalled. “Family, loss, dreams, God. I’d waited 66 years for someone I could talk to like that.”

The road to Linn wasn’t smooth. McEntire’s first marriage to Charlie Battles ended in 1987 after 11 years. Her second, to Narvel Blackstock—manager, producer, and father of her son Shelby—lasted 26 years before dissolving in 2015. The divorce shook her publicly and privately. She leaned harder into faith, releasing gospel albums like Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope in 2017, which won a Grammy and topped the Christian charts. “I had to learn to be okay alone,” she said. “God was preparing me.”

Linn, too, carried scars. A previous long-term relationship ended years prior, leaving him content but not complete. When McEntire entered his life, he recognized the rarity. “She’s the real deal,” he told Southern Living. “Funny, strong, faithful. I thank God every day.”

Their relationship went public in 2021 when McEntire brought Linn as her date to the CMA Awards. The couple walked the red carpet hand-in-hand, McEntire in a shimmering blue gown, Linn in a classic black suit. Photographers captured a moment: Linn whispering something in her ear, McEntire throwing her head back in laughter. The image went viral, captioned by fans: “Finally, Reba’s happy.”

Since then, they’ve blended lives seamlessly. Linn attends McEntire’s concerts, standing sidestage with a proud grin. McEntire joins him on set for Big Sky, where he plays a sheriff. They split time between her Nashville mansion and his Los Angeles home, but Oklahoma remains their anchor—weekends at the ranch, fishing in the pond, attending services at Crossings Community Church.

Faith weaves through their daily life. They pray together each morning, often reading from The Daily Bread devotional. On Sundays, they livestream services when traveling. Linn has joined McEntire’s family for holiday gatherings, bonding with Shelby and his grandchildren over barbecues and Bible trivia. “He fits,” McEntire said simply. “Like he was always meant to be there.”

The couple’s openness has resonated. McEntire’s 2023 album Not That Fancy includes a duet with Linn—a lighthearted cover of “If You See Him, If You See Her”—recorded in her home studio. Fans call it “the most Reba song ever.” She’s also hinted at a joint gospel project, saying, “Rex has a beautiful baritone. We harmonize in the kitchen—why not in the booth?”

Social media reflects the public’s affection. The hashtag #RebaAndRex trends monthly, fueled by candid posts: Linn carrying McEntire’s guitar case, McEntire surprising him with a vintage John Wayne poster, both laughing at a county fair. A viral clip from The Voice—where McEntire coaches—shows her FaceTiming Linn mid-show, blowing him a kiss. Viewers flooded comments: “This is what 66 looks like when love finally shows up.”

McEntire’s peers celebrate the match. Dolly Parton, a longtime friend, told Taste of Country: “Reba deserves this. Rex is solid—Oklahoma solid.” Kelly Clarkson, her Voice co-star, joked on air: “I need a Rex. Where’s the waiting list?”

For McEntire, the romance isn’t about proving anything. It’s about peace. “I didn’t think I’d find this,” she admitted on Watch What Happens Live. “I’d made my peace with being alone. But God had other plans.” Linn echoes the sentiment: “She’s my best friend. My prayer partner. My tater tot.”

As McEntire prepares for her 2025 arena tour—Reba: Live in Concert—Linn will be there, front row or backstage, holding her hand before she steps into the spotlight. And when the final note fades, they’ll drive home together, windows down, Oklahoma stars above, two people who waited a lifetime to find someone who understands not just the music—but the prayer behind it.

In a career built on anthems of survival, McEntire’s greatest hit might be the quiet one playing at home: a love that arrived late, but right on time.