Reba McEntire

Arizona State Fair
October 18-19, 1999

Story & Photos by Glenda S. Paradee

Reba McEntire performed two concerts at the Arizona State Fair in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona on October 18-19, 1999.

If Reba were a motorcycle, at these concerts she was a Harley full throttle. Her engine was revving!

McEntire appeared magically center stage in a beautiful black pant suit with a sparkling black blouse. She looked gorgeous with her short red hair. She appeared and then belted out "Is There Life Out There" to a thunderous applause and standing ovation.

McEntire has a terrific band. With her this tour she had 9 band members which included two female backup singers, two guitars, steel guitar, bass, organ, piano and drums.

After her first song Reba said, "Sit back and relax and we hope you will have a great time". Then she went into her hit song "Heart Is The Lonely Hunter".

McEntire then said that in 1984 she won the CMA Female Vocalist Award for this song and then she sang "Who's Ever In New England".

McEntire then sang her hit, "I'd Rather Drive Around With You".

Then with male and female dancers, McEntire ripped through "Why Haven't I Heard From You" with some great choreography.

To celebrate her 20th year in the music business, Reba said she recorded an album to pay tribute to two ladies she looked up to for a long time, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. Then she sang Ronstadt's "Your No Good" and then Parton's "Starting Over Again".

During McEntire's performance of "One Honest Heart", she had lots of eye to eye contact and waves to the adoring fans as she walked back and forth on the stage.

McEntire then said, "This is one of my favorite songs." And then she sang "Forever Love". To go along with the song, above the stage on gigantic video screens they showed many loving couples including Johnny & June Carter Cash, Paul McCartney with wife Linda, Lucy & Desi Arnez, Roy & Dale Evans. McEntire received a long standing ovation after this song.

McEntire then went into her brand new single "What Do You Say". Again, she received another 5 minute standing ovation. Reba had tears in her eyes as did the whole audience. Reba said it makes her feel good that her music touches hearts as it does her own with such a special message in a song.

McEntire then put on a blue shiney gold fringed jacket and then sang the upbeat song "Picked The Wrong Night Not To Fall In Love With You". The band had many great solos in this song.

McEntire left the stage and then her band played a long intro to "Take It Back". Reba again appeared wearing a stunning white outfit with a jacket with feathers, as she walked down the stage stairs, she then whipped off the jacket with feathers and proceeded to strut around the stage and sing the song "Take It Back". This was another fantastic choreographed number. One of the many highlights of the evening. She had many dancers with her on this song and at one point even picked her up and placed her on a table. As she danced and sang the dancers all danced around her.

McEntire said she was born and raised in Oklahoma. She lived on a ranch and her and her siblings were the hired hands. She said her parents were tough, but she appreciated everything her mommy and daddy taught her. Then standing center stage with 2 guitar players, 1 backup singer, and 1 fiddle player she sang "The Greatest Man I Never Knew". McEntire received another standing ovation. Then McEntire said that 3 part harmony reminds her of while growing up, her and her family would sing 3 part harmony together. Then she sang "How Blue". The audience joined in clapping their hands to this song. She then went into the song "Promise Too Late". Reba and her band members had beautiful harmonies in this.

McEntire then went into her hit "Fear of Being Alone" and had everyone clap with her.

Another highlight of the evening was when she sang "Does He Love You" with her backup singer. They received a gigantic standing ovation.

McEntire then said, "I always love playing in Phoenix. You always treat me like family and you'll never know how much I appreciate it. I only have two days here but I wish it was for a week." Then she said, "It goes to show you were so good together." Then she had her dancers come out again and Reba danced and sang to "Were So Good Together". Again McEntire received a big standing ovation. Reba then waved goodbye to the crowd and left the stage to a thunderous applause.

After a few minutes McEntire came back for on encore and as soon as the first note of the song was heard, the whole audience went wild, they knew the song was "Fancy". Very dramatically Reba appeared in a black short skirt with a knee length black leather jacket. She completely acted out the song. At the climax of the song, standing up on the stairs center stage, just like Reba magic, after whipping off the leather jacket, the black short skirt disappeared and Reba was then wearing a stunning long sparkling red gown.

After the song the fans were giving Reba another standing ovation and again like Reba Magic, she waved to the audience and then she disappeared.

Thanks for the Music Reba, Starstruck, Wynell and the Arizona State Fair.

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