What would you say if you had one last chance? That’s the question country legend Reba McEntire poses in her latest heart-wrenching ballad, “Seven Minutes in Heaven” — a tender, deeply personal track from her 2023 acoustic album Not That Fancy.
Released on October 6, the song has already carved out a space in the hearts of listeners everywhere — not because it’s flashy or overproduced, but because it taps into something universal: the grief of losing someone you love, and the desperate wish for just one more moment with them.
“I’d Spend Them All With You” — A Song That Hits Where It Hurts
Written by Matt Wynn and Olivia Rudeen, “Seven Minutes in Heaven” imagines a scenario many have quietly dreamed of: a brief visit to the afterlife. But instead of using that time to meet legends or ask big questions, Reba’s narrator chooses something far more personal:
“I wouldn’t ask Cash why he wore all black
Or have Elvis sing me a song
I wouldn’t ask why Kennedy died
’Cause I know that I wouldn’t have long…
If I had seven minutes in Heaven
I’d spend them all with you.”
That “you” isn’t just any figure from Reba’s past — it’s her mother, Jacqueline McEntire, who passed away in March 2020 at the age of 92 after a battle with cancer. For Reba, this song isn’t fiction. It’s a tribute. A prayer. A love letter.
A Daughter’s Tribute to a Lifelong Hero
Reba has never shied away from showing how much her mother meant to her. Jacqueline was her biggest supporter — encouraging Reba’s music from the very beginning, even driving her to singing competitions and performances.
When Jacqueline passed, Reba wrote:
“The cancer might think it won the battle, but we’re giving God all the credit on selecting the time for her to go home.”
She first honored her mother in 2019 with the poignant “You Never Gave Up On Me,” but “Seven Minutes in Heaven” feels like a continuation — an imagined reunion full of unspoken words, long hugs, and tearful goodbyes.
The Music Video: A Visual Gut-Punch
If the song didn’t already wreck you emotionally, the music video will.
Set in a dreamlike Heaven, the video follows Reba as she walks into a glowing white room and is met by a woman who resembles her mother. They lock eyes, embrace, and share a few silent but powerful moments — a conversation without words. The time is short, the feelings immense.
By the time they part, the message is clear: sometimes, seven minutes is enough to say everything.
Reba shared the video on social media, writing:
“This one was an emotional one to film, but I’m sure glad we did. Who would you like to spend seven minutes in heaven with?”
Why This Song Matters Now More Than Ever
In an age where grief is so often tucked away, Reba McEntire has given us permission to feel it out loud. “Seven Minutes in Heaven” isn’t just a country song — it’s a grief anthem, a gentle salve for anyone mourning a parent, partner, friend, or sibling.
It’s about more than loss. It’s about connection, and how love — the kind that’s deep, unwavering, and unconditional — doesn’t end at the grave.
So if you’ve got tissues nearby and a loved one on your mind, give “Seven Minutes in Heaven” a listen. And maybe, like Reba, take a moment to imagine who you’d spend it with.
