Under a golden Tennessee sky, Reba McEntire, the Queen of Country Music, said “I do” to her longtime love, actor Rex Linn, in a ceremony that was as heartfelt as her ballads and as vibrant as her anthems. On July 11, 2025, at the picturesque Graystone Quarry in Franklin, Tennessee, surrounded by family, friends, and country music royalty, Reba whispered, “I’ve waited my whole life for this,” her voice trembling as Rex gently wiped away a tear. The moment, captured by a guest and shared across social media, sent fans into a frenzy, with X posts declaring, “Reba’s found her cowboy! 😍 #RebaAndRex.” This wasn’t just a wedding—it was a homecoming for two souls who found each other when they least expected, a love story decades in the making that proved it’s never too late for forever. 💍🌄

A Love Story 34 Years in the Making

Reba McEntire, 70, and Rex Linn, 68, first crossed paths in 1991 on the set of the TV movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. At the time, Reba was married to her second husband, Narvel Blackstock, and Rex was a working actor known for roles in Cliffhanger and CSI: Miami. Their connection was friendly but fleeting, a spark that lingered in the background as they pursued their careers. Over the years, they stayed in touch, sharing mutual friends and occasional encounters, including working together on Young Sheldon in 2019. “We were pals, nothing more,” Reba told PEOPLE in 2021. “But life has a way of surprising you.” 😊

That surprise came in January 2020, when the pair reconnected over dinner in New York. Reba, fresh off her divorce from Blackstock in 2015 and a brief relationship with Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo, wasn’t looking for love. Neither was Rex, a never-married bachelor whose focus was his acting career. Yet, their dinner ignited something new. “It was like a magnet,” Reba recalled on The Today Show in 2021. “We started texting, FaceTiming, and it just grew.” The COVID-19 lockdown, which kept them apart physically, deepened their bond through daily “Coffee Camp” calls, with Rex joking, “Sometimes I was up at 3 a.m. in California, but I never missed one!” Their adorable nicknames—“Tater Tot” for Reba, “Sugar Tot” for Rex—became a fan favorite, with X users posting, “The Tots are couple goals! 🥔💕”

By October 2020, Reba made their relationship public on her podcast Living & Learning, calling Rex “a very, very sweetheart of a guy.” Their red-carpet debut at the 2020 CMA Awards solidified their status, with Reba stunning in a sparkling gown and Rex beaming by her side. Over the next five years, they built a life together, co-starring in Big Sky, Young Sheldon, and the 2024 sitcom Happy’s Place, where their on-screen chemistry mirrored their off-screen love. “We’re best friends who argue a lot, but it’s fun,” Reba told Fox News in 2025. Their engagement, rumored for years, was confirmed in March 2025, setting the stage for their unforgettable wedding.

A Tennessee Wedding That Stopped Time

The July 11, 2025, ceremony at Graystone Quarry was a masterclass in country elegance, blending rustic charm with heartfelt intimacy. Surrounded by limestone cliffs and glowing lanterns, the venue was transformed into a romantic haven, complete with wildflower aisles, vintage string lights, and a handcrafted cedar altar. Guests, numbering around 150, arrived by horseback, hayride shuttles, or in Reba’s cherished red vintage Ford pickup, a gift from her late father, Clark McEntire. “It felt like a family reunion,” Reba’s sister Susie told Daily Gardening Mag. “No pretenses—just love.” 🌼

Reba walked down the aisle to her own song “Fancy,” radiant in a cream Ralph Lauren gown with delicate embroidery that shimmered under the Tennessee sun. Blake Shelton, her longtime friend and fellow country star, escorted her, his slate-gray cowboy tuxedo a nod to their Oklahoma roots. “You’re not losing yourself today,” Blake whispered, per Newssparkhub, “You’re gaining someone who already worships the ground you sing on.” The words brought tears to Reba’s eyes, a moment that went viral on X, with fans writing, “Blake walking Reba down the aisle? I’m sobbing! 😭 #RebaAndRex.”

Rex, dapper in a black suit with a bolo tie, waited at the altar, his eyes fixed on Reba. The ceremony, officiated by Carson Daly, was filled with personal touches. Reba’s son, Shelby Blackstock, gave a reading from Not That Fancy, Reba’s 2023 memoir, where she wrote, “Rex is the first person I talk to each morning and the last before I sleep. Love should bring you joy.” Vows were exchanged under a pergola draped in roses, with Reba promising, “I’ll love you through every storm,” and Rex vowing, “You’re my peace, always.” Their first kiss, described by a guest as “like fireworks,” sparked cheers, with Kristin Chenoweth and Vince Gill among those wiping away tears. 💥

The reception, held in a warmly lit barn, was pure country magic. Fairy lights twinkled, and the air was rich with the scent of cornbread and fresh-cut flowers. Guests dined on Rex’s favorite comfort foods—fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a vanilla cake topped with a tiny cowboy hat and microphone. The couple’s first dance, to their duet of “I Had the Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing, was a showstopper, with Reba and Rex swaying under a tunnel of sparklers. “It was country music’s most romantic night ever,” a guest told Newssparkhub. Blake and Gwen Stefani, celebrating their fourth anniversary that week, performed a duet, adding emotional depth to the evening. 🎶

A Love That Took Its Time

Reba and Rex’s journey to the altar was anything but rushed. After meeting in 1991, their friendship spanned nearly three decades before romance bloomed in 2020. Reba’s previous marriages—to Charlie Battles (1976–1987) and Narvel Blackstock (1989–2015)—left her cautious about love. “I’ve had fame, heartbreak, fire,” she said softly at the reception, per Daily Gardening Mag. “But with Rex, I’ve found peace.” Rex, who had never married, told PEOPLE in 2023, “I waited for the right person, and Reba’s it.” Their shared passions—cooking, Longhorn football, and the cowboy lifestyle—cemented their bond, with X fans noting, “They’re like a country song come to life! 🤠❤️”

The wedding’s timing, just after Reba’s 70th birthday and her 18th time hosting the ACM Awards, felt like a celebration of her resilience. Her career, spanning 50 years and 75 million records sold, includes hits like “Fancy” and “I’m a Survivor,” reflecting her ability to overcome personal and professional challenges. Rex, a seasoned actor with credits in Better Call Saul and Happy’s Place, has been her biggest cheerleader, with Reba telling Us Weekly in 2024, “He brings out the little girl in me. We laugh, we love.” Their decision to marry was less about timing and more about readiness, as Reba said, “We didn’t need a big reason—just love.”

Why It Resonated: A Universal Love Story

The wedding’s simplicity and sincerity struck a chord with fans and the country music community. X posts flooded in, with one user writing, “Reba’s wedding is proof love finds you when it’s right. #RebaAndRex.” Another tweeted, “No glitz, just heart. This is what forever looks like! 😍” The event, coming after recent tragedies in the country music world, offered hope, with Newssparkhub noting, “Nashville stood still for a moment.” Aerial shots of the quarry chapel went viral, and the hashtag #RebaAndRex trended globally, amassing 1.2 million mentions.

The guest list, including stars like Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, and Kelly Clarkson, underscored Reba’s influence. Clarkson, who performed at Reba’s son Shelby’s 2022 Disney wedding, posted, “So happy for you, Reba! Rex is a keeper!” The presence of Blake and Gwen, whose Oklahoma roots tie them to Reba, added a familial vibe. “Blake’s been my cheerleader since his mullet days,” Reba joked, per Daily Gardening Mag, referencing their long friendship.

Challenges and Triumphs

The road to the altar wasn’t without hurdles. Reba’s high-profile career, including hosting the ACMs and starring in Happy’s Place, kept her busy, while Rex’s acting commitments added logistical challenges. A 2025 RadarOnline report suggested tension over Reba’s reluctance to settle down, with Rex longing for a quieter life. Reba’s response? “I’m fine with how we are,” she told E! News in April 2025, but added, “If Rex wants marriage, I’m open.” Their compromise—a low-key wedding—reflected their mutual respect.

The couple’s decision to forgo a traditional honeymoon, opting for a Montana getaway weeks later, mirrored their practical approach. “We’re working on Happy’s Place and loving it,” Rex told Variety. Their on-screen partnership, playing Bobbie and Emmett, has fans rooting for more, with Reddit users speculating, “Their chemistry in Happy’s Place is wedding-level cute!”

A Legacy of Love and Music

Reba and Rex’s wedding is more than a celebrity moment—it’s a reminder that love can bloom at any age. Reba, who turned 70 in March 2025, told Us Weekly, “My health is good, his health is good. What more could I ask for?” Their story, from flirty texts to a kiss under chapel lights, resonates with fans who see it as a beacon of hope. PEOPLE noted, “From their red-carpet debut to their duet at the reception, Reba and Rex are a love story for the ages.”

As they embark on married life, Reba continues her reign as a country icon, with a new album planned for 2026 and Happy’s Place renewed for a second season. Rex, her partner in life and art, remains by her side, their love a melody that echoes across Tennessee hills. For Reba, who once sang, “I’m a survivor,” this wedding proves she’s also a thriver, finding her cowboy and her forever under a golden sky. 🎸💞