Happy Birthday, Reba McEntire!

The superstar, one of the best-selling country artists of all time, turns 57 today. Reba, one of the most appealing figures in entertainment, wears her accomplishments lightly: Not only is she the best-selling femalel country artists of all time, but she’s also proved herself as a TV and Broadway entertainer. And she’s got authentic down-home chops: a native of Oklahome, she’s an accomplished barrel racer and skeet shooter. Beyond that, here are a few things you might not know about her.

She Got Her Big Break In Rodeo Country

Reba started on the road to fame when country artist Red Steagall was impressed by her rendition of the national anthem at the Oklahoma City rodeo in 1976.

Her Big Debut Reba’s first performance at the Grand Ole Opry, in December 1977, was cut back because of a surprise appearance by Dolly Parton. We’re pretty sure that wouldn’t happen today.

Persistence Pays Off Reba recorded seven studio albums before hitting it big with “My Kind Of Country” in 1984.

Her Greatest Tragedy In 1990, eight members of Reba’s band died in a plane crash just outside San Diego. Reba, devastated, dedicated her next album, “For My Broken Heart,” to Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kay Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Anthony Saputo, and Michael Thomas.

She Wowed The Toughest Broadway Critics In 2001, Reba took on the lead role in a Broadway revival of “Annie, Get Your Gun” – and made her predecessor, Bernadette Peters, look like an amateur. One critic said she “lent the role a midlife poignancy” and was “three parts Loretta Lynn, one part Lucy, all lovable.” As a result, she won a Drama Desk Award.

She's An Entrepreneur Beyond selling records, Reba’s got her own retail empire: Reba Wear, Reba Footwear, Harmony For The Home (home furnishings) and Reba Luggage, all sold at Dillards or Dillards.com.

Om, Y'All Reba loves yoga.

Read All About It Like one of her idols, Dolly Parton, Reba’s been involved in a childhood-literacy campaign. The First Book initiative provides books to at-risk children. Reading is a lifelong journey that can take you any where and everywhere.,” she told an interviewer.

She's Got A Show-Biz Marriage But that’s OK. The key to a good working relationship between her and Narvel Blackstock, her manager and husband of 21 years, is “respect for each other..I think that’s one of the strongest things in a relationship. He is my inspiration.” The couple have one son and three other children, from Blackstock's previous marriage.

She's Got Some Advice For You "Growing up is not being so dead-set on making everybody happy."