Shelby Blackstock Is Reba McEntire's Son She Raised Not to Be a 'Spoiled Brat'

Legendary country singer Reba McEntire is a mother to six children, but her only biological kid is the racecar driver and entrepreneur Shelby Blackstock. McEntire raised her son with tough love, intending to keep him grounded and humble.

Oklahoma native Reba McEntire is a household name in the country music genre, having been deemed the “Queen of Country.” Believing that all one needed for success is a “wishbone, a backbone, and a funnybone,” McEntire made her music mark and eventually got into acting and business.

Some of her most well-known works of art include 1990’s “Rumor Has It,” which went triple platinum by 1999, and “For My Broken Heart,” a heartwrenching tribute to her bandmates who passed in a tragic plane crash. As a TV and film actress, McEntire starred in her own show, “Reba,” between 2001 and 2007.

McEntire first married the late wrestler Charlie Battles in 1976 and became a stepmother to his two children, Lance and Coty. After separating from Charlie, the singer married Narvel Blackstock in 1989, who also had three children. Completing their family, they welcomed one son, Shelby Blackstock.

Who Is Shelby Blackstock, Reba McEntire’s Son?

Shelby Blackstock drew his first breath in February 1990. After spending only half a semester and the University of Arizona as a freshman, Blackstock expressed his desire to be a racecar driver to his mom, Reba McEntire. A college graduate herself, McEntire was appalled by her son’s suggestion.

However, Blackstock was convinced it was the right path for him. According to People, when Blackstock tried to convince McEntire, telling her that he loved cars, she suggested he became a mechanic or a dealer instead.

Seeing that her son was adamant, the singer decided to “bribe him” into finishing his college education, promising to take Blackstock to a racecar driving school. True to her words, McEntire enrolled Blackstock in Bob Bondurant School, where he trained in the sport. The singer wanted to see if her son truly “had any talent” in the sport.

Blackstock proved himself, and his parents supported his career. At 20 years old, he debuted as a professional racecar driver and garnered much attention in the industry. He claimed his first win at the Daytona IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge BMW Performance 200 in January 2014 alongside teammate Ashley Freiberg.

Per Hollywood Life, Blackstock has also competed at the Indy Lights, the US F2000 Championship, the Pro Mazda Championship, and the Daytona International Speedway. One of his most recent victories was in 2020 as the GT World Challenge America Overall Champion.

While Blackstock’s parents cheered him on as he pursued his passions, his mother was initially scared for him. During an interview on “The Rachael Ray Show,” McEntire recalled almost fainting when she watched her son drive at incredible speed during a Daytona Speedway race.

The singer was filming her son as he whipped through the racetrack when she got anxious and decided to sit down to calm her nerves. After taking a breather, she watched the rest of Blackstock’s race, and all was well.

Blackstock may not have inherited his mother’s singing prowess, but the pair seems to share a knack for entrepreneurship. Per People, Blackstock is the CEO of a company called Hartland. His LinkedIn profile also indicated that he works as a Business Development Manager for Global Source Advisors.

Earlier this month, McEntire opened up about Blackstock’s upbringing and how his presence changed the scope of her life. McEntire regarded herself as a “self-centered person,” until after her son was born. According to People, she explained:

“[…] Then there’s a little character who you are given the job to protect and nurture and love and teach, so all the attention’s not on you anymore.”

Still, McEntire and Blackstock have a tight bond, and the singer is very proud of her son. Although her career demanded that she stay on the road, sometimes she tagged young Blackstock along.

Whenever she couldn’t, McEntire still took Blackstock to and from school and would play with him until the time came for her to fly out for her next concert. The singer emphasized how much she wanted to spend time with her son and that she still does.

McEntire also disclosed that Blackstock had ADHD and struggled with his studies in school. Despite his mental health condition, Blackstock consistently sought ways to improve. He’s now an avid reader, with ten books already under his belt this year.

While the “Reba” alum developed a strong relationship with her son, it didn’t come without a healthy amount of tough love. McEntire shared that she never let her son win the games they played together.

The singer believed Blackstock would never have learned anything valuable if she constantly coddled him. Furthermore, McEntire didn’t want her son to be a “spoiled brat.” During her interview with People, she explained:

“I always told Shelby, ‘I’ll always love you, but I want other people to like you. So don’t be a little jerk. Don’t be a spoiled brat.'”

Is Shelby Blackstock Married? Who Is His Wife?

Earlier this year, Shelby Blackstock tied the knot with his long-time lover, Marissa Branch. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Branch recently started working as the Chief Marketing Officer for MODE Property.

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She studied at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, focusing on Health, Healthcare Administration, and Management. Branch is also a licensed esthetician and a social media influencer.

She and her husband met on Tinder and started as friends in 2014. After much encouragement from mutual friends and a stronger bond, the couple started dating two years later. Blackstock then asked for Branch’s hand in marriage in December 2020.

With “Lucifer” star Tom Ellis officiating their union and being the best man, Blackstock and Branch held their fairytale dream wedding at Walt Disney World in Florida on February 22. According to People, the couple put their honeymoon plans on hold but shared that their destination would be “somewhere warm.”

Does Shelby Blackstock Have Kids?

Shelby Blackstock, and his wife, Marissa Branch, currently have no children. However, the couple does have two pups they hold dear, Watson and Belle. Blackstock’s mother, Reba McEntire, shares the couple’s affection for their pets, calling Watson and Belle her grandchildren.