Reba: My Story (48 page)

For fan club and merchandise information, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

I
T SURE TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS BOOK HAPPEN
, starting off with Mel Berger of the William Morris Agency talking to Narvel about me doing a book.

After Narvel talked me into it, we chose Bantam as our publisher. Then we selected Tom Carter, whom I have known since the early eighties, when he wrote for the
Tulsa World
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be the co-author. Tom did a great job interviewing people, gathering all the facts, listening to all the endless stories, and typing it all up, in addition to keeping up with my unpredictable schedule.

I would like to say thanks to my family for helping Tom. To Pake for the time he spent interviewing all the family and putting it down on tape for my Christmas present. To Ray Williams for all the great memories you shared with us. To Daddy for your inspiration and great stories of our past. To Alice and Susie, though I’m sorry I didn’t always use your versions of the stories you told—I remembered them differently. It’s funny how much of a brat you both thought I was. I don’t remember it like that at all! And to Mama, thanks for not hanging up on me from all the endless phone calls I made, sometimes to ask the same question. (I forgot where I wrote it down the first time!)

Thank you all for helping me find the best pictures. I love each and every one of you.

Narvel, since we made it through this book writing, I’d say we can make it through just about anything. But as you know, there were times when I wanted to choke the liver out of you for talking me into it.

To my friends, relatives, associates, enemies, fans, business partners, and acquaintances who contributed to this project, you’re in it whether you like it or not—but I hope you do!

Thank you, God, for letting me keep my sanity and my memory long enough to finish this book. As I read over it for the thousandth time, I’m pretty impressed by how much of a life you’ve let me lead. Thank you for my story, I’m glad it all started with you.

To you reading this book, I hope you are entertained and learn a little more about me and what I do and how I think. I hope you close the last page liking me a little more and not too disappointed in my shortcomings.

So here it is—my story. Please read on, and Read My Mind!

Love,                              

B
ILLBOARD
MAGAZINE HAS NAMED
REBA McENTIRE
THE TOP-SELLING
female country artist for the last nine consecutive years. Her multiplatinum recordings and her top-drawing concerts have led her to be one of the most award-winning entertainers of our time. Reba has also garnered wide acclaim for her dramatic performances in her music videos and in television and feature films.
USA Today
has described her as “a woman of sass and strength with legions of female fans, many young enough to be her daughter or old enough to be her mother.” TOM CARTER is the co-author of numerous nonfiction books, including Ralph Emery’s
New York Times
bestseller
Memories
.