The short answer is that they met twice, almost 30 years apart.
Reba McEntire and Rex Linn first met in 1991. They reconnected in early 2020. That second meeting is when their friendship turned into a relationship.
The First Meeting: 1991
McEntire and Linn first met on the set of the Kenny Rogers television movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991.
McEntire played Burgundy Jones. Linn had a small part, arriving on horseback for a brief saloon scene.
At that point, the meeting was friendly and professional, not romantic. McEntire was married at the time to Narvel Blackstock. The two stayed in touch over the years through shared friends and work circles.
They did not meet on Tremors, and they did not start dating in the 1990s.
The Reconnection: Young Sheldon in 2020
The story changed in January 2020.
McEntire guest-starred on Young Sheldon as June. Linn was already a regular on the show as Principal Tom Petersen.
After work one night, they went out to dinner with friends, including Melissa Peterman. McEntire later said she felt drawn to Linn at that dinner, and Peterman has called it their first date.
That dinner led to daily texts and long phone calls. Pandemic lockdowns then kept them apart in person from early 2020 until June 16, 2020. McEntire has said that time apart, spent talking rather than going out, helped them get to know each other well.
They have said they have been together ever since.
The Tater Tot Story
Their nicknames date back to that first 2020 dinner.
After dinner, the group stopped at a wine bar. When the server mentioned tater tots as an appetizer, McEntire ordered them with enthusiasm.
Linn, who is known for giving people nicknames, called her “Tater Tot” on the spot. McEntire later started calling him “Sugar Tot.” Together, they call themselves “The Tots.”
Are Reba McEntire and Rex Linn Married?
No, not yet. They are engaged.
Linn proposed on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, at Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. The couple kept the engagement private for months.
They confirmed it publicly on the red carpet at the Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2025. McEntire has since said they have not set a wedding date and are enjoying their engagement.
This corrects older claims that they married in 1994, 2017, or any other year. Linn had never been married before this engagement.
Who Are Reba McEntire and Rex Linn?
Reba McEntire
- Full name: Reba Nell McEntire
- Born: March 28, 1955, in McAlester, Oklahoma
- Career: Country singer and actress, known for songs such as “Fancy” and for the sitcom Reba
- Previous marriages: Charlie Battles (1976 to 1987) and Narvel Blackstock (1989 to 2015)
- Child: Son Shelby Blackstock, born in 1990
Narvel Blackstock did not die in 2015. The couple separated after 26 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized on October 28, 2015.
Rex Linn
- Full name: Rex Maynard Linn
- Born: November 13, 1956, in Spearman, Texas
- Best known for: Sgt. Frank Tripp on CSI: Miami
- Other work: Better Call Saul, Young Sheldon, Big Sky, and Happy’s Place, where he plays Emmett opposite McEntire
Working Together Since 2020
McEntire and Linn have worked together several times since reconnecting.
They both appeared on Big Sky. Since 2024, they have starred together on the NBC sitcom Happy’s Place, with Linn playing the love interest of McEntire’s character.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1991 | First met on The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw |
| January 2020 | Reconnected on Young Sheldon and went out to dinner |
| June 16, 2020 | Reunited in person after pandemic lockdowns |
| October 2020 | McEntire publicly confirmed they were dating |
| December 24, 2024 | Linn proposed |
| September 2025 | Engagement confirmed publicly at the Emmy Awards |
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Reba McEntire and Rex Linn meet on Tremors?
No. That claim appears in older, incorrect versions of this story. They met on The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991.
How long have Reba McEntire and Rex Linn been together?
They started dating in early 2020, after knowing each other as friends for almost 30 years.
Is Rex Linn Reba McEntire’s husband?
He is her fiancé, not yet her husband. They have not announced a wedding date.
What are their nicknames for each other?
McEntire is “Tater Tot” and Linn is “Sugar Tot.” Together, they are “The Tots.”
