Country music has been a male dominated genre, but Reba McEntire feels that the industry is changing. McEntire believes that the women of Country music put on better shows.
"I've watched many, many decades of entertainers," she stated. "And I will go watch females and be totally entertained. And when I watch the males, I love their singing, and their lights. But when the girls come on, you better know that they've come up with something new and innovative, and they're going to give you a show."
Today's top Country acts are artists like Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, and McEntire herself. Recently, McEntire released her newest single, "Strange."
At a rehearsal for the 44th Annual ACM Award Show, McEntire said, "It's a little bit different. It's tongue-in-cheek. It's a little bit about, you know, 'I'm supposed to be in love with this guy and really heartbroken, but I'm not.' So, it's a tough-woman song."
A lot of McEntire's inspiration for her new single came from her tour withe Kelly Clarkson.
"I mean, I had to step up. I didn't get to stand in just certain areas of the stage. I was rockin' right along with her," McEntire recalled. "I was singing her songs, she was singing my songs. We never left the stage during the whole time. And it was a lot of fun. So, when I started looking for new material, that's what I was gravitating to: the more kick-butt type, more youthful-type, attitude songs."
McEntire was also recently featured on Will Ferrell's "Funny or Die" website on April Fools Day when the website was changed to "Reba or Die" and featured videos of McEntire throughout her career.
"When I saw Roy Clark and myself on 'Hee Haw,' I died laughing," said McEntire. "Oh my gosh, (my hair) was jacked up to Jesus! It was big hair, big hair from Oklahoma, Tennessee — yeah, I had it."
McEntire's new album will be released this summer. As for now, she will be touring throughout the spring.
McEntire said, "Where I am in my life and career is very happy. I'm very busy — not only with the music, but I have a clothing line, a luggage line, shoe line, bedding, bath, and we're going into gift ware, like silver platters and candy dishes. So, that's the way we like it. It keeps us out of trouble. That's what mama always said."
