REBA MCENTIRE; "The Singer's Diary," Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Delta Center; one performance only.
Reba McEntire has her own "Behind the Music" show.
The feisty red-head queen of modern country brought her autobiographical musical production "The Singer's Diary" to the Delta Center last night.
The first half of the evening was a dramatic musical, not unlike what can be seen on Broadway. The second half was a full-blown concert.
Either way, the 4,500 fans ate up every minute, word and note.
What VH1's "Behind the Music" has done for the likes of Metallica, Buddy Holly and Fleetwood Mac, McEntire (who now goes by the "Reba" moniker) has done for herself.
And it's not at all self-serving.
This was just another way for the singer to get in touch with her fans. Now Reba can act. She's been in a few movies and TV specials. And she's one of the most dynamic singers on the circuit today.
So it was no surprise how good and professional the show was going to be.
The use of sets, props, backdrops and various interviews helped move the show along. Reba's history from the time she was discovered to the 1991 plane crash that killed eight of her musicians and crew was documented through musical and spoken narration.
"I Can't Even Get the Blues," "The Greatest Man I Never Knew," "I'd Rather Run Around with You" and a roaring rendition of Aretha Franklin's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" were a few of the songs that led the audience through the singer's history.
Reba's first recording session, her first marriage, her second marriage and the birth of her son, Shelby, were highlighted through humor, tears and retrospect.
And once the actual concert began, the fans were already in the screaming mode.
"One Honest Heart," the sassy "Why Haven't I Heard from You" and "God Could Fall In Love with You" were a few of the gems Reba offered to the audience.
To highlight her concert performance, Reba also gave the spotlight to six limber dancers. And to their credit — and choreographer Jerry Evans — the dancers didn't distract from the music. They only added to the show.
Reba also sang the empowering "Fancy" and the tender "Forever Love," during which snapshots of Paul and Linda McCartney, Princess Diana, Timmy & Lassie, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and Elvis Presley flashed across the backdrop.
Reba's band, like their classy singer, was full of fire and hit every note with passion and precision.
Keyboardist Doug Sisemore, bassist Charlie "Chopper" Anderson, steel guitarist Terry Crisp, drummer Owen Hale, saxophonist Chris Hicks (not the Deseret News entertainment editor), background vocalist Marty Slayton, pianist Paul Hollowell, guitarist Kent Wells and fiddle player Jenifer Wrinkle Thompson did their best during the musical show and concert.
"Fear of Being Alone," Does He Love You" and "We Are So Good Together" wrapped up one of the best mixings of theater and country music concert.
Reba can officially say she's done it all.