Reba McEntire has been having a particularly triumphant year and it’s not even half done. Her contestant secured victory in season 25 of The Voice and she was crowned Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards. The Queen of Country has since shared advice on living a successful life, and it’s all about bringing happiness to others.
69-year-old McEntire saw her The Voice contestant Asher HaVon to victory in a dazzling two-part finale that had pleasant surprises for everyone. McEntire personally invited 32-year-old country star Lainey Wilson to the Grand Ole Opry and witnessed Lainey open for her show with “God Blessed Texas” and “Hang Tight Honey.” McEntire believes a lot of the values crucial to success are embodied in Lainey’s giving spirit.
Reba McEntire praises Lainey Wilson and offers advice for success that’s all about giving
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McEntire spoke with Fox News Digital, reflecting on hosting the ACM Awards and seeing Lainey perform. “Oh, Lainey Wilson is so sweet,” she gushed. “I’m so happy and proud for her. I saw her perform the night of the ACMs in Frisco, Texas. She did a marvelous job. She’s a star. She carries herself with such confidence, but still has fun with it.”
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In fact, McEntire asserted, Lainey is doing exactly what someone ough to do when pursuing a steady, successful career they can be proud of.
“And that’s what you’re supposed to do,” explained McEntire, “you’re supposed to have fun, because life’s too short to be dragged down and just be miserable. Lift everybody up with a smile and have fun, be nice, and Lainey is.”
The gift of gut
Asher, who McEntire coached this last season, is the first winner of The Voice to be openly part of the LGBTQ community. It’s a moniker that McEntire encouraged him to stay true to. “I’m proud of him,” she’s praised. “I think the best advice I gave you was to be yourself and trust your gift, which is the gut, because that’s the way God talks to us, and he did.”
According to McEntire, he followed her advice to the letter, rightly heeding the wisdom of the woman who has 100 singles that made the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 25 of which reached number one. Being a good student, McEntire noted, “paid off.”
Similarly, Asher credits McEntire for enabling him to feel confident performing on stage. “Reba never made me feel any type of way, no matter how I walked in that room,” recounted Asher, “and the more I felt safe, the more I was willing to peel back the layers.”
Coach and student also agreed on one thing: the perfect celebratory meal for them after such a huge victory was a cheeseburger and strawberry malt.
