Reba McEntire’s only son found his happily ever after in a stunning Disney World wedding. The country music icon shared a special dance with her son on his special day, a testament to their close bond and the dedication Reba poured into raising him with strength, discipline, and humility.
Reba McEntire is a country music legend, known for her powerful vocals, chart-topping hits, and enduring influence in the entertainment industry. However, beyond her music, the star’s most cherished role has always been that of a mother.
In 1990, she welcomed her only child, Shelby Blackstock, with her then-husband, Narvel Blackstock. Now all grown up, Shelby has pursued a successful career as a former race car driver turned The Hartland CEO. In 2022, he reached another major milestone — saying “I do.”On February 12, Shelby married his longtime love, Marissa Branch, in a fairytale wedding at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The couple, who had met through Tinder in 2014 but only began dating two years later, saw their love story as a destined journey.
They reflected on how their friends had long recognized their compatibility before they did, revealing, “In retrospect, our mutual friends could see how compatible we are. They would always recommend that we should date. I think we were the only ones who didn’t see it (at the time).”They continued, “The love was always there; we just didn’t understand it until we were both in the right headspace and had the maturity to recognize it. We both agree that if we had dated immediately upon meeting, we likely would not be as prepared as we are now to deserve one another.”Marissa described their connection as having an indescribable feeling of déjà vu, as if life had always intended for them to be together. For their wedding, they chose Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, as the parks held deep sentimental value.
Marissa’s mother had once worked at Disney, managing the Small World ride, which had been a favorite of Marissa’s grandmother. The bride cherished a photo of them on the ride and wanted to honor her memory.
”She passed away in 2006 at the age of 57, while I was in middle school. She was my rock, and her passing affected me deeply,” the bride revealed.
When Shelby and Marissa first visited Disney together six years before their wedding, they made sure to ride Small World in remembrance. Epcot also played a key role in their relationship — it was where Shelby first told Marissa he loved her and later where he proposed.It felt only natural to hold their nuptials in a place so deeply intertwined with their love story. Their wedding day was further filled with magical moments.
Guests enjoyed cocktail hour and dinner at Epcot’s Rotunda Bistro before moving to Italy Isola for a breathtaking fireworks display. The ceremony took place in the Magic Kingdom after the park had closed for the night.
Marissa, eager for a true fairytale moment, walked down the aisle to “Tale as Old as Time” from “Beauty and the Beast.”Shelby’s close friend, Tom Ellis, officiated the ceremony, and instead of exchanging vows publicly, the couple opted for a more intimate approach, sharing personal thoughts and feelings during their first look.
As part of their special day, Marissa planned a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother. Flower girls walked down the aisle to “It’s a Small World” in her honor, a gesture that brought instant tears to Marissa’s mother once she heard of the plan.Nana will undoubtedly be with us in spirit on the big day […],” Marissa said. Following the ceremony, the couple and their guests celebrated with a uniquely Disney dining experience.
The wedding cake, almond and raspberry buttercream, incorporated 3-D projection mapping with scenes of a flying Tinkerbell and nods to iconic princess weddings. Guests also enjoyed Mickey and Minnie Mouse macarons and the famous Grey Stuff from “Beauty and the Beast.”Marissa’s bridal attire was just as spectacular — she wore a gown by Galia Lahav for the ceremony and changed into a Balmain dress for the reception, pairing her looks with Christian Louboutin shoes.
Marissa also carried a lace handkerchief that had been gifted to her as a baby, known in her family as the “Magic hanky.” Shelby wore a classic suit from Oak Hall, and their wedding rings were crafted by Vincent Peach.It can be worn as a bonnet, or for a christening, then saved until your wedding day. With a simple clip of the stitch, poof, it’s something old and something new,” she said. The bride also wore jewelry from both her mother and Reba as her something borrowed and something blue.Once the reception began, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Kacey Musgraves’ “Butterflies,” setting the tone for the night’s emotional moments. Then, it was Reba’s turn to take the dance floor with her son.
The country icon and her only child shared a deeply moving mother-son dance to her own 2005 song, “You’re Gonna Be Always Loved By Me.” The song’s lyrics, which express a parent’s unwavering love for their child, made it the perfect choice for the occasion.
Following the big day, Marissa took to Instagram to share snaps of her and her iconic mother-in-law in honor of Reba’s birthday, writing in part, “Happy Birthday to my kind, beautiful, strong, brilliant, supportive, and genuinely fabulous Mother-in-law @reba!”After tying the knot, the newlyweds held off on any honeymoon plans due to the COVID restrictions at the time but planned on going “somewhere warm” to celebrate their marriage once they couldIn the meantime, they kept dating each other, as Marissa shared, “Never forget the little things that make one another happy. It could be as simple as taking out the trash, remembering how your partner takes their tea/coffee in the morning, or it could be as complex as planning a surprise date night […].”Six months after saying “I do,” the new bride took to Instagram to share, “You’ll be in my heart, from this day on, now and forever more. Always. ❤️ Six months as husband and wife; eternity to go! (+ I’m excited!) Forever celebrating the little moments. I love you 3000.In honor of their first anniversary as husband and wife, the pair captioned an Instagram post in part, “‘I love you – and that’s the beginning and end of everything.’ – F. Scott Fitzgerald 2.12.22 One year already… how?”
Looking ahead to what the future holds, Shelby and Marissa were excited for what was to come. They saw marriage as a partnership in tackling whatever life threw their way. More than anything, they were eager to build a family and create a legacy together.
Looking ahead to what the future holds, Shelby and Marissa were excited for what was to come. They saw marriage as a partnership in tackling whatever life threw their way. More than anything, they were eager to build a family and create a legacy together.A Mother’s Love, Strength, and the Values She Passed Down
Reba has always been immensely proud of the man Shelby has become. She raised him with the same strong values she learned growing up in Chockie, Oklahoma, ensuring that he grew up grounded despite the privileges of being her son.”Mama and Daddy always said to me, ‘If you tell somebody you’re going to be somewhere at a certain time, you show up.’ That’s the way I was raised,” the singer revealed.
“When we would play games or cards, I’d never let Shelby win. He wouldn’t have learned anything that way. I always told Shelby, ‘I’ll always love you, but I want other people to like you. So don’t be a little jerk. Don’t be a spoiled brat,’” she added.watch below