Reba McEntire Remembers Band Members Lost In Plane Crash: “We Still Miss Them…”

News On 6 Oklahoma's Own

On March 16, 1991, Reba McEntire went through what she calls her “darkest hour” of her life. 

Following a show in San Diego, seven of McEntire’s band members and her tour manager boarded a private jet to take off to their next tour stop. But tragically, the jet’s wing caught the edge of a rock on the side of a mountain, and the jet crashed, killing everyone on board.

McEntire was devastated by the loss of her dear friends. Years later, she told Oprah’s Master Class that she questioned why they had to be taken so soon. But she said the tragedy helped teach her an important lesson, to cherish every moment.

“Don’t go a day without telling people you love them and do act like this day could be your last one,” she said. “Do things that are important. Don’t put it off until tomorrow.“

2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the plane crash. McEntire took to her Facebook on that sad day to write a touching message in honor of those that were lost. She shared that late in 2015, she took a helicopter to the crash site near San Diego:

“I feel in my heart that they know we still miss them so much,” she wrote. “My love and prayers to all the families and friends.“

We can’t image how heartbreaking the whole experience must have been, and still is for McEntire. We too, send our prayers to the families of all of McEntire’s friends.

You can tune in below to watch McEntire’s emotional Master Class interview about the tragic day.