Reba McEntire's Holiday Plans: Tennessee Fireside and Rex's Three-Day Recipes

Reba McEntire and her fiancé Rex Linn are spending the holidays the way they've learned to do best: prepared, together, and ready to have fun.

The couple, who got engaged on Christmas Eve last year, recently shared what's on their agenda. They're heading back to Tennessee to sit by the fire, cook extensively, and catch up with family and friends. But here's the twist: Rex is taking the lead in the kitchen this year. Reba's honest about her limitations as a cook, but Rex doesn't seem to mind. He's the kind of person who'll spend three days perfecting a single recipe — the slow, thoughtful type who treats cooking like a craft.

Preparation Meets Presence

When Reba talks about the holidays, she circles back to something she considers the best advice she's ever received: have fun. It sounds simple until you hear her explain what she actually means. Fun, in Reba's world, isn't spontaneous or careless. It requires groundwork. "You've got to be prepared, know your lines or your song, whatever it is, so you can go up there on that stage, when the lights come on, and the microphone is in your hand, you can have fun, because you know what you're supposed to do."

That philosophy — preparation as the foundation for genuine joy — seems to shape how she and Rex approach their time together. Rex shares that same belief. It's why he'll spend three days on a recipe. It's why they're planning ahead for the holidays rather than leaving it to chance. The fire, the cooking, the family gatherings — none of it happens by accident.

For a couple who've both built careers on discipline and craft, the holidays aren't about perfection. They're about showing up prepared enough to actually be present, to actually have fun together. That's the real plan.