Reba McEntire was determined to do Dolly Parton welcome when the country legend guest-starred on her sitcom — but it was Parton who made everyone onstage feel special.
Speaking with his manager and former real estate agent at NAR NXT in New Orleans, Justin McIntoshMcEntire recalled a thoughtful gesture Parton made for each crew member behind the scenes of her hit sitcom “Reba” — a small act of kindness that left a lasting impression.
Instead of simply acting and delivering her lines, Parton made it a point to personally greet the people working behind the scenes, bringing Valentine’s Day candy and a message for each crew member.
For McEntire, the gesture remains a shining example of the warmth that made her fellow singer so endearing.
“I was worried about Dolly being on set. I wanted everyone to be beautiful. What I didn’t expect was how beautiful she would be on set.”
McEntire recalled that Parton took the time to make each person feel appreciated, turning the guest appearance into a chance to bond with the crew.
“He had Valentine’s Day sweets and he went to each crew member individually and told them how happy he was to be there,” she said. “He didn’t have to do that.”
The memory stayed with McEntire along with the conversation they shared while sitting together on the couch of the popular show.
“I asked him if he was ever going to retire,” McEntire recalled. “And he said, ‘What would I do to have so much fun?’
It was a simple answer, but one that reflected the enthusiasm that McEntire remembers so fondly.
“I’ve never met a person as universally loved as Dolly Parton,” he said. “I never heard anything bad about him. He was a special person.”
That appreciation for a career full of opportunities to connect with people is something McEntire shares.
“I’m really thankful and grateful to be doing what I’m doing at the level that I’m doing,” he said.
For McEntire, keeping her work exciting means giving herself room to try new things and inviting her audience to experiment.
“When I change things up, my fans care about me,” he said. “If I’m having fun, they’re having fun.”
The actress explained that being able to enjoy her work is a gift.
“If you’re doing what you love, then how lucky are you,” he said. “It’s one of the greatest gifts God can give you, to give you a job you love. I’m very grateful for my job.”
The connection he builds with his audience is also based on the principle that people can recognize the principle of sincerity – something he believes is more appropriate than entertainment.
“I try to sing songs from my heart so that when you listen to it, it touches your heart,” he said.
This emphasis on warmth and connection also informs McEntire’s search for a home.
Long before his career brought him to the stage and television, he grew up on an 8,000-acre ranch in Oklahoma.
Despite the vastness of the outback, his family of six shared a small house with three bedrooms and one bathroom.
When asked what first comes to mind when McEntire remembers the farm, he named the people and feelings that filled it.
“Love, family, togetherness, closeness,” he said. “A little bathroom, three bedrooms. We were a close family.”
Gathering around the dinner table was a part of life, and it remains easy for him to remember the atmosphere of home.
“We all sat at the dinner table together,” he said. “It was like earth. I can still feel the smell and the energy of the house.”
The land remains the family home. McEntire says it stayed in the family after her parents died, and her sister and her sister’s family now live on the property.
These early memories give a glimpse into what McEntire still values when he walks into a home: a sense of comfort and a connection that goes beyond its appearance.
“A house has an energy, and when you walk in and connect with that energy, it makes it a home,” she said. “So when I come in, I’m always looking for good, positive energy.”
The country icon captures the moment he experienced this boot while looking for property in Tennessee.
A friend vacationing with a real estate agent in Florida saw a listing the agent was looking at and urged him to show it to McEntire.
“My friend said, ‘You have to show Raba that place,'” he recalled.
The approach to the property and the creek at the back helped draw his attention. Soon he was back visiting and spending time with his owners.
“My love for that house took my breath away,” he said. “I went a few times and watched football games with the owners.”
When it comes to their priorities at home, being comfortable and enjoying your surroundings rank high.
“I love a house with a view,” she said. “When I lived in Oklahoma, you could see the sunrise and sunset. That’s important to me.”
McEntire said that focus on people and their needs also helped attract him to partner with Realtor.com®.
“What you all do is so important, you care so much, that’s why I like Realtor.com. I love your organization because you have heart…You really care about the family and their needs. You love people and you care about people, so I wanted to be with you,” she said.
Whether discussing finding a home or maintaining the audience’s trust, McEntire returns to the importance of being nice to people and continues to do so time after time.
“You have to be honest all the time because when you look someone in the eye, they know how you last treated them,” he said. “You have to stay consistent with that.”
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