Reba McEntire gets down to earth at Reno show

by Brandy Dela Vega

Reba McEntire showed almost 8,500 people at the Reno Hilton Amphitheater Friday night why she has her own self-titled television show and a hugely successful 25-year music career. Oh, yeah…and two books, 30 music videos, a successful acting career in movies and theater. Need I go on?

The country icon has returned after two years with her Habitat for Humanity tour — a simpler, more down-to-earth production than her big-haired, sequin-studded tours of the past.

But just because the show is simpler doesn’t mean McEntire is lacking in that dramatic flair for which she is known. She made a theatrical entrance by rising directly out of the top of the stage in a sea of blue and green lights and jumping right into “We’re So Good Together” and “Whoever’s in New England.”

A huge screen behind McEntire projected her intense facial expressions and warm smiles so the audience didn’t miss any of the heart and energy that she puts into each of her songs.

McEntire’s petite frame hides a giant of a voice, which she showed off with songs like “You Lie” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.”

“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” was so dark and dramatic, I didn’t doubt for a second during the song that she was fully capable of shooting her brother’s cheating wife.

What made it more enjoyable was the lack of theatrics and special effects; every song was just McEntire thoroughly enjoying the act of singing for her audience.

She performed “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain” and “Somebody,” both singles from her new album “Room To Breathe.” “Somebody” is just another example of McEntire’s ability to tell a story with her songs.

The age-old tale of two women loving the same man was played out between McEntire and Linda Davis, a powerful singer who has been collaborating with McEntire for years. “Does He Love You” began with both women at opposite ends of the stage and culminating with a riveting confrontation between the two in the middle.

The small bit of visuals used during the performance was well placed and very powerful. Images of armed service members leaving or coming home played behind McEntire as she sang “Forever Love.”

To be honest, I came to the show to hear “Fancy.” I heard that song every day of my junior year of high school as my friends and I cruised Yerington’s main street. After “Does He Love You” ended, the stage went dark and the Hilton’s fireworks started.

Then a video began playing, showing a taxicab driving along a rural road. The audience was on its feet before McEntire took the stage.

Only Reba could have grown men singing, “I may have been born just poor white trash, but Fancy was my name.”

Opening for McEntire was Jessica Andrews, a 20-year-old singer from Tennessee. She sang “Who I Am” and “Helplessly, Hopelessly” from her first two albums. She also sang “Sunshine and Love” and “There’s More to Me Than You” from her third album “Now.”

I tried really hard to get over her mispronunciation of “Nevada.” Even after a resounding “It’s Nev-aaaa-da” came up from the audience, she didn’t correct herself.

Despite a strong, soulful singing voice, she left me feeling that she really didn’t want to be there. Maybe Reba can give her a few pointers about stage presence.