Reba, Rucker, Owen hand out awards

My Chains Are Gone

It's so good to hear Reba McEntire's gospel album so soon after Carrie Underwood released the similar "My Savior." While Underwood's release may have been her country-ist album – ever, perhaps – McEntire has strayed far less often from her traditional music roots. With "My Chains Are Gone," McEntire gives us a selection of songs she – like Underwood – grew up singing. Therefore, she knows them all like the back of her hand, the way ...

Stronger Than the Truth

The beauty of Reba McEntire's albums flows from her way with a phrase, knowing when to modulate to carry us deeper into sadness or joy and when to pull back when she wants us to listen quietly to the lessons of a tear falling. Her songs can also urge us to scamper across the dance floor to twin fiddles, celebrating the exhilarating freedom of the moment or the satisfaction of breakup from a messy relationship. This album follows the end of McEntire's marriage to her manager. ...

My Kind of Christmas (expanded version)

Reba McEntire's "My Kind of Christmas," is essentially the same album, with the same title, she released a while back through Cracker Barrel. The project is mostly comprised of the country Wonder Woman's strong singing voice, backed by acoustic piano. The new wrinkle in this expanded edition, though, is a bevy of guest vocalists. These guest spots are so good, it's worth the extra bucks to get the full package. Reba is joined by the dynamic husband and wife team, Vince ...