Reba McEntire | Source: Getty Images
Reba McEntire and Rex Linn's Engagement Reveal Turns Heads During 2025 Emmys Appearance
The couple's red carpet walk at the 2025 Emmy Awards sparked a viral frenzy when Reba McEntire and Rex Linn confirmed their engagement, stealing the spotlight and catching fans completely by surprise.
Advertisement
After half a decade of romance, Reba McEntire and Rex Linn have made it official: they're engaged. The pair confirmed the joyous news in front of flashing cameras during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2025.
Standing arm in arm outside Los Angeles' Peacock Theatre, the couple was stopped by "Live From E!" correspondent Zuri Hall, who delivered the bombshell introduction.
The shocking reveal unfolded when Hall gushed, "Joining me now is one of tonight's performers, Reba McEntire, and her fiancé Rex Linn co-starring on 'Happy's Place' too, from what I hear, yeah?"
With a glowing smile, McEntire sweetly replied, "We're having a blast on 'Happy's Place' and so glad to be here tonight."
It wasn't long before McEntire's representatives confirmed the news, sealing the engagement speculation in a statement to E! News. But the evening wasn't just about their romance.
McEntire also shone onstage, delivering a heartfelt performance in tribute to "The Golden Girls" for its 40th anniversary. Cameras caught the couple posing together for countless photos, radiating happiness all night long.
Still, it was the engagement reveal that sent both the red carpet and the internet into a tailspin, as stunned fans flocked online to share their excitement over the beloved couple's next chapter.
Advertisement
On Instagram, admirers couldn't contain their emotions. One ecstatic fan cheered, "They look like they truly enjoy each other and have so much fun. Congratulations you two beautiful people!❤️🙌❤️."
Another posted, "Fantastic! They're a gorgeous couple.. and happy." A third person wittily referenced McEntire's famous lyrics, writing, "She's no longer a single mom who works two jobs🎶😂."
The avalanche of praise continued with a second Instagram post, where one fan wrote, "OMG." Another added, "Hope it's true. They didn't say they weren’t when the interviewer said fiancée. Didn’t see a ring on Reba’s finger." Someone else summed it up simply, "They are precious."
Over on Facebook, the tone was just as celebratory. "They're just the cutest couple," one person gushed. Others echoed with gleeful remarks such as, "Well finally," and "No longer a single Mom who works too hard."
The roots of McEntire and Linn's relationship stretch back nearly three decades before they ever became a couple. The pair first crossed paths in 1991 while working on a Kenny Rogers film. But it wasn't until 2020 that sparks truly flew, and they began dating.
Looking back, McEntire revealed, "It was just like a magnet," explaining how the pair deepened their connection through long-distance texts and calls during the lonely early months of the pandemic.
Advertisement
"We didn't get to see each other from January 'til June 16," she recalled. "But we created an intimacy... that we wouldn't have gotten if we'd have been together all of that time... We've been pretty much inseparable ever since June 16 of 2020."
In a candid May 2025 interview, McEntire peeled back the curtain on what keeps their relationship so strong. "Well, Rex and I get along in every aspect," she stated. "He's a better cook than I am, so I like that, for sure. We love Longhorns, we love the cowboy way of life, cowgirl way of life, and we both got into the entertainment industry."
Her praise continued with heartfelt admiration, "He's an actor. I'm a singer. I love to act. Now we act together. So it's just the perfect union, absolutely. And we get along great. We do argue now. We argue a lot, but we have fun doing that too."
It's Linn's quick wit, however, that sealed her heart. The legendary country singer also once confessed, "He makes me laugh."
The engagement announcement comes amid a busy period for the couple, who currently co-star in the NBC sitcom "Happy's Place" while making regular appearances at high-profile events together. Their walk down the Emmy red carpet adds yet another memorable milestone to a relationship that has unfolded steadily — and very publicly — over the past five years.
Advertisement
Below is a year-by-year look at the couple's journey together, captured in photographs tracing their story from the early months of their romance to the present day.
2020
At the 54th Annual CMA Awards in November, McEntire and Linn stood side by side with their arms wrapped around each other’s backs in a relaxed, affectionate pose. McEntire wore a long, sequined navy coat over black, while Linn paired a textured blue blazer with black pants.
2022
At Gateway Celebrity Fight Night on March 12, the pair stands close together, holding hands at the center with relaxed expressions and upright posture.
Advertisement
On March 27, they attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards, holding hands while standing close together. McEntire wears a green sequined gown, and Linn is in a black suit with a pocket square.
On July 18, they are seen on the set of "Big Sky," where McEntire adjusts the front of Linn’s shirt while they smile at each other. She wears a denim shirt layered over gray, and he is in a red plaid shirt with a black vest and cap.
2023
Advertisement
On September 20, they attended the "America's Got Talent" red carpet, standing closely with McEntire's hand resting lightly on Linn's torso. They both smiled at the camera.
On October 10, they appear on the set of the "Today show," standing side by side at a cooking station. Both wear chef jackets; McEntire holds a spray bottle while Linn gestures with one hand.
On November 5, they are photographed at the Ryman Auditorium. Linn hands McEntire a red rose while holding a microphone in his other hand. They look directly at each other during the exchange.
Advertisement
2024
In a promotional image released on February 13, McEntire and Linn share a milkshake using two straws while leaning in close and locking eyes. McEntire holds the cup, and Linn holds a food item in his other hand. Plates with burgers and tater tots are on the table.
On February 11, they attend the Super Bowl LVIII pregame. They stand close on the field, with Linn's arm behind McEntire's waist and her hand resting at his lower back.
Advertisement
At the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 16, they pose with Linn's arm around McEntire. Both smile at the camera.
2025
On May 8, the couple attended the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards. They are photographed holding hands as they move through the venue. McEntire leads slightly ahead while laughing, and Linn follows with a smile.
Advertisement
At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, Linn and McEntire struck a playful pose on the red carpet, holding hands while facing opposite directions. Linn extends one arm outward toward the backdrop.
A the same event, they pose standing side by side, holding hands and smiling directly at the camera. McEntire wears a black sequined blazer over a gown, accessorized with earrings and layered necklaces. Linn wears a black suit with a pocket square.
Advertisement
Advertisement
