In an interview for “People in the News,” Reba McEntire shared that she chose to prioritize her country music career over her first marriage to Charlie Battles. The star said simply, “I guess I chose my career over my marriage” (via CNN). McEntire elaborated upon her decision to divorce Battles in her autobiography, “Reba: My Story,” with Country Fancast describing a number of incidents included in the book. McEntire’s 1987 album “The Last One to Know” was also inspired by her divorce from Battles (via Taste of Country).
Unfortunately for McEntire, she once mentioned that some of her fans grew angry with her because of her divorce from Battles. In 1989, she told People, “I have talked so much about my private life [in the past] that when I got this divorce, I got lambasted.” In that same interview, she also recalled answering letters from fans on the subject.
Read Related Also: German diplomat busted in Brazil for allegedly killing husband: report
At the time of their marriage, Battles had two sons named Coty and Lance, with whom Reba is said to have continued a relationship after the divorce (via Closer Weekly).
