Reba McEntire's Best And Worst Red Carpet Looks

When it comes to country stars, there's no denying that fashion plays a major role in self-expression, whether we're talking about the looks they're wearing on stage or the costumes they rock in their music videos. And one country star who always ensures her fashion is expressive and authentic is definitely Reba McEntire. "I don't like trends," McEntire told E! News in 2024. "I'm very proud of how old I am or how young I am," she added. "Real beauty means that you're comfortable in your own skin. And if you're confident and comfortable, you're gonna feel beautiful."

Over the years, we have gotten to witness the stunning style transformation of Reba McEntire, and while the singer and actor has always been daring with her fashion choices, not all of them have been top-tier. In fact, when it comes to red-carpet appearances, McEntire has given us multiple looks that we wish we hadn't seen. Luckily, she has also nailed red-carpet fashion on multiple occasions, so we can forgive her. 

In 2009, Reba McEntire showed up on the Academy of Country Music Awards red carpet in a breathtaking purple gown that cinched at her waist. The silky material perfectly flowed down her legs, and the two purple tones of the gown looked incredible with her coloring, especially as she rocked copper hair. The deep neckline and cut of the dress suited the star's figure, and we could instantly tell she was comfortable in the outfit as her confidence was contagious.

In fact, we love everything about this look, including the delicate accessories she paired it with, as well as the fact that the queen of country left her hair down. Throughout her career, Reba McEntire has been caught wearing some inappropriate outfits, but this purple look certainly isn't one of them. While it may not be our absolute favorite color on her (that spot is reserved for green, which we'll see more of later), purple should definitely make a more frequent appearance in McEntire's closet.

When Reba McEntire showed up to the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards, we couldn't help but kind of cringe at her mismatched outfit. Separately, all of the pieces are stunning, but put them all together, and these statement items are definitely clashing. Between the sequin blazer jacket, lace pants with fringe, and early 2010s statement necklace, there are just too many things to look at. We love a maximalist look, but this wasn't really the best way to execute one.

"Ralph Lauren was a perfect pairing, and not only the top choice, but the only choice," the star's stylist Cristina Ehrlich explained to WWD. "Her aesthetic pairs well with the Ralph Lauren heritage, which made this an easy top choice." While McEntire and sequins usually make a great pairing, we do wish the "I'm Not That Lonely Yet" singer and her stylist stuck to two instead of three statement pieces. Had that been the case, McEntire probably wouldn't have been one of the worst-dressed celebs at the 2024 ACM Awards.

In 2019, Reba McEntire walked the red carpet of the Country Music Association Awards in an elegant yet fun black number by Johnathan Kayne. The sparkly long-sleeved gown had a curve-hugging mermaid silhouette, but it was its accented shoulders and fur detailing around the wrists that gave the piece a subtle retro vibe. While a black dress is always a safe choice, this particular one was anything but boring.

For the event, the "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" singer kept her jewelry simple, which definitely allowed her hair to be a tad more dramatic. Her signature voluminous curls framed her face, but McEntire's smile was definitely her best accessory. If you ask us, this is the perfect example of how to rock a black gown for a fancy red-carpet event without being predictable!

The noughties were definitely known for their fashion and beauty trends. From the most iconic Y2K hairstyles to low-rise bottoms and cropped tops, the period had a distinct look when it comes to style. While Reba McEntire nailed a majority of the era's fashion, one look lives rent-free in our minds — and for all the wrong reasons.

In 2004, the "Young Sheldon" star attended the People's Choice Awards, and even though the look may have been acceptable at the time, it certainly hasn't aged well. McEntire walked the red carpet in a two-toned black-and-chocolate look consisting of a sleeveless turtleneck top and a ruffled shiny skirt. Unfortunately, the dark-chocolate hue of the skirt was just too dark to suit a black top. To make matters worse, the star paired the look with a black velvet bag that added even more darkness to the mix, without giving McEntire the cool factor of being truly monochrome.

For the 2018 Grammy Awards, Reba McEntire decided to go with a spectacular Jovani design. The musician wore a sleeveless black gown with bedazzled embellishments along the entire front. The embellished detailing cinched in at the waist, creating an hourglass-like illusion and enhancing the "One Promise Too Late" singer's curves even more.

McEntire combined the bedazzled gown with a simple pair of hoop earrings and a chunky statement bracelet. Her hair was styled in her signature voluminous and soft curls, and her eye makeup perfectly matched the shades of the dress. McEntire is known for her love for funky and unusual fashion pieces, but there is no denying that the star looks spectacular in classic, glamorous gowns. And once again, the musician has shown that black red-carpet dresses don't have to be boring — especially when embellishments are added to the mix!

We're all about exploring unique looks when styling a red-carpet outfit, but when Reba McEntire showed up on the 2009 American Music Awards red carpet dressed like she could be Jack Sparrow's sister, we couldn't help but cringe. 

Between what looked like jeggings, statement boots, the sequin top, and bedazzled bag, the outfit simply has too many elements clashing against each other. However, had that been all of it, we may have been able to turn a blind eye. But the pirate-esque jacket the musician decided to add to the mix took this look from bad fashion to a fashion crime. McEntire may have thought that this was cool at the time, and had she been spotted wearing this on the street, we probably wouldn't have judged it as harshly, but a look like this has absolutely no place at a red-carpet event such as the American Music Awards.

While Reba McEntire's exploration of pirate-inspired fashion didn't go too well, her love for country and boho pieces always pays off. In 2019, the "How Was I to Know" singer walked the red carpet of the Academy of Country Music Awards in a beautiful red-fringe look that was giving us all the quirky and fun Reba McEntire vibes without looking like a costume. The star was hosting the event that evening, and there's no denying that her Jonathan Kayne red-carpet look hinted at a fun night.

The flapper-style dress added plenty of movement to her look, and the layered necklaces and classic cowboy boots gave the entire outfit an unexpected edge. In fact, McEntire is living proof that the country-western aesthetic is the fashion gift that keeps on giving. While we love seeing the singer in a glamorous black gown, the truth is that most stars can pull that look off. A head-to-toe fringe red dress, on the other hand? McEntire might just be the only one!

Reba McEntire showed up at the 2011 Country Music Association Awards red carpet in a green velvet gown that could have been a great look. The cut of the gown suited McEntire perfectly, but unfortunately, the different material used around the shoulders ended up looking too out of place. 

Had the entire dress been in velvet (or at least the sequined portion in a matching shade of green), this look could have easily been a winner — were it also not for her shoes, that is. Even though McEntire's heels weren't visible most of the time thanks to the length of the gown, once they did peek through from underneath the hemline, we couldn't help but notice that they added an unexpected dark-gray color to the mix — one that didn't really match any portion of her outfit.

While red-carpet gowns will forever be the epitome of sophistication and glamour, we can't deny that we adore a good pants moment. After all, seeing a confident and unapologetic woman strut down the red carpet in pants is definitely a pre-show moment we always adore. In 2025, Reba McEntire attended a Variety Power of Women event in a look that served power with every move.

The singer paired bootcut jeans with a white button-up and a baby-blue blazer. The star accessorized the look with layered necklaces, a statement buckle belt, and animal-print shoes. The outfit was the perfect mix of edgy, cool, and fashionable — and it worked for the occasion. Now, if you want to recreate this look, keep in mind the one rule you need to follow when trying on bootcut jeans: avoiding a short zipper.

For the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards, Reba McEntire gave us a few incredible looks, and another one that made it onto our list is the black Jonathan Kayne gown she wore after the show for the press room. While her first red-carpet look was on the best side of our list, this one definitely deserved a spot on the worst.

The sparkly bodice was a classic and safe choice, but the sheer material the sleeves were made out of, paired with the bedazzled top portion of the neckline, just didn't match well. The gown had too many elements clashing against each other, and McEntire has certainly been in the fashion game for long enough to know better than to make such a rookie mistake. Without the top portion (even with the sheer material), this dress could have been great, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Perhaps the most ethereal look we've seen Reba McEntire rock on a red carpet is the embellished inky-blue-and-blush mermaid gown the singer showed up in to the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards. The dress was perfectly tailored to her body, and the delicate embroidered leaf-like embellishments added plenty of intricacy to the look. McEntire was clearly exploring fairycore styles before the trend even became a thing, and we have to give it to her — she may have been in the industry for multiple decades, but she never ceased to surprise us with her fashion choices.

The silky material of the gown photographed beautifully, and McEntire's red hair and dangly earrings made her look like a whimsical princess all the more. Not many stars can pull off a variety of fashion styles, but the musician has shown over and over again that she can easily switch between edgy and campy looks on one side and chic and sophisticated fashion on the other.

For the 2014 American Country Countdown Awards, Reba McEntire opted to go with a rather odd red-carpet choice — a tailored leather jacket. The star paired the edgy piece with a black knee-length bodycon dress, resulting in a look that was definitely making it seem like she was ready for a night out and not an award-show red carpet. The strappy heels and statement jewelry were great additions, but they didn't really save the look.

Do we absolutely hate this entire outfit? No, after all, the early 2010s were a tumultuous time for fashion. However, we do wish she had ditched the unnecessary leather jacket, as that would have made the entire ensemble much more sophisticated and red-carpet appropriate. Plus, she could have still rocked the jacket for the after party to tone down the 'fit.

As a redhead, Reba McEntire looks absolutely stunning in almost any shade of green, which is why the queen of country often goes for the color. In 2024, she walked the Primetime Emmy Awards red carpet in a fun, metallic-green pantsuit that left our jaws on the floor. The subtle pattern on the outfit looked fun and quirky, while the pantsuit itself was a clear power move on the star's side. The look itself definitely isn't a style most red-carpet divas would go for, but the country singer made it work.

McEntire wore a sparkly silver top underneath, and she paired the look with a soft and effortless updo. The outfit clearly helped her radiate her contagious energy even more, as she seemed incredibly confident and happy in the look. Fashion always has the power to put us in a great mood, and the "Happy's Place" star is no exception. 

When Reba McEntire walked the red carpet of the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999, chances are that most people didn't really think twice about her look. However, more than two decades later, we can't help but acknowledge just how poorly her choice of gown has aged. We love '90s fashion, but this definitely isn't a prime example of it.

The musician showed up at the prestigious country-music event in a floor-length dress that could have easily been a beach outfit. The woven straps of the dress are very bohemian, while the material is silky and slip-like, making this an odd combination for the event. McEntire rocked a matching scarf around her shoulders that technically should have elevated the look and made it feel more glamorous, but in reality, the entire outfit fell short of expectations.

Just in case you had any more doubts that green is Reba McEntire's best color, we've decided to include another breathtaking green red-carpet moment. In 2022, the "Can't Even Get the Blues" singer showed up to the Academy Awards in a look that easily stole the show for everyone.

The country-music star walked the red carpet at Hollywood's biggest annual event in a sequined and long-sleeved Dolce & Gabbana gown with an asymmetrical neckline and cinching at the waist. In theory, a head-to-toe sequined look could have easily ended on the worst part of our list, but this gown is pure perfection, proving once again that McEntire's fashion risks often pay off. We have to give it to her!

Now, if you care for more of the star's relatable moments, make sure you also check out the makeup mistakes Reba McEntire probably regrets.