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Reba McEntire said she hesitated to meet Merle Haggard because she admired him so much that she feared the real person might disappoint her. When they eventually met while she was doing shows with him, she recalled, he was “the nicest, most cordial gentleman”—and she felt relieved.
Why McEntire was reluctant to meet her hero
McEntire’s hesitation was rooted in admiration, not dislike. In a 2024 account of a “Behind the Mic” discussion with her fellow The Voice season 26 coaches, she described a general fear of meeting the people she admired: “I never wanted to meet my heroes, because I didn’t want them to disappoint me—ever.”
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Reba #1's | $8.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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My Chains Are Gone | $8.38 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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50 Greatest Hits | $35.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Not That Fancy | $9.92 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 | $12.90 | Buy on Amazon |
She applied that feeling to Haggard, explaining that she had looked up to him for a long time and worried that meeting him might spoil the image she had built up. The account names Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” and recalls McEntire’s excitement about working with him on the road. Meghan Overdeep’s September 23, 2024 report for Southern Living, surfaced via Yahoo Entertainment, attributes the remarks to McEntire.
What happened when they met
McEntire did eventually meet Haggard while doing shows with him. Her recollection turned the story around: “And when I did, he was the nicest, most cordial gentleman. And just… I was like ‘phew!’” Rather than confirming her fear, the encounter left her relieved that the artist she admired was gracious in person.
#1 Best Overall
What the anecdote does—and doesn’t—say
The story is about McEntire’s expectations and her relief after a positive meeting; it does not suggest she disliked Haggard or avoided him throughout their relationship. The available account describes the discussion and quotes her recollection, but does not independently establish the original video’s full context.
AOL republished substantially the same account on April 4, 2026, identifying Southern Living as the original. That republication is evidence of how the story circulated, not an independent account of the interview.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Reba McEntire will release her companion album to her upcoming book, "Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots," on October 6, 2023
Rank #3
- Shrink-wrapped
Rank #2
- My Chains Are Gone is a collection of hymns and gospel favorites from Country music icon Reba McEntire
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