One of the most heartbreaking moments in country music history happened on March 16, 1991—a night that forever changed Reba McEntire’s life.
After performing at a private event for IBM in San Diego, Reba stayed behind at the hotel, feeling slightly under the weather. Her band and tour team, however, boarded two charter planes bound for their next show in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Only one of those planes made it.
The second aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 125, crashed just minutes after takeoff, slamming into a nearby mountain east of the airport. All ten people on board were killed instantly. There were no survivors.
A Tragedy That Changed Everything
The crash claimed the lives of some of Reba’s closest collaborators and dearest friends:
- Jim Hammon (tour manager)
- Kirk Cappello and Joey Cigainero (keyboardists)
- Tony Saputo (drummer)
- Michael Thomas and Chris Austin (guitarists)
- Terry Jackson (bassist)
- Paula Kaye Evans (backup vocalist)
- Donald Holmes and Christopher Hollinger (pilots)
They weren’t just bandmates. They were family. They were the people who had stood beside Reba night after night, town after town, helping bring her music to life. And in an instant, they were gone.
“It’s like the world stopped turning,” Reba later said. “One minute, we were laughing together. The next, I was hearing the worst news of my life.”
Dolly Parton Stepped in with Real Support
In the aftermath of the tragedy, as Reba was overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty, a phone call came—from Dolly Parton.
“What do you need?” Dolly asked. “Do you want my band?”
Dolly wasn’t just offering help. She was offering healing. She sent her own music director, Gary Smith, to assist Reba in assembling a new band. She gave what mattered most—her time, her trust, and her heart.
Country star Vince Gill also stepped forward, offering to sing and play alongside Reba until she was ready to return to the stage.
When Music Becomes Family
The bond between an artist and their band goes beyond performance. It’s shared stories, sleepless nights on the road, quiet encouragement before every show. Losing that bond isn’t just losing coworkers—it’s losing part of your soul.
That’s why Dolly’s gesture carried so much weight. She didn’t just fill a professional gap. She stood beside a friend who’d just lost everything.
“That’s what you do when someone you love is hurting,” Dolly would later reflect. “You show up.”
Reba Never Forgot
Years later, when Reba and Dolly recorded their duet of “Does He Love You,” their voices carried not only harmony, but history. A deep well of mutual respect—and a quiet remembrance of a darker time when friendship meant everything.
“I’ll never forget what she did for me,” Reba has said. “That kind of kindness stays with you forever.”
A Legacy of Resilience
The 1991 plane crash remains one of country music’s most devastating moments. But it’s also a reminder of the power of community, of music, and of showing up for each other when the lights go out.
Reba found her way back to the stage—not to erase the pain, but to honor those she lost by continuing to sing.
And in doing so, she gave us all something to hold on to.
