Reba McEntire reinvents herself; new album becomes chart topper

BY BRANDY McDONNELL

Published: August 28, 2009

Superstar Reba McEntire keeps breaking new ground more than three decades into her

music career.

The Oklahoma native made history this week as her new record, "Keep on Loving You,”

her first solo studio album in six years, debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top

Country Albums and Top 200 Albums charts.

"Keep on Loving You” is McEntire’s second straight album and first solo effort to top the

cross-genre Top 200 chart. Her 2007 album "Reba: Duets,” which paired the songstress

with stars Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson and fellow Oklahomans Vince Gill and

Ronnie Dunn, also reached No. 1 on the Top 200 and Top Country Albums lists.

McEntire’s new album, her first for Valory Music Co., is the highest debut from a female

country artist for 2009, according to a news release.

"I have had a blast working with my new Valory Music Co. team, along with my

Starstruck (Studios) family, on this record,” McEntire said in the release. "To have this

success at this time of my life and career means everything to me.”

With "Keep on Loving You,” McEntire now holds the record as the female artist with the

most No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, which launched in 1964.

Eleven of her albums have ascended to the No. 1 spot. McEntire previously shared the

record of 10 No. 1 albums with Loretta Lynn.

"Keep on Loving You” also achieved a milestone for the country genre. It marks the

third straight country album to hit No. 1 on Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. It is the

first time in history that three country albums in a row have topped the chart. New

albums from Sugarland and George Strait held the No. 1 spot the previous two weeks.

McEntire, 54, said her willingness to continually reinvent herself is one of her secrets to

long-term success.

"Every time, anytime is a good time to reinvent yourself. I mean, you’ve just gotta find

new things to do, new ways of doing it. That’s very important,” she told The Oklahoman

in a 2007 interview.