Part 1
The Trailer Tease: What Does It Take to Cross Over?
You have probably seen the trailer for Big Sky: Deadly Trails, where Reba McEntire's character barks orders at a glamping site. She's the questionable owner, and she's not afraid to tell her staff to hang the damn sign straight. It's a role that fits her like a well-worn cowboy boot, but it also raises a bigger question: What does it take for an artist to move seamlessly between music, television, and film?
Reba McEntire is living proof that it takes more than just talent. It takes range, grit, and a willingness to take direction. She's a Golden Globe nominated actress and a Grammy-winning country music star. She's sold over 90 million records worldwide, and she's had her own hit sitcom, Reba, which ran for six seasons on The WB and The CW. She's also appeared in films like Tremors (1990) and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021). But her latest role, on Big Sky: Deadly Trails, which premieres September 21st on ABC, might be her most intriguing yet.
So what does it take to cross over? Let's look at the evidence. Reba grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma, where she learned to take direction from her father. "If, when we leave -- this is Daddy talking -- 'Alright, we're gonna take these 150 head of cattle along down there. You sit in that gate and make sure nobody gets around and gets back up in the hills.' And you heard about a fourth of that," she recalls. "So you're going, 'Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.' Then he'd ride off and I'd say, 'Grandpap, what did he say?' 'He said sit in the gate.' I said, 'Okay.' And you better be in that gate when Daddy gets back." That ability to listen, to follow instructions, and to deliver under pressure is exactly what a director needs from an actor. It's also what a producer needs from a singer in the studio.
But crossing over isn't just about taking direction. It's about presence. Think of Dolly Parton in 9 to 5 (1980), directed by Colin Higgins. Parton was already a country music superstar, but she walked into that office comedy and held her own against Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She even wrote the title song, which became a hit. Or consider Cher in Moonstruck (1987), directed by Norman Jewison. Cher was a pop icon and a variety show host, but she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for that role. She had already proven she could act in Silkwood (1983) and Mask (1985), but Moonstruck sealed the deal. These women didn't just cross over; they conquered.
Reba is cut from the same cloth. She's been nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on Reba, and she's won Grammys for songs like "Whoever's in New England" and "Does He Love You." She's hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards multiple times, and she's been a coach on The Voice. She's also done Broadway, starring in Annie Get Your Gun in 2001. So when she steps into the role of a glamping site owner on Big Sky: Deadly Trails, she's not just playing a character; she's drawing on decades of experience in front of audiences of all kinds.
The new season of Big Sky premieres September 21st on ABC. It's a thriller series created by David E. Kelley, based on the book series by C.J. Box. Reba joins the cast as Sunny Barnes, the owner of a glamping site called Sunny Day Excursions. She's described as "questionable," which is putting it mildly. In the trailer, she's ordering her staff around, making sure everything is perfect for her guests. But there's a darkness lurking beneath the surface. This is a role that requires both charm and menace, and if anyone can pull that off, it's Reba.
So what does it take to cross over? It takes a foundation of discipline, a willingness to learn, and a natural charisma that can't be faked. Reba McEntire has all of that and more. She's not just a country music star who dabbles in acting; she's a bona fide entertainer who can command a stage, a screen, and a sitcom set. And with Big Sky: Deadly Trails, she's adding another notch to her belt. The question isn't whether she can cross over; it's what she'll conquer next.
From Ranch to Stage: The Roots of Reba's Range
You have probably heard the story: Reba McEntire grew up on an 8,000-acre ranch in Oklahoma. But have you ever stopped to consider how that upbringing shaped her into one of the most versatile entertainers of our time? It's not just a charming biographical detail. It's the foundation of everything she does, from commanding a stage to holding her own against a scene-stealing co-star. On that sprawling ranch, Reba learned the art of taking direction—a skill that would serve her just as well in Nashville recording studios and Hollywood soundstages.
Picture a young Reba, maybe ten or eleven, riding out with her father and sisters to gather cattle. The Oklahoma horizon stretches forever, and the work is hard and precise. Her father would issue instructions: 'Alright, we're gonna take these 150 head of cattle along down there. You sit in that gate and make sure nobody gets around and gets back up in the hills.' Reba admits she only heard about a fourth of that. She'd nod along—'Yes, sir, yes, sir'—and then, as soon as he rode off, she'd turn to her grandfather and ask, 'Grandpap, what did he say?' He'd reply, 'He said sit in the gate.' And she'd say, 'Okay.' That simple exchange captures the essence of Reba's approach: listen, adapt, and execute. And you'd better be in that gate when Daddy gets back.
