Watch Reba’s Son & Daughter-In-Law Surprise Her On Her 70th Birthday

Shelby and Rissa Blackstock, along with friends, surprise Reba on her birthday. (Marissa Blackstock / Instagram)

Reba McEntire Celebrates Her 70th Birthday

Country music icon Reba McEntire turned 70 years old on March 28th, 2025. The Oklahoma native has been making music for over five decades and has had a career that few artists will ever match.

With over 75 million records sold worldwide, 25 number-one hits, 16 ACM Awards, and three Grammy Awards, the Country Music Hall of Famer has solidified herself as an integral part of country music history. Reba McEntire (Terry Wyatt / WireImage / Getty Images)
To celebrate her milestone birthday, Reba shared a rare baby photo of herself, the story of her challenging birth, and a message of gratitude for her loved ones. She wrote:

“I’m so grateful and thankful to God and my Angels for continuing to guide, direct, protect, and give me my marching orders 🙂 And for putting each of you in my life.”

Read Reba’s full birthday post below! 

Reba’s Kids Surprise Her On Her Birthday

The life of a country music superstar never stops, and as such, Reba spent her birthday performing at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Reba’s son Shelby Blackstock, his wife Marissa (Rissa, for short), and close friend Shane Tarleton devised a plan to surprise the “Fancy” singer on her special day. Rissa posted a fake Facebook status to keep up the ruse, claiming they were traveling to Chicago to attend a friend’s baby shower.

Rissa Blackstock posted a fake Facebook status as an alibi for the plan to surprise Reba. (Marissa Blackstock / Facebook)
Instead, the crew sported “Reba 70” jerseys to the Connecticut show and sat just a few rows from the stage. Reba performed her whole set without spotting them in the crowd.

It was not until Reba joined her boyfriend Rex Linn backstage after the show that the birthday girl noticed her special guests. She walked into a celebration complete with cake, sparklers, and flowers, and the surprise was written all over her face when she spotted her kids. She teared up as she embraced her son and joked that he was a “big liar.” Reba and her son Shelby Blackstock embrace on her 70th birthday (Rissa Blackstock / Instagram)