The Heartbreak That Brought Reba McEntire And Rex Linn Closer

Reba McEntire and her boyfriend, Rex Linn, are opening up about the touching way they grew closer in their relationship.

The couple got together in the wake of the country icon's split with her former husband, Narvel Blackstock, and started dating in early 2020, but they actually go much further back than that. And we mean much further. "I met him in 1991 when we were doing Kenny Rogers' movie, 'The Gambler.' We were both on that in 1991," McEntire told a surprised Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live" during a joint interview with Darius Rucker in November 2020. "We've kept in contact with each other over the years. We both know the same people."

She shared that they reconnected in January 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic really accelerating their relationship when they both found themselves with more time on their hands. "We started texting and talking on the telephone, getting to know each other better during the quarantine," the "Fancy" singer shared of how things really blossomed with the "CSI: Miami" and "Young Sheldon" actor. Aww!

The two have since spoken out more about their relationship during a very candid chat for McEntire's Spotify podcast, revealing the heartbreaking tragedies that bonded them even more.

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn opened up about their bond on the October 25 episode of her Spotify podcast, "Living & Learning with Reba McEntire," where they shared how they bonded over the deaths of their moms.

McEntire recalled how Linn stepped up for her during her mom's health issues, shortly before she died in March 2020. "I was texting you about MaMa, we had just found out that she has bladder cancer and you said, 'You just feel free to call me anytime you want to talk' and I just quit texting and we've been talking ever since," McEntire told Linn.

Linn then shared his own mom died in 1998 and recalled how he got a phone call the day he buried her — which turned out to be from McEntire. "I went back in my old bedroom that I grew up in, sat on the bed and it was Reba. She said, 'I understand what you're going through today. I just wanted to talk to you.' We talked for about 25 minutes and I never forgot it," he recalled.

"It was amazing and it was uplifting. It was really special and little did I know 20 years later, 21 years later, I'd be doing the same thing with her... But I never forgot that," he continued. "That's why I said to you, 'If you ever want to talk just give me a call.'"

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn's grief isn't the only thing they bonded over. The "Reba" star said there's never a dull moment between the two of them because they always have something to talk about. "It's good to have a person to talk to, laugh with, get into subjects about what's going on. Discussions about our past, our family, funny stories, him being an actor, me being an actress. And he's very into my music. I'm very into his career," she told People in October 2020 when they first started dating. "It's just great getting to talk to somebody who I find very interesting, very funny, very smart and is interested in me, too."

It also helps that they have super similar backgrounds. "Well, we do know about the music business and the movie entertainment business," McEntire told Extra. "He loves to work, I love to work. We were both wannabe cowboys, cowgirls, and then got into the entertainment business. We have a lot of similar loves and passions." She added, "We just get along so well. I'm just very grateful."

As it turns out, Rex Linn is the man Reba McEntire has "waited" for her entire life. She made this revelation on a July episode of the show, "Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith," during a conversation with her sisters, Susie and Alice. The country star gushed in a clip posted to her Instagram (via Classic Country Music), "I've waited 66 years for a man to pray with and to share a faith and love of the Lord and to be compassionate and have a compassionate heart. That's very special."

The couple's connection is so deep, McEntire said she's open to the idea of marriage again. In fact, the singer admitted that she and the actor have talked about a possible future wedding and what it might look like. "We've talked about it and giggled about it," she told Extra. "We thought, 'Man if we ever had a ceremony, we would have to have a 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 6 o'clock and an 8 o'clock, 'cause we have so many friends, acquaintances, and family."