In a world where Thanksgiving often conjures images of overflowing tables groaning under the weight of golden-roasted turkeys, cranberry sauces that simmer for hours, and family gatherings that stretch from dawn till the last football whistle blows, Reba McEntire and her fiancé Rex Linn are flipping the script on tradition in the most delightfully unorthodox way imaginable. Forget the frenzied kitchen chaos or the obligatory small talk around the pumpkin pie. This year, on November 27, 2025, the iconic country music legend and her silver-screen soulmate are trading in the apron strings for theater seats and silverware at their favorite spot. “We’re going to go see a double-header at the movies and go out to eat,” Reba revealed in a candid chat with People magazine just days before the holiday, her voice bubbling with that signature Oklahoma warmth that has endeared her to generations of fans. It’s a plan as simple as it is revolutionary for a woman whose life has been anything but ordinary — a low-key rebellion against the holiday hustle that feels like a breath of fresh air in an era of performative feasts and Instagram-perfect spreads.

At 70, Reba McEntire isn’t just country’s undisputed Queen; she’s a cultural force who has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, snagged three Grammy Awards, headlined the Grand Ole Opry more times than most artists dream of, and starred in everything from Broadway’s Annie Get Your Gun to her own sitcom empire. Yet here she is, on the cusp of her 71st birthday in March 2026, embracing a holiday ritual that prioritizes two things she holds dearer than any spotlight: comfort and companionship. “I’m a very low-key person,” she confessed, painting a picture of her ideal downtime that’s as cozy as a well-worn flannel shirt. “I like cozy nights in, no makeup, all that kind of stuff.” For Reba, whose days are often a whirlwind of rehearsals for her upcoming NBC sitcom Happy’s Place, red-carpet galas, and the relentless rhythm of a career spanning five decades, this new tradition with Rex Linn isn’t about slacking off. It’s about savoring the quiet spaces where love feels most alive — the kind of unscripted joy that has kept her heart singing long after the applause fades.

Their choice to skip the stove in favor of the silver screen and a leisurely dinner out speaks volumes about the couple’s effortless synergy, a bond forged not in the flash of fame but in the steady glow of shared quirks and unspoken understandings. Rex Linn, the gravel-voiced character actor best known for his role as the no-nonsense Sergeant Trip Murphy on Young Sheldon and his decades-long stint as the scheming Bobby Clyde on The Ranch, has been Reba’s partner in crime since they rekindled a decades-old friendship into something profoundly romantic. Together, they’re crafting a holiday playbook that’s less about obligation and more about intention, proving that the most memorable Thanksgivings aren’t measured in calories but in the laughter that echoes long after the credits roll.

This isn’t Reba’s first foray into holiday reinvention. The couple has long eschewed the high-drama rituals that come with her celebrity status. Take Valentine’s Day, for instance: instead of candlelit reservations at some overpriced steakhouse or a barrage of red roses flown in from Ecuador, Reba and Rex opt for the unpretentious charm of a Sonic drive-in run. “We go to Sonic and have hamburgers and tater tots,” she shared with a chuckle, her eyes lighting up at the memory of ketchup packets and crinkled wrappers on the dashboard. It’s the kind of date that harks back to their roots — Reba’s Oklahoma ranch life, where simplicity was survival, and Rex’s Texas upbringing, steeped in the unpretentious grit of family barbecues and backroad drives. In a town like Nashville, where excess is the norm and every meal can turn into a networking opportunity, their choices feel like a quiet act of defiance. They’re not anti-tradition; they’re redefining it on their terms, one chili cheese coney at a time.

But to truly appreciate the poetry of this movie-and-meal Thanksgiving, you have to step back and trace the winding, wonderfully serendipitous path that brought Reba and Rex together — a love story that reads like one of her own heartfelt ballads, full of plot twists, second chances, and a chorus of “what ifs” that somehow harmonized into forever. Their connection dates back to 1991, when the paths of a rising country sensation and a hungry young actor crossed on the set of the TV movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw. Reba, already a force of nature with hits like “Fancy” and “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” under her belt, was guest-starring alongside Kenny Rogers. Rex, then a wide-eyed 34-year-old fresh off bit parts in films like Rain Man, was cast as a supporting player. Sparks? Not quite. But the seeds were planted in the fertile soil of shared Southern sensibilities — a love for horses, a penchant for storytelling, and that indefinable ease of being around someone who gets the rhythm of your world without needing subtitles.

For three decades, their lives ran parallel tracks: Reba conquering Music Row with albums like For My Broken Heart (a raw, post-divorce masterpiece born from the 1991 plane crash that claimed eight of her bandmates) and branching into acting with her eponymous 2001-2007 sitcom; Rex building a steady career in Hollywood, stealing scenes as the bombastic airline exec on CSI: Miami and the gruff lawman on Longmire. They stayed in loose touch — holiday cards, the occasional industry run-in — but it wasn’t until 2020, amid the pandemic’s isolating fog, that fate dealt them a wild card. Both cast in recurring roles on Young Sheldon, they found themselves sharing scenes as quirky neighbors in the show’s Texas-set universe. The chemistry was immediate, electric, undeniable. “We instantly bonded over living in Oklahoma and our love for horses and acting,” Reba recounted in her 2023 memoir Not That Fancy, her words capturing the effortless click of two souls who had been orbiting each other for years. Rex, with his booming laugh and self-deprecating charm, made her giggle in ways she hadn’t in ages. “He made me laugh, and we became good buddies,” she wrote, the pages practically vibrating with the joy of rediscovery.

What started as pandemic-era FaceTime calls — swapping recipes for chili and debating the merits of classic Westerns — blossomed into something deeper during those Young Sheldon shoots. Isolated from the world, they leaned into each other: long drives through Oklahoma backroads, horseback rides at Reba’s ranch, and late-night kitchen sessions where Rex, a self-proclaimed “foody” (his endearing term for a food enthusiast), would whip up gourmet experiments while Reba belted out old hits to test his tolerance for off-key serenades. By the time the world began reopening, so had their hearts. Their romance went public in early 2021, a low-key announcement that felt refreshingly authentic in an industry built on spectacle. No red-carpet premiere, just a candid Instagram post from Reba: a photo of the two laughing over coffee, captioned with a simple heart emoji.

Fast-forward to Christmas Eve 2024, and Rex got down on one knee in the glow of their Oklahoma living room tree, a ring in hand that sparkled like the future they envisioned together. Reba said yes without hesitation, but true to form, they kept the news under wraps for nearly a year — savoring the secret like a fine bourbon sipped slow. It wasn’t until the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2025, where Reba presented the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) award, that she let the cat out of the bag. Flanked by fellow presenters, she flashed her engagement ring with a sly grin, quipping, “Rex proposed on Christmas Eve, but we wanted to wait for the right moment to share our joy.” The crowd erupted in cheers, a collective exhale of delight from fans who had rooted for this matchup since their Young Sheldon days. It was a fairy-tale reveal for a couple whose story feels more like a country duet than a Hollywood blockbuster — equal parts grit, grace, and that unshakeable Southern optimism.

Their engagement hasn’t slowed the pace of their intertwined careers; if anything, it’s supercharged them. In a delicious twist of art imitating life, Reba and Rex now co-star in Happy’s Place, the NBC sitcom set to premiere in fall 2026, where they play longtime friends and bar co-owners who discover love later in life. Reba’s character, Bobbie, is a sassy, no-nonsense entrepreneur; Rex’s Bob is her steadfast sidekick turned sweetheart. “Wherever we go, that is our Happy’s Place,” Reba gushed in an October People interview, her eyes twinkling with the kind of contentment that comes from finding your person after decades of searching. The show’s premise mirrors their own journey so closely that writers joke it’s less fiction than fanfic — complete with on-screen banter that draws from their real-life inside jokes and off-screen chemistry that makes every take feel like foreplay for the cameras.

Yet amid the whirlwind of script reads and set visits, wedding planning has taken a backseat to their packed schedules — a pragmatic choice that speaks to the couple’s grounded priorities. “Wedding planning is impossible because of scheduling,” Reba admitted to Us Weekly at the Paley Honors Fall Gala on November 10, 2025, her laughter light but laced with the reality of two A-listers juggling empires. “We’re like, ‘Well, we want it this month, but if work comes up, we’ll be there for work, and then we’ll go get married later.’ Work comes first, in other words.” It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply with Reba’s ethos: she’s the woman who headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023 while mourning personal losses, who launched a Broadway musical amid a global pandemic, and who has always put craft over convenience. Rex, with his steady presence and wry humor, complements this drive perfectly; he’s the yin to her yang, the calm in her creative storm.

Their compatibility isn’t just serendipity; it’s rooted in a tapestry of shared passions that make their days off feel like adventures. Both self-proclaimed “foodies,” they bond over elaborate kitchen experiments — Rex manning the grill for his signature ribeye, Reba perfecting her chili recipe that’s been passed down through generations of McEntire women. “We love to cook,” Reba enthused, painting vivid pictures of lazy Sundays where the only agenda is a bubbling pot and a bottle of red wine. Their common ground extends to the land: both dreamed of cowboy lives but traded spurs for spotlights, and now they reclaim that fantasy on Reba’s sprawling Oklahoma ranch, where they ride horses at dawn and debate the finer points of Western lore over campfire coffee. “He brings out the little girl in me, and I have fun,” she shared, her voice softening with affection. “I’m dorky, I’m goofy. He is too. We love to laugh, and we love each other.”

Even their downtime is a masterclass in harmony. Rex approaches TV watching like “homework,” dissecting performances to sharpen his craft; Reba dives in for “pure enjoyment,” curling up with a bowl of popcorn and zero pretensions. It’s this balance — his intensity tempered by her joy — that has made their partnership not just romantic, but restorative. For Reba, who endured the heartbreak of two divorces (first to rancher Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987, a union that ended amid the pressures of her rising stardom; then to manager Narvel Blackstock from 1989 to 2015, with whom she shares son Shelby, now 35 and a successful horse trainer), finding Rex feels like coming home. “I’ve never been loved” by anyone the way Rex loves her, she confided in that October People sit-down, her words carrying the weight of a woman who has loved fiercely and lost deeply. Shelby, ever the supportive son, has embraced Rex as family, often joining them for ranch weekends where the three bond over rodeo tales and Reba’s legendary gumbo.

This depth of connection is what makes their Thanksgiving pivot so poignant. In a year that’s seen Reba conquer new frontiers — from her triumphant return to the CMA Awards stage with a medley of hits that had the audience on its feet, to her role as a judge on The Voice where she mentors with the wisdom of someone who’s lived every lyric she’s sung — choosing simplicity with Rex is an act of profound self-care. The double-header at the movies? It’s not laziness; it’s luxury — two hours (times two) of escapism in a world that rarely lets her unplug. Imagine them in a half-empty theater, sharing a bucket of butter-drenched popcorn, Rex’s arm around her shoulders as they lose themselves in whatever blockbuster is playing, whispering commentary that dissolves into giggles. Then, a leisurely dinner at a spot that’s become their go-to — perhaps the cozy steakhouse where they had their first post-Young Sheldon date, or a hidden-gem diner serving comfort food without the fanfare. No timers on the turkey, no stress over seating charts. Just them, savoring the quiet victory of being present for each other.

Fans, who have followed Reba’s journey from fiery redhead belting anthems of independence to the matriarch of modern country, are eating it up — pun intended. Social media lit up after her People interview, with #RebaRexTradition trending nationwide. “This is the holiday vibe I need,” one devotee posted alongside a photo of her own Sonic Valentine’s setup. Another quipped, “Reba skipping Thanksgiving dinner to see movies? Queen energy — who needs stuffing when you have subtitles?” The response underscores Reba’s timeless appeal: at an age when many stars fade into legacy mode, she’s redefining it, showing that reinvention isn’t reserved for the young. Her influence ripples through country music’s new guard — from Lainey Wilson citing her as a blueprint for blending music and motherhood, to Megan Moroney covering her classics in viral TikToks. Reba’s choice to prioritize joy over tradition? It’s a masterclass in living unapologetically, a reminder that holidays are for the heart, not the hearth.

As the couple looks ahead — with Happy’s Place filming ramping up and whispers of a joint holiday album floating through Nashville grapevines — their wedding remains a tantalizing “when the stars align” prospect. Reba envisions a ranch ceremony under Oklahoma stars, with Shelby walking her down the aisle and Rex’s daughter-in-law-to-be (he’s a proud papa to three grown kids from previous relationships) handling the flowers. But true to their spirit, it’ll be intimate: close family, a string quartet playing her hits, and a cake that’s more pie than tiered tower. “We’re best friends,” Reba reiterated at the Paley Gala, her ring catching the light like a promise. “We have the same likes and dislikes. Our dynamic works on and off screen.”

In a career defined by resilience — from surviving that 1991 plane crash to rebuilding her life post-divorce and launching a fashion line that’s outfitted everyone from Carrie Underwood to everyday cowgirls — Reba McEntire has always known the secret to longevity: evolve without losing your core. This Thanksgiving, as she and Rex settle into plush theater seats with buttery fingers intertwined, they’re not just skipping a meal. They’re scripting the next verse of their love song — one where the chorus is laughter, the bridge is each other, and the fade-out is whatever comes next, together.

For fans tuning in from living rooms across America, it’s a holiday gift wrapped in Reba’s unshakeable truth: the best traditions aren’t inherited. They’re invented, one cozy night at a time. And in the glow of a movie screen or the flicker of diner neon, Reba and Rex are proving that love, at any age, is the ultimate feast.