Reba McEntire’s ‘painful’ reason for refusing partner Rex Linn’s repeated marriage proposals revealed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Country music legend Reba McEntire, who recently marked her fifth anniversary with partner Rex Linn, opened up about her relationship, revealing that while she’s happy and cherishes their time together, she’s not ready to walk down the aisle. 

McEntire recently told US Weekly, "I’m fine with the way we are. If Rex ever wants to get married, then we’ll talk about it, but I’m fine. I love our relationship 100 percent."

As per insiders, despite Linn’s repeated marriage proposals and his belief that tying the knot would be the perfect ending to their love story, McEntire has made it clear she’s not interested in marriage. A source close to the couple has shed light on the reasons behind her decision.

Will Reba McEntire ring the wedding bell with Rex Linn?

Despite Reba McEntire's repeated denials, Rex Linn has proposed more than once, according to sources shared with Radar Online. The insider revealed McEntire’s reason for turning him down, saying, "Reba likes things the way they are and she fears if they marry, it will change their dynamic to the point where it blows up in their faces and she will be a three-time loser in love." 

McEntire was previously married to rancher Charlie Battle from 1976 to 1987. After that, she married Narvel Blackstock, her former band member, but their 26-year marriage ended in 2015, leaving McEntire heartbroken. 

A source added, "Reba thought she and Narvel would be together forever, and it crushed her that he left her. That's a big reason why she's hesitant about marrying Rex – she's learned from the previous pain she's endured that nothing lasts forever." 

A close friend of Linn’s shared that he is eager to marry McEntire, noting, "Rex has never been married, so he operates from a place where he can't fully relate to what Reba dealt with emotionally in her first two marriages." 

The friend continued, "He believes he and Reba are made for each other, and getting married would wrap a wonderful bow around their love story. But there are worries that if he keeps pushing the idea, Reba is going to run the other way, and that will be the end of them."

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn’s relationship timeline

Reba McEntire and actor Rex Linn have known each other since 1991, but their friendship turned romantic in 2020. Before dating Linn, McEntire was in a relationship with Anthony 'Skeeter' Lasuzzo from 2017 to 2019. 

In 2020, Linn posted a photo of them dining together, and soon after, McEntire confirmed their relationship on an episode of her podcast, Living & Learning.

She described Linn as "very interesting, very funny, and very smart," adding that they enjoyed deep conversations about their past, families, and careers.

In October 2020, Linn shared another photo with McEntire as they grew closer.

In November 11, 2020, the couple made their red carpet debut at the Country Music Awards.

Their relationship continued to flourish with movie dates and regular date nights. In March 2022, they attended the Oscars together, and later that year, they announced they would play spouses on Big Sky.

In 2023, McEntire openly expressed her love for Linn, calling him a "great guy to be in love with." The couple also took a vacation to Italy in August 2023, and in May 2024, McEntire teased a new sitcom starring both of them, as per PEOPLE.

To celebrate their fifth anniversary in January 2025, McEntire fondly referenced their playful nicknames for each other, “tater tot” and “sugar tot.”