American actor and television producer, Narvel Blackstock, and country music superstar, Reba McEntire, went through a difficult divorce in 2015. The announcement of their separation after building an empire together and staying together for almost three decades has shocked the country music community as well as fans.
The two first met when Narvel Blackstock was the steel guitarist for McEntire’s band in 1980. Eventually, their working relationship turned into a friendship and then into marriage. The two exchanged vows on a boat during a private ceremony in Lake Tahoe. Blackstock became a father when they welcomed their son, Shelby.
Reba McEntire also became a stepmother to Narvel Blackstock’s three older children, Shawna, Chassidy, and Brandon. Brandon is married to another music superstar, The Voice coach Kelly Clarkson. Everything was going well, not until the couple announced their separation on August 3, 2015.
In December 2015, McEntire had posted on Facebook confirming that she and Blackstock were officially divorced on October 28, 2015. She posted a photo of her management team and put in a comment below, “Narvel and I are divorced. It was final October 28. Thanks for all the sweet messages. Narvel and I are friends. We always have been.”
In 2016, McEntire revealed to CMT, “The divorce was not my idea. I didn’t want it in any shape, form or fashion. So it was really hard to make the adjustment,” McEntire said. “When someone’s not happy, I just want everybody to be happy in their lives because our lives are too short to be miserable, so I just thought it was the best thing to take my marbles, go play somewhere else.”
The More Shocking News
But what’s even more shocking is the news about Narvel Blackstock’s new girlfriend. After the big divorce, Narvel Blackstock moved on in his way, quite pretty fast. He started dating real estate agent Laura Putty Stroud, who sells luxury homes in Nashville.
“It was a bombshell. No one saw it coming,” the source of Page Six said. In January 2016. The news of Blackstock and Stroud being a couple made headlines, they are even reported to be already considering walking down the aisle. The source further tells “they are very serious”.
“It’s unclear when they started dating. The word on the street is that they’re getting married,” the source added. The pair, however, has not confirmed the date when they will tie the knot. Despite all the news surrounding their big day, the pair has stayed silent on the matter.
Apparently, Narvel Blackstock’s new girlfriend was one of the couple’s friends and is very close to McEntire. The two really had good times together over the years.
In 2014, McEntire and Stroud were spotted together attending a Katy Perry concert. McEntire shared an amazing, happy photo of them on Instagram wearing colorful wigs to the show. Stroud also joined the Oklahoma native at son Shelby Blackstock’s car racing competitions, with McEntire giving her dear friend a shout-out for taking some artsy Instagram photos.
“Thanks, Laura Stroud for the great picture,” McEntire captioned a photo.
But the fearless McEntire appeared to be unfazed with the Blackstock-Stroud-fiasco. “Every time I have seen Reba since the split, she has been in great spirits and focused as ever on her work. Reba’s a pro,” said a source. “She’s not going to air her personal life in public.”
Blackstock and McEntire, who worked together for decades, have also continued their business relationship. The country music power players run their company Starstruck Entertainment together, which manages stars including McEntire, Blake Shelton, Caroline Kole, Shelby, and their daughter-in-law Kelly Clarkson. The singer also told her fans they have remained friends.
“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” the duo said in a statement from Big Machine Label Group. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”
McEntire also prides herself on continuing to have a close relationship with their son Shelby along with Blackstock’s three children from a previous marriage.
“When you go through a divorce, you don’t divorce your children,” McEntire said. “You stay in contact and you continue to love them, guide them, and help them. You’re still a parent.”
Third Time is the Charm
Narvel Blackstock’s divorce to Reba McEntire was not his first. He previously exchanged wedding vows with Elisa Gayle Ritter. Ritter and Blackstock tied the knot on March 30, 1973, in an intimate ceremony. But the duos’ marriage did not last long as they ended their union on March 31, 1988.
Narvel Blackstock has been famous for producing projects Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight, Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas, Malibu Country, and Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Music Tale. He has a longstanding impressive and successful career.
But does he find it challenging to be successful in his relationships? Well, maybe the third time will be his charm.
It has now been four years since the music manager and his real estate girlfriend became serious in their relationship. Yet the two never disclosed about how their relationship started. They haven’t even given any updates about their romantic relationship; though some pictures on Straud’s Instagram page suggest the pair is very much in love with each other.
Now, this leaves every single fan of the star having the same question, who is Narvel Blackstock new girlfriend and when will he marry up next? Well, guess we have to be patient wait for some exciting news in days to come.
As for McEntire, the Grammy-winning singer has also moved on and started dating Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo in 2017. The two met in Jackson Hole, WY, when Anthony, a businessman, and photographer, played tour guide for McEntire after Kix and Barbara Brooks introduced them.
Unfortunately, McEntire revealed in November 2019 that she and Lasuzzo split that May. Though McEntire still deserves to find that special someone, it seems she’s just as happy as ever going into 2020 on her own terms.