Reba at 70: A brilliant and enduring career

No one sounds like Reba McEntire.That's strange to write, since anyone who has amassed her amount of success in the music industry — or in American culture — is bound to spawn some clones and imitators.But her voice, oozing with personality and character, simply can't be duplicated.It's probably a sign of success when you can just refer to an artist by their first name and everyone knows who you're talking about.And in American music, there's only one Reba.She turned 70 Friday, and it's been a remarkable — and enduring — career.McEntire released her first album in 1977.Five years later, she scored her first No. 1 country hit, with the remarkably catchy "Can't Even Get the Blues."For the next 30 years, Reba was a juggernaut on the country charts.Put it this way: In 2005, she released an album featuring just her No. 1 songs.There were 35 tracks on it.Remarkably, Reba would go on to top the charts two more times after that album was released.She's sold 56 million albums in her career.But that only scratches the surface on her career, and her popularity.Reba has also found success as an actress, most notably on television, where her sitcom, (named, of course, "Reba") ran on the WB and CW networks for six seasons.It drew between three and four million viewers an episode. On the WB in those days, that was no small feat.That gives you an idea of how immense — and loyal — Reba's fans are. McEntire launched a new sitcom this winter: "Happy's Place," on NBC. It has already been renewed for a second season.McEntire has also been a guest judge on the show "The Voice," which has helped to expose her music — and upbeat personality — to a whole new generation.And yet, for all of her successful forays into other forms of entertainment, it always comes back to the music.And Reba's voice.Reba was (and remains) a versatile vocalist. She conveys love, hopelessness, anger and joy in her songs, and makes it relatable.But it was also the sense of mischief in her songs that drew me to her.My favorite song of Reba's is "Little Rock," a 1986 single about a wife who learns that being married to a rich workaholic isn't all it's cracked up to be.That sounds like a recipe for a tear-jerker, but this song is fun. Reba is cutting her losses and is out to enjoy life.Not sure how many singers could pull that off.That song really displayed to me how special Reba was.Reba has also been unafraid to perform songs with a message. In 1994, she released "She Thinks His Name was John," a song about a woman dying of AIDS.AIDS was a big deal in the media and in entertainment 30 years ago. Of course, it still is, and rightfully so.But the topic wasn't covered much by country music stars in 1994.But in her career, Reba has done a little bit of everything, and rarely if ever disappointed her fans.You have to wonder what her next 70 years will bring, and what she will bring her fans.Happy birthday, Reba. Zach Baker is the sports editor for The Courier and Review Times.