Reba McEntire, 71, Recommends 5 Must-Read Books She Couldn’t Put Down—From Steamy Time Travel to Musical Memoirs!
The country star’s love of reading runs in the family! Here, discover her top picks
Key Takeaways
- Reba McEntire's love of reading was inspired by her mother, Jacqueline, a schoolteacher.
- Reba's Place restaurant in Oklahoma features Jac's Library, filled with her late mom's books.
- Reba's book recommendations include time travel romance, music memoirs and more.
A good book recommendation is a precious gift among bibliophiles. But whenever a recommendation comes from your favorite author, actor or musical artist, it somehow feels even more special…like an invitation to explore the stories that inspire them. That’s certainly true of Reba McEntire. Reba McEntire is a legendary queen of country, with more than 75 million records sold and dozens of No. 1 hits. And while she’s most known for her country career and vivacious personality, she’s also an avid reader.
Reba has often credited her love of books to her mother, Jacqueline, a schoolteacher and librarian who made reading an important part of family life. In recent years, Reba even opened up a library inside her restaurant that’s dedicated to her beloved late mom.
So if you’re looking for a good book recommendation, curious about Reba’s reading taste or want to know more about her library, or all of the above, you’re in luck! Here, we gathered up 5 must-read books from Reba herself—plus, all the must-know information about her restaurant’s cozy reading nook and what inspired her to open it.
Does Reba’s restaurant really have its own library?
Yes! It really does. In 2023, The Grammy award-winning singer opened Reba’s Place—a restaurant, bar and live venue with a cozy library tucked on the third floor—in her home state of Oklahoma. The restaurant is located in Atoka, which is about halfway between Tulsa and Dallas.
Reba’s favorite part of the restaurant isn’t its dining room or live stages, it’s Jac’s Library, named after her mom, Jacqueline McEntire. Jacqueline was a schoolteacher and librarian for more than 20 years in the Oklahoma community. “Loving a good read runs in the McEntire family,” Reba wrote on Instagram. “Jac’s Library, nestled on our third floor, houses Mama McEntire’s beloved book collection.”
After Mama McEntire’s passing in 2020, Reba recalled how her mother’s love of reading resulted in a large collection of books—and then she and her family had the idea to add a special touch to the restaurant.
“We took all of Mama’s books and made a library into it, so people can come in, get a book and read a little bit,” Reba told People. “It’s a very nice atmosphere where they can sit and visit and also have a drink. She would’ve loved that. Books, they were her treasure. They were something that she hoarded. She would be thrilled.”
Reba’s book recommendations—time travel, memoirs and more!
Mama McEntire definitely wasn’t the only reader in her family! When she’s not performing onstage or filming her current show Happy Place on NBC, Reba spends time reading across multiple genres from musical memoirs to time travel and beyond. Ahead of the release of her most recent cookbook, Not That Fancy, she sat down with Amazon and shared her top reads. Read on for 5 must-read recommendations!
‘Outlander’ by Diana Gabaladon
Outlander is revered as a romantic time travel masterpiece by countless readers—and one of those readers is Reba herself! Diana Gabaldon’s beloved series, which was also adapted into a hit TV show, follows former British combat nurse Claire Randall and her husband as they embark on a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands. There, . Claire stumbles upon a magical standing stone that transports her to the year 1743. Now a Sassenach, an “outlander,” she must try to survive and find her way back—and a handsome young Scots warrior named Jamie Fraser might be her ticket.
Why Reba loves it: “[This is] the book that continued my obsession with time travel!!! I recommend Diana Gabaldon’s steamy series to anyone who likes romance, history and adventure.”
‘Songteller’ by Dolly Parton
In 2020, Dolly Parton released Songteller: My Life in Lyrics—and it’s one of Reba’s favorites! The 380-page tome is an autobiographical celebration of Dolly’s career told entirely through her music. Going through more than 60 years of songwriting, Dolly shares personal moments, inspirations and memories behind 175 of her favorite and most iconic songs. It’s a uniquely beautiful musical memoir that follows her life from the Smoky Mountains to Tennessee and beyond.
Why Reba loves it: “Dolly and I have been friends for more than 30 years. She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met, and I love her faith, her sense of humor, her heart, and her confidence to be exactly who she is.”
‘Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust’ by Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn’s memoir about her friendship with Patsy Cline is an absolute must-read for music lovers and it’s a book Reba describes as deeply “powerful.” In this heartfelt memoir, Lynn celebrates her extraordinary friendship with fellow country music legend Patsy Cline, sharing their journey from rising stars to lifelong “sisters of the heart.” Through personal stories of laughter and heartbreak, Lynn offers a behind-the-scenes look at their bond before Cline’s tragic death. The book also captures the spirit of 1960s Nashville and the lasting impact the two icons had on country music.
Why Reba loves it: “Loretta Lynn and the late Patsy Cline are two women who can teach us so much about life, especially how to stand up for yourself and how to deal with being a woman in the world of country music today because they had to do it in THEIR day. They came together when they both needed a friend most, and reading this powerful book makes you want to have that same bond with a friend.”
‘I Lived to Tell It All’ by George Jones
Another captivating music memoir on Reba’s shelf? Country legend George Jones’ 1997 memoir I Lived to Tell It All. Co-authored by Tom Carter, the book details Jones’ rise to fame from East Texas to Nashville and beyond. In his own words, the book covers the ups and downs of stardom—including all his “boozing, brawling and singing.” Jones is open about his decades-long struggle with alcohol and drugs, his turbulent marriages (including to Tammy Wynette) and his ultimate redemption, thanks to his wife Nancy.
Why Reba loves it: “In my restaurant Reba’s Place in Atoka, Oklahoma, there’s a library filled with the books my Mama, a schoolteacher, left behind when she passed. One of the books in the library is George Jones’ touching memoir about music, love and addiction.”
‘What Will I Do With My Love Today?’ by Kristin Chenoweth
Since reading was such a beloved pastime in the McEntire family growing up, it’s no surprise one of Reba’s top reading recs is a book for readers of all ages! Broadway and screen star (and good friend of Reba!) Kristin Chenoweth’s sweet children’s book follows young Kristi Dawn as she spreads kindness through simple acts of generosity around her community. Along the way, she meets a lonely dog in need of a home. Soon, Kristi discovers that adoption is one of the greatest ways to share love. Filled with playful rhymes, this sweet read is a reminder that the more love you give, the more it grows.
Why Reba loves it: “My friend and fellow Oklahoman Kristin Chenoweth’s book is about teaching children that the more love you give, the more love you get back. I love this message of generosity and kindness.”
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