Reba McEntire: 'I didn't think radio would play my new music'
By JENNY DEPPER
Reba McEntire's new album "Love Somebody" almost didn't happen.
The country superstar took a five-year hiatus from recording new music, and in an exclusive interview with AOL, Reba revealed that she didn't put out new music because she wasn't sure radio stations were interested in her music anymore.
"I didn't think I was going to have to record a new album at all. I didn't feel any need and you know, I've been in the business for quite a long time and I didn't think radio would play my music on the radio anymore, so I thought, what's the point?" she explained.
Reba, who turned 60 on March 28, says she simply figured that radio execs were more interested in younger, newer artists.
Thankfully, the "Fancy" singer's fans and a bit of prodding from Big Machine Record founder Scott Borchetta, changed her mind.
"Scott Borchetta said we're going to play your older music and your newer music too. And I said, well, I think that's a great concept," she shared. "I like to hear the old stuff that I grew up with, but then I like to hear the artist have new music too. I treat people like I want to be treated, so there I am – I am putting out new material."
Reba's new album, "Love Somebody," which features her new single "Going Out Like That" hits stands on April 14 and she said it's really something she put her stamp on.
"When I listen to a demo .... It's got to have that emotion that hits me, that way when I sing it, that same emotion will hit you. That's when I know I've done my job."
These days, she gets to choose the music she wants to put on her album and she joked that when she first started out in the business, it wasn't that way. In fact, she said the Nashville scene is just as tricky now as it was when she first kicked off her career.
"It took me six years before I had a number one record. The difference between now and then – you wouldn't have gotten those chances. That was on my sixth album. Nowadays, if it is not the third or fourth single – next. It is harder now, because of the competition."
Regardless of the tricky business, Reba has something that younger artist's don't – staying power.
Next up, she is teaming up with Brooks & Dunn for a slew of performances at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and is headlining the Outnumber Hunger Campaign to help raise awareness of the 49 million individuals struggling with hunger in America. Hear more about Reba's work with Outnumber Hunger (below!) and why she wanted to get involved with the important cause.
