On March 16, 1991, country musician Reba McEntire and her band faced an unimaginable tragedy when their private plane crashed near San Diego, California. The aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 125-700, was en route from Brown Field Municipal Airport in San Diego to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they were scheduled to perform.
The crash killed all eight band members onboard: keyboardist Joey Cigainero, guitarist Chris Austin, bassist Terry Jackson, drummer Kirk Cappello, backup vocalist Paula Kaye Evans, and road manager Jim Hammon. It’s been three and a half decades since the unfortunate incident, and the country musician recently paid an emotional tribute to her late band members.
Reba McEntire pays tribute to her late band members via Instagram
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The 68-year-old took to Instagram to list the names of those departed souls, paying homage to each individual. She also drew inspiration from her own song, “For My Broken Heart,” sharing poignant lyrics that resonated with the profound loss experienced by her and the entire community.
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“I guess the world ain’t gonna stop… for my broken heart,” she wrote in the caption. “33 years today since Heaven gained some great angels. Rest in peace, my friends.”
Reba McEntire has always cherished the memories of her late band members
Through the passage of years, McEntire has remained devoted to commemorating the cherished memories of her dear departed friends. In 2020, the country music star took a moment to reflect on not only the profound impact of those losses but also on the more recent passing of her mother, Jacqueline, which occurred in March of that year.
“29 years ago today, I lost my friends in a plane crash. The timing of Mama’s passing with that anniversary seems appropriate,” she wrote on Instagram. “I know they’re all in Heaven together and taking care of each other. Let’s keep finding ways to take care of each other down here on earth and never take one moment with our loved ones for granted.”