Reba Mcentire Set To Host And Perform On Tnt's Christmas In Washington

Reba McEntire, award-winning recording artist and star of The WB's Reba, will host and perform on Turner Network Television's (TNT) Christmas In Washington, with President and Mrs. Bush among the honored guests for the hour-long concert. Christmas in Washington, now in its 20th year, premieres on TNT on Sunday, December 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will feature top artists, performing their favorite holiday songs, including legendary performer and 10-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett, Charlotte Church and Mandy Moore, among others to be announced. The event, sponsored by AOL Time Warner Inc., benefits the Children's National Medical Center. The concert will be taped at the historic National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 9.

"Christmas In Washington is truly a special event," said Steve Case, chairman of AOL Time Warner Inc., and Gerald Levin, chief executive officer of AOL Time Warner Inc. "In addition to bringing the unique talents of gifted artists to millions of Americans on TNT, the evening supports the important work of the Children's National Medical Center. It promises to be a memorable celebration of the joy, compassion and hope in the holiday season."

"TNT is proud to continue the tradition of the nation's annual holiday concert special, Christmas In Washington," said Steve Koonin, executive vice president and general manager of TNT.

Reba McEntire reigns as the most successful female country artist with more than 50 million records sold. Her new sitcom, Reba, is The WB's first breakout comedy hit, setting numerous time-period records Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It is currently the network's highest-rated half-hour program, ranking #1 in its time period this season in women 12-34. It has also placed #1 in adults 18-34, women 18-34, persons 12-34 and across the teen demos several times in this, its first season.

Christmas In Washington is executive-produced by 11-time Emmy Award winner George Stevens Jr. and produced by Michael Stevens for George Stevens Productions. Sandy Shapiro is executive producer for TNT.

Turner Network Television (TNT), currently seen in 84.8 million homes, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour advertiser-supported service offering dramatic movie, series and championship sports entertainment. TNT's drama-centered programming features original films; top Hollywood theatricals; original drama series joining off-net dramas such as Law & Order, ER, NYPD Blue and Charmed; and championship sports coverage of NASCAR, Wimbledon tennis, PGA golf and the NBA.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

About Reba McEntire

Twenty years of recording some of the finest country music there is, and Reba McEntire is still going strong. On this, her 26th recording, Reba continues to prove her staying power, once again asserting that while trendsin country come and go, true talent always stays. While fans and critics alike have long praised her vocal ability and knack for choosing just the right songs, it is her ability to bring fans of all types of music to this genre that has truly benefited country music. Reba has pushed the envelope and stepped outside the boundaries, while always remaining true to her country roots. Whether she is starring in a major film, television movie, or expanding her horizons - and at the same time country music’s - to European and Australian audiences, Reba is always Reba.

With So Good Together, the singer explores one of her favorite themes - relationships. But the approach is a little different than the norm. “When you listen to this CD, you’ll notice several different attitudes,” she says. “On this recording I worked with three different producers, where in the past I have only worked with one. Tony Brown and I have recorded songs since 1990 and David Malloy and I have also worked together in the past. But this was my first time to get to work with Keith Stegall.

"Working with these three talented men was exciting and made the song search completely different than any project I’ve done in the past. Each of them were at completely different places in their personal lives, which affected the type of songs they were passionate about," Reba says. "On past recordings, when it was just myself and one producer selecting songs, they tended to reflect our opinions and what we were going through at that time in our lives. I feel the song selection on this CD is very well balanced between sad songs, love songs and music that just makes you feel good."

Never satisfied to rest on past laurels, Reba is constantly raising the bar for herself. But that need to excel has been tempered with a certain satisfaction that comes with maturity. "When I was in my twenties, everything was a challenge to me. I was young and inexperienced in the music business. The only thing I knew for a fact was that I could sing. Everything else I had to learn, and sometimes the hard way. I’m thankful I had some very good and patient teachers. Now, I take everything at a little easier pace because I have learned the difference between things that have to be done immediately, and things that can simply wait. And that is just a matter of knowing what is important in life."

Reba’s "easier pace" would send most newcomers in the business to the nearest spa for a vacation. A non-stop "doer," Reba easily balances a more-than-full-time job with being a full-time loving mother. Her normal pace is full speed ahead. Any given month might find her touring, filming a movie and carpooling her son Shelby to Scouts or a hockey match. And she always makes time for the causes near and dear to her heart, such as First Book (she is the first national spokesperson for the non-profit organization).

Anyone who knows Reba knows she comes by this work ethic honestly. She comes from a family of hard workers and "110 percenters." It is the credo of her life, her mantra for daily existence. Work hard. Play hard. Growing up on a cattle ranch in Southeastern Oklahoma and in a family of rodeo champs taught her that. Riding a horse almost as soon as she could walk made her fearless. Falling off that horse, and getting right back on again taught her never to give up. Being told "girl singers" should just stand behind the microphone and do as they are instructed gave her the gumption to buck the system. And that pat on the back known as success gave her the stamina to push the envelope.

After 40-plus million records sold, a trophy shelf that buckles under the weight of so many awards, and fan clubs that stretch from Manchester, England to Melbourne, Australia, one might wonder why she keeps it up. As one journalist recently asked her, "Why not just sit back and enjoy all you have worked so hard to achieve?"

Her response: "Now why would I want to do that? I have a job that I love. I meet interesting people every day of my life. And I get to sing. What more could a person want out of life?"

Discography