In early 2019, Reba McEntire got her fans super excited by sharing big news—she was making a new country music album called Stronger Than The Truth. It came out on April 5 and was her first all-country album in four years. Reba’s last album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, was about gospel music and even won a big award called a Grammy. But this time, she wanted to go back to her country style.
Reba posted on Instagram, saying, “This is my countriest album in a long time, and I’m so excited for you to hear it!” When she shared the album’s cover and the list of 12 songs, everyone got even more thrilled. The song titles, like “Storm In A Shot Glass,” “Tammy Wynette Kind Of Pain,” and “No U In Oklahoma,” sounded fun, emotional, and full of Reba’s Oklahoma spirit. But one song stood out for a very special reason—it was called “You Never Gave Up On Me.”
Reba explained that she first heard this song when she was working on her gospel album. Back then, she thought it was about her love for God, but it didn’t fit that album. Later, when she was picking songs for Stronger Than The Truth, she listened to it again and realized it was perfect for someone else—her mom, Jacqueline, who everyone called Jackie.
Reba said, “Besides God, who has always been there for me? My mama.” The song became a way to thank her mom for never giving up on her, no matter what.
When Reba recorded the song in the studio, it was so emotional that she sang it perfectly in just one try. Her producer, Buddy Cannon, asked if she wanted to sing it again, but Reba said, “I don’t think I can.” It was just too special.
That Christmas Eve, Reba was in Tennessee, but she wanted her mom in Oklahoma to hear the song. She sent it to her brother Mark and sister Susie, who played it for Jackie. Her mom held the song’s words in her hands, listened closely, and cried because it meant so much to her. Reba said, “She loved it, and I meant every word from my heart.”
Stronger Than The Truth is more than just a country album—it’s about Reba’s life, her home, and the people she loves most. With “You Never Gave Up On Me,” she shared a beautiful, honest song that shows how much her mom means to her. It’s like a big hug in music form, and it makes this album one of Reba’s most heartfelt ever.
