In early 2019, Reba McEntire gave fans something to cheer about when she revealed she’d be returning to her country roots with a brand-new album. Titled Stronger Than The Truth, the record was slated for release on April 5 and marked her first pure country project in four years.
Her previous effort, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope (2017), had earned her a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album, but this time, Reba promised something different. “This is the most country record I’ve done in a long time, and I can’t wait for you to hear it,” she teased on Instagram.
The album artwork, along with a 12-song tracklist, made waves when it dropped—featuring titles that hinted at heartbreak, resilience, and a dash of Oklahoma charm. Songs like “Storm In A Shot Glass,” “Tammy Wynette Kind Of Pain,” and “No U In Oklahoma” had fans buzzing, but one track in particular carried a deeply personal story behind it: “You Never Gave Up On Me.”
Reba revealed that she’d first discovered the song during sessions for her gospel album and initially felt it reflected her relationship with God. However, it didn’t make the final cut at the time. When she revisited it while curating songs for Stronger Than The Truth, she suddenly saw it in a different light—not as a message to God, but as a tribute to her mother, Jacqueline “Jackie” McEntire.
“Who besides God has never given up on me? Mama,” Reba said simply.
The raw emotion in the recording was so real, Reba only needed one take in the studio. Her producer Buddy Cannon offered her another shot at it, but she declined. “I don’t think I can,” she told him.
That Christmas Eve, while Reba was in Tennessee, she sent the finished track—and its heartfelt lyrics—to her siblings, Susie and Mark, so they could play it for Jackie back home in Oklahoma. Her mother listened intently, lyrics in hand, and the song moved her to tears.
“She was very appreciative. She loved it,” Reba said. “I meant it with all my heart.”
Stronger Than The Truth isn’t just a return to country—it’s a reflection of Reba’s roots, her heart, and the people who’ve stood by her through every high and low. And with “You Never Gave Up On Me,” she gave us one of her most intimate, vulnerable performances yet—a love letter to the woman who helped shape who she is.
