'Timing's Everything': Inside Reba McEntire & Rex Linn's Love Story

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn have a unique Hollywood love story that spans three decades despite them only officially dating for six years. Having met as colleagues when working on "The Gambler" together in 1991, it took nearly 30 years before the pair sparked a romantic flame in 2020 while filming for "Young Sheldon." After this, they have been "pretty much inseparable ever since," McEntire told Today in 2021. Fans have fallen in love with the happy pair, and these two don't shy away from packing on the PDA when stepping out for red carpet looks — many of which showcase the stunning style transformation of Reba McEntire.

The country singer had already experienced her fair share of marriage and divorce by the time she began dating Linn. McEntire was previously married to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987 and her manager, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015, with them sharing their son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock. After her second divorce, McEntire dated Anthony "Skeeter" Lasuzzo from 2017 to 2019 before falling head over heels for Linn a year later. "He's a very supportive man, I love him with all my heart," she told People in 2023. By Christmas 2024, Linn popped the big question in an intimate proposal, the pair revealed months later. The moment was a "total surprise," McEntire later shared, telling People in 2025 that it was on "Rex Linn timing" — but "very romantic." 

Rex Linn wasted no time when it came to teasing his then-budding romance with Reba McEntire on social media. The "Cliffhanger" star took to Instagram in January 2020 to share what appeared to be a date night photo of the happy couple. "Had a fantastic dinner with this Oklahoma girl. Tater Tots and Ketchup included," he captioned the post. 

rexlinn13/Instagram

Their years-long friendship took a romantic turn after a dinner reunion, McEntire revealed in 2020, when appearing on Watch What Happens Live. The reconnection led to them "texting and talking on the telephone and getting to know each other better during the quarantine." The "I'm a Survivor" singer also spoke to Glamour in 2024, discussing how their friendship turned into a beautiful romance. "We'd been friends. [...] just friends. Timing's everything. Everything happens for a reason," she said.

McEntire waited six months before telling fans about her newfound love, taking to her Living & Learning podcast in October 2020 to gush about Linn, whom she described as "very interesting, very funny, very smart, and [...] interested in [her], too." She noted how "fun and exciting" it was to be dating again and all the fun she had during quarantine getting closer to the "CSI: Miami" star. "It's good to have a person to talk to, laugh with, get into subjects about what's going on," she commented.

As one of the hosts of the 2020 Country Music Awards, Reba McEntire found it fitting for her and Rex Linn to have their red carpet debut as a couple during this event. The hailed "Queen of Country" stunned in a dazzling sequined caped tuxedo and black rider boots so iconic they could be among Reba McEntire's best red carpet looks. Linn served dapper country charm in a blue blazer, a dark button-down, and a coordinating tie, paired with black bootcut jeans and matching boots. McEntire later shared photos of the happy couple on Instagram, teasing their flirty nicknames for one another in the caption. "From red carpet to coffee camp! Sugar and Tater Tot!" she wrote.

After passing the one-year mark, Linn was happy to join his leading lady on an episode of her Living & Learning podcast in November 2021 to dish about their "very special relationship" and how they bonded over the quarantine through a daily morning routine they dubbed "Coffee Camp." "We'd talk in the morning, we started 'Coffee Camp' while I was staying in Oklahoma," McEntire shared. "We haven't missed a 'Coffee Camp' since March 16." Linn cited the time difference between California and Tennessee, saying, "Sometimes my 'Coffee Camp' started at 3 a.m. but man I have never missed one; I don't wanna miss one."

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn put their love on full display when hitting the red carpet for the 94th Academy Awards. McEntire radiated in a shimmering green gown that made her signature red locks pop, while Linn looked dashing in a classic all-black tuxedo. While there have been times when Reba McEntire was almost unrecognizable rocking her natural hair, the "Fancy" singer's soft curls framed her face perfectly, complete with sleek, side-swept bangs. Just ahead of the Oscars, McEntire and Linn enjoyed a double date with actor John Lithgow and his wife, Mary Yeager, which McEntire gushed about on Instagram.

By May 2024, McEntire revealed she and Linn would be starring opposite each other in the NBC sitcom "Happy's Place." Months later, with the show already filmed, Linn shared the small ways he sneaks in PDA when they're on set. "Every once in a while, I'll sneak by for a quick kiss, just a peck on the cheek and keep on moving. It's fun," he told People in 2024. In the same interview, their co-star, Melissa Peterman, applauded the couple as being "adorable" and "really professional" on set.

Rex Linn gave hints of his plans to tie the knot with Reba McEntire when he professed his love for her while speaking with WBIR Channel 10 in 2024. "We are best friends. We wanna cross the finish line with each other in a relationship," he said. One month later, Linn popped the big question in a private proposal on Christmas Eve 2024, using the same metaphor. According to McEntire in a 2025 interview with USA Today, "He said, 'I want to cross the finish line with you. Would you marry me?'" In the same interview, the singer gushed over her relationship with Linn, "I'm having a blast, I feel like a teenager," she said. 

In October 2025, the "Big Sky" star later revealed why the couple delayed making their engagement announcement, citing the Los Angeles wildfires and how "it wasn't appropriate" to share such happy news during times of despair, McEntire told People. In August 2026, McEntire explained how their busy schedules have delayed their wedding plans. "We're just waiting until we have an open spot to have the wedding," she told E! News, too. Despite the postponed nuptials, these two are clearly very happy together, and fans love to see it.