Reba McEntireis opening up about the origin of her relationship with boyfriendRex Linn— and it involves some fried potatoes!
In a new interview on Wednesday’s episode ofThe Jennifer Hudson Show, the country superstar spoke about how she and Linn’s co-starring roles onYoung Sheldonled to their first date — nearly 30 years after they first met.
McEntire, 68, recalled meeting the 66-year-old “handsome rascal” while on the set of 1991’sThe Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Drawmovie, noting that they shared a mutual friend in film producer E.K. Gaylord II. It wasn’t until January 2020, however, that she and Linn actually decided to get romantic.
Reba McEntire and Rex Linn.ABC via Getty
The plans didn’t come to fruition for a couple of weeks, but they eventually went out for a meal together. “We all went to dinner, had a good time, went down the street to a wine bar, and they said, ‘Well, I understand you’ve already had dinner, but we do have some good appetizers,'” said McEntire.
“We’re the tots —sugar and tater. So, we’ve been together ever since,” added McEntire. “He’s a sweetheart.”
Reba McEntire and Jennifer Hudson.Chris Millard/Warner Bros.
Shortly after entering their relationship, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, and the Grammy winner’smother Jacqueline died of cancerat age 93 in March 2020. McEntire told Hudson, 41, that she went home to Oklahoma and stayed with her sister Susie while “taking care of all of Mom and Dad’s things,” and Linn sweetly sent them food packages in the mail.
“Every day there was a new something coming in,” she said. “We live in southeastern Oklahoma, Susie does… and it takes you a long time to get anywhere. So, here comes UPS or Federal Express, and Mark Eaton, my brother-in-law, was standing out on the front porch and said, ‘What’s he gonna bring today? What’s he sending?'”
McEntire continued, “He sent pecan pie, lobster tail, steaks — Perini steaks from south Texas — and boy, it was a good time. McConnell’s ice cream. My little sister would ration us. We’d just get one little scoop per night while we were watchingOzark. She was saving it.”
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Elsewhere during the episode, she and Hudson sang a powerhouse duet of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” which McEntire covered in 1988, while theAmerican Idolalum covered the song for the 2021 filmRespect.
“I love the song. I love Aretha. I got to meet her — she scared me to death. I wouldn’t even go up and talk to her,” detailed the “I’m a Survivor” performer. “I got to meet her in Washington, D.C, at ‘Christmas in Washington,’ and she’s just amazing.”
source: people.com
