(Information provided by Mississippi College)
Country music luminary Reba McEntire is one of the most successful female recording artists in history. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honors recipient, Reba will be celebrated as the first American entertainer to headline Mississippi College’s Spring 2020 Scholarship Dinner on April 21. The dinner at Anderson Hall begins at 6 p.m.
The multi-media mogul’s string of achievements is amplified with prestigious awards, 35 No. 1 singles and more than 56 million albums worldwide. In 2017, Reba released “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope,” topping both the Country and Christian charts as well as earning her third Grammy Award and first GMA Dove Award for the double-disc collection. Her latest offering, Stronger Than The Truth, garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album and lays a strong foundation for her upcoming arena tour. The global Superstar has also won 16 ACM Awards, 15 American Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards and 6 CMA Awards, in addition philanthropic and leadership honors.
“Booking an entertainment icon like Reba McEntire as our Scholarship Dinner’s keynote speaker is getting a wonderful response from the Mississippi College family,” President Blake Thompson said.
“Her compelling story of growing up on a family ranch in rural America to become a prominent singer and leading actress will be inspirational to our Spring Scholarship Dinner audience,” Dr. Thompson said. “We welcome Reba McEntire to MC to benefit this great cause of scholarships for our students.”
Established in 2008, MC’s Spring Scholarship dinner has raised more than $4 million to assist students. Last year’s keynote speaker, future NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints addressed his faith, family and football at the event packing Anderson Hall.
Born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma, Reba was raised on her family’s 8,000-acre ranch in rural Chockie. She traveled frequently to watch her father compete in rodeos – he achieved fame as a World Champion Steer Roper starting in 1957.
Reba has since become a household name through a successful career that spans across music, television, film, theater and retail. Acting in elaborate music videos provided a natural transition to other productions for the Golden Globe® nominated actress with 11 movie credits to her name, a lead role on Broadway in Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun and starring role in the six-season television sitcom Reba. Her brand partnerships include a decade-plus with Dillard’s, collections for REBA by Justin™ and being named the first female and musician to portray KFC’s iconic founder Colonel Harland Sanders in their celebrity colonel campaign.
Alongside her superstar pals, REBA, BROOKS & DUNN: Together In Vegas continues later this year as the longest-running Country residency in The Colosseum at Caesars’ history. The dates are intermixed with a new tour stopping at arenas across the country. Visit Reba.com for tickets and more.
Reba joins an all-star lineup of MC scholarship speakers over the years – from Drew Brees to former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas launched the series at MC in 2008.
Given the widespread popularity of Reba, MC leaders urge those interested in attending the 2020 scholarship dinner to order their tickets well in advance. The price for an individual ticket is $300 and tables range from $2,000 to $10,000. A portion of the ticket amount is tax deductible.
For additional ticket information, contact Amy Rowan of the Mississippi College Advancement Office at 601-925-3257 or [email protected]
