Before Reba McEntire became the “Queen of Country,” she lived a quiet life in Oklahoma. Back then, she was just a young cowgirl with big dreams and a big heart. And one of the first people to hold that heart was a cowboy named Charlie Battles.
Charlie wasn’t a singer or a star. He was a rodeo champion, strong and bold, with a life full of horses, cattle, and dirt roads. He was older, tough, and seemed like the perfect cowboy to Reba. Their love started sweet, but it didn’t last forever. Still, Charlie’s story is a big part of Reba’s past.
In this article, we’ll learn all about Charlie Battles, his life before Reba, their marriage, the troubles they faced, and how everything changed. It’s a story of love, dreams, and the road that leads us to who we become.
Charlie Battles Profile Summary
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charlie Battles |
| Born | 1945 (Exact date not widely published) |
| Died | 2013 (aged 68) |
| Place of Birth | Oklahoma, United States |
| Profession | Steer-wrestling champion, Rancher |
| Known For | First husband of Reba McEntire |
| Marriage to Reba | Married in 1976, divorced in 1987 |
| Age at Marriage | 31 (Reba was 21) |
| Children | Two sons – Coty and Lance (from previous marriage) |
| Second Wife | Donna Granger |
| Cause of Death | Heart failure and stroke complications |
| Stepchildren with Reba | Reba was stepmother to Coty and Lance |
| Life After Divorce | Returned to ranch life, lived privately |
| Notable Fact | Inspired songs on Reba’s “The Last One to Know” album |
Who Was Charlie Battles?
Charlie Battles was a true cowboy. He wasn’t famous like Reba, but he was well known in the rodeo world. He worked hard, wrestled steers, and earned a name for being tough and skilled in rodeo events.
Charlie had a strong personality. People said he was charming, but also serious. He lived life the cowboy way — with early mornings, ranch chores, and hard work under the sun. Before meeting Reba, Charlie had already been married once. He had two sons, Coty and Lance, and lived a quiet ranch life.
Later, people mostly remembered Charlie as Reba McEntire’s first husband, but he had his own life and story long before the fame ever touched them.
Charlie Battles’ Early Life
Charlie was born in 1945 and grew up in Oklahoma, just like Reba. From a young age, he loved the rodeo. He became a steer-wrestling champion, which means he was very good at tackling and controlling strong bulls during rodeo shows.
Charlie didn’t chase the spotlight. Instead, he focused on his ranch, his work, and his rodeo career. He lived a life that was simple, strong, and full of action. That’s what made him stand out in the local cowboy scene.
By the time he met Reba, charlie battles had already built a reputation as a hard-working cowboy who took pride in his land, his animals, and his skills. That cowboy charm is part of what caught Reba’s eye.
How Reba Met Charlie
Reba met Charlie in the rodeo world. Back then, Reba’s dream was to become a champion barrel racer, not a country singer. She was always around rodeos, horses, and cowboys — and that’s where she crossed paths with Charlie.
Reba was young and full of life. Charlie was older and more experienced. He had already been through a marriage and had two kids. But when they met, the connection was strong. Reba once said she loved Charlie with all her heart. He made her feel special and safe.
To Reba, Charlie seemed like a real cowboy hero. To Charlie, Reba was a sweet, talented ranch girl who was still finding her way. Their bond started with a shared love of the rodeo, and that bond soon grew into something more.
Reba’s Marriage to Charlie
Reba McEntire and Charlie got married in 1976. She was only 21 years old, and he was 31. They moved to a ranch in Stringtown, Oklahoma, where they worked side by side. Reba helped with cattle, chores, and ranch life, all while chasing her dreams of singing.
In the beginning, things felt happy. Reba believed they were building a future together. Charlie Battles even helped her career at first, working as her manager and giving advice. They traveled to shows and lived that rough-and-tough country life together.
But as Reba’s career started to grow, Charlie began to change. He didn’t like that she was getting more attention. Reba later said he became controlling and would get angry often. He even called her names in front of her band, which made her feel small and hurt.
One day, Reba remembered how Charlie and his sons went to feed cattle — something she usually did with them. But Charlie told her there wasn’t room for her in the truck. That small moment hurt a lot and made her feel like an outsider in her own marriage.
Charlie’s Two Sons
Before marrying Reba, Charlie had two sons — Coty and Lance Battles — from his first marriage. Reba became a stepmother to the boys after she married Charlie.
Reba tried her best to bond with them, but it wasn’t always easy. She once shared that she sometimes felt left out of family moments. Even with love in her heart, it was hard for her to feel like she truly belonged.
After her divorce from Charlie, Reba stayed close to both sons, especially Coty. Coty followed in Charlie’s path and became a steer wrestler just like his dad. Later, he worked as a rancher.
Not much is known about Lance’s life, but Reba remained supportive and continued to treat them like her own family, even after the marriage ended
Charlie Battles’ Career
Before Reba became a star, Charlie Battles already had his own kind of fame. He was a steer-wrestling champion, which means he was very good at one of the most exciting rodeo events. In steer wrestling, the cowboy jumps off a horse to stop a running steer. It’s dangerous, fast, and takes real skill — and Charlie Battles was one of the best.
Charlie didn’t want a life in the spotlight. He liked working with animals, running his ranch, and being part of the rodeo world. That was his comfort zone. While Reba was chasing crowds and cameras, Charlie felt more at home with cows, fences, and open land. This difference between them would later cause problems.
Charlie Battles’ Divorce
By the time Reba started getting big awards and fans across the country, things were no longer smooth at home. Charlie asked Reba to slow down. He didn’t like how much time she spent on the road. But Reba had worked so hard to get to that point. She wasn’t ready to stop.
Reba later said something very honest: “I guess I chose my career over my marriage.” After 11 years of trying, the marriage ended in 1987. Reba packed up and left Oklahoma. She moved to Nashville and focused only on music. It was painful, but she felt like it was the only way forward.
After the divorce, Reba poured her heart into her songs. She made an album called “The Last One to Know.” It was her way of healing. One song, “What You Gonna Do About Me,” talked about divorce and kids — even though she and Charlie Battles had no children together. Another song, “The Stairs,” told the story of a woman in a troubled marriage. These songs were emotional, but real.
Charlie’s Life After Reba
After the split, Charlie didn’t try to be in the spotlight. He went back to what he knew — ranch life. He later married a woman named Donna Granger, who stayed with him for the rest of his life. They lived a quiet life, away from fame and cameras.
Sadly, Charlie’s health began to fail. In 2006, he had a stroke. After that, his health kept getting worse. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 68 due to heart failure and problems from the stroke. Even though his life ended quietly, people who knew him remembered him as a strong cowboy who loved the land.
Charlie Battles’ Net Worth
Charlie never chased money or fame. He made most of his income from ranching, rodeo wins, and helping with Reba’s early career. But there’s no public number or exact estimate for his net worth.
Unlike Reba, who became a superstar, Charlie Battles lived a simple, modest life. After their divorce, he didn’t seek media attention or wealth. He focused on what mattered to him — his land, his animals, and his second family.
Final Thoughts
Charlie Battles was more than just a name from Reba McEntire’s past. He was her first husband, her cowboy partner, and someone who shared the early struggles of her journey. They started out together — in love, on the ranch, dreaming of the future.
Even though their marriage didn’t last, Charlie Battles helped shape who Reba became. Their love, their breakup, and the lessons that followed all became part of Reba’s story — and her songs. And even today, many fans still want to know: Who was Charlie Battles? The answer is simple — he was the cowboy who was Reba McEntire’s first love.
(FAQs)
How did Charlie Battles meet Reba McEntire?
Charlie met Reba in the rodeo world. At that time, Reba loved barrel racing and spent a lot of time around rodeos. Their shared love for ranch life and horses brought them close.
When did Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire get married?
They got married in 1976. Reba was 21 years old, and Charlie was 31. They lived together on a ranch in Stringtown, Oklahoma.
Did Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire have children together?
No, they did not have children together. However, Charlie had two sons, Coty and Lance, from his first marriage. Reba became their stepmother and stayed close to them even after the divorce.
Why did Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire divorce?
Their marriage ended in 1987. As Reba’s music career grew, Charlie wanted her to slow down. Reba chose to focus on her career, and the marriage could not continue.
What did Reba McEntire say about the divorce?
Reba later said, “I guess I chose my career over my marriage.” She also shared that the relationship became difficult and emotional, but it helped make her stronger.
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