Reba McEntire had no idea her son and daughter-in-law would be in the audience at one of her shows as she celebrated her birthday. The beloved country star turned 70 on Friday (March 28).
McEntire’s son, Shelby Blackstock, and his wife, Marissa Blackstock, shared a video recapping the surprise. The clip opens with the couple arriving in Uncasville, Connecticut, where McEntire took the stage at the Mohegan Sun Arena on her 70th birthday. Marissa said her mother-in-law “has no idea that we’re here to surprise her. Let’s go!” The Blackstocks and Shane Tarleton, a music industry executive who was also in on the surprise, wore “sweet b-day gear” to the show in McEntire’s honor.
The Blackstocks shared a few glimpses of McEntire’s performance, noting that she still had no idea they’d arrived at her concert. Marissa said her “alibi” was that she and Shelby were headed to a friend’s baby shower in Chicago, Illinois. After the show, McEntire arrived backstage and finally realized Shelby and Marissa actually flew to Connecticut to surprise her. The “Fancy” icon’s jaw dropped and she appeared to tear up as her family and crew sang “Happy Birthday.” McEntire — who “was just bragging how Shelby is the most honest person just two days ago — embraced her son in a hug. Commenters gushed that the video is “so sweet,” and McEntire “looks amazing.” One of the commenters was JoAnna Garcia Swisher, who played McEntire’s daughter on the beloved early 2000s sitcom, Reba. Garcia Swisher wrote, “this makes me so happy ❤️,” after posting a throwback photo to celebrate McEntire’s birthday over the weekend.
“She had NO idea we were coming!!” Marissa wrote in her caption on Instagram. “The absolute sweetest moment—who else would cry if they got a surprise like this?”
McEntire shared a heartfelt post on her birthday, writing, in part, that “God blessed me with the best family and the best aunts, uncles, and cousins a kid could ever wish for! And what a life He’s given me. Thank you to everyone who has wished and sang Happy Birthday to me last night and today. I love you with all my heart! You have made my life better, more fun and have enriched my life beyond my wildest imagination. I’m so grateful and thankful to God and my Angels for continuing to guide, direct, protect, and give me my marching orders :) And for putting each of you in my life. 70 years young :) Thank you all for the birthday wishes.”
Watch Shelby and Marissa surprise McEntire here: