Reba McEntire reflects on difficult day as eight friends died in horror plane crash
Reba McEntire has emotionally paid tribute to her late bandmate and crew members who died in a fatal plane crash 33 years ago.
The horrific accident happened in March 1991 after a San Diego concert in which the plane wing clipped a rock and crashed into a mountain near the Mexican border. 10 people were on board, eight of whom were the music star’s band members.
Reba McEntire pays tribute to ‘great angels’ 33 years after fatal plane crash
Taking to her Instagram, The Voice coach posted a text picture with the names of her eight friends, above the title ‘in memory’.
These were Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Tony Saputo, and Michael Thomas. Reba was not on the flight.
Underneath were the words, “I guess the world ain’t gonna stop… for my broken heart,” the lyrics to her 1991 track For My Broken Heart, which she wrote after the heartbreaking event.
In the caption, the 68-year-old wrote: “33 years today since Heaven gained some great angels. Rest in peace, my friends.”
Fans took to the heartbreaking post to share their words of condolences, as one reminisced: “I was in attendance at one of your first concerts (may have been THE first) after this tragedy. We, the thousands of fans in the audience cried right along with you as you fought through tears to finish the set. You did them proud.”
“For My Broken Heart is literally one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. I was a kid when it came out and didn’t know the true meaning behind it. RIP to all your bandmates. What a sad loss,” penned a second.
A third wrote: “I still wonder how you overcame such a tragedy. It was so very sad that you lost your backup band. It was a tragedy for all of them and their families. So young.”
The star says ‘it never stops hurting’
21 years later, the Does He Love You singer opened up about her tragic loss in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“I’m sorry — it’s been 20 years, but it’s just like — I don’t guess it ever quits hurting,” she tearfully said while explaining the tragic events of March 16, 1991.
After the tragic plane crash, the singer canceled all her gigs for the foreseeable future. Friends including Dolly Parton and Vince Gill offered their own bands to complete the tour, but McEntire chose not to.
Her next album, For My Broken Heart, went on to sell millions of copies and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
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