Tugging at the heart strings of guests and viewers of The Voice, Reba McEntire’s emotional performance of her 2023 song “Seven Minutes in Heaven,” left scores of people longing for a celestial visit with a lost loved one.
The ballad, recorded in dedication to her mother Jacqueline who died of cancer in March 2020, shares that she’s not interested in speaking with Johnny Cash, Elvis, or even God.
She only wants one more conversation with her “mama.”
On March 14, March 2020, the queen of country music lost her queen, the McEntire matriarch, Jacqueline, who died at 93 after her battle with cancer.
Announcing that her “mama” had died, McEntire, 68, shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram saying, “Our Mother, Jacqueline McEntire, made that wonderful cross over into Heaven today. She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was absolutely ready to go.” The post continues, “The cancer might think it won the battle but we’re giving God all the credit on selecting the time for her to go home to Him. She was ready to see our Daddy, her mama and daddy and all her family and friends.”
And though her mom now has a permanent place in heaven, McEntire, the “Queen” of the TV series The Voice, longs for only seven minutes.
On the episode where the top nine singers were announced, the show’s mentor surprised guests with an emotional performance of “Seven Minutes in Heaven,” from her 2023 album, “Not That Fancy.”
Set to a foggy backdrop of brightly colored fall leaves with the blue skies peeking through, the country music legend softly sings the lyrics that explain what she’d do if she had “Seven Minutes in Heaven.”
“I know just what I’d do/ Take a walk down those golden streets/ And find a quiet corner booth,” McEntire’s soft but powerful vocals were backed by a piano and violins, adding to the ethereal beauty of the digital imagery on stage. “I wouldn’t spend all my seconds asking God questions/ ‘Cause He knows I’d be back soon,” she continues the chorus, telling her mom that “the only issue here is…we miss you.”
As the icon sings the last line, “If I had seven minutes in Heaven, I’d spend them all with you,” the fall leaves fade to black and a beautiful black and white portrait of Jacqueline is projected on the screen behind her.
McEntire turns around and facing the screen, she says with her distinctive drawl, “Oh I miss you, mama.”
Fans poured in with love, praising the songstress for connecting with fans in such a genuine way. One writes, “This song makes me think about my mom who I lost two years ago. I’d give anything to hug her and talk with her again for seven minutes. Reba’s the greatest!” A second shares her emotional reaction as she watched from home: “I’m sitting here in front of the TV listening to Reba sing this song crying my heart out. She’s always been one of my favorite people. Bless you Reba.”
A third shares, “Wow!! How special. Tears are pouring. But they are happy. Remembering all the loved ones that have touched our lives in many ways. So incredible to reach your audience in such a wonderful way!!”
Meanwhile, another netizen reminds others that it’s not just her mother that the legend grieves.
“When Reba sings this song don’t forget She has her father and an entire band she’s also singing about too. Not just her mama…She’s a strong lady who’s dealt with a lot of loss,” writes the user.
In 2014, her father Clark died at 86. At the time, McEntire shared on her Instagram that the “born and bred cowboy” had had been in declining health for five years since having a stroke.
And in 1991, the adored singer suffered one of the greatest tragedies when she lost several of her band members in a horrifying plane crash.
We’re sending lots of love to Reba McEntire and are so thankful she shares her incredible talents with the world!
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