Reba McEntire Debuts Latest Single, ‘I Can’t’ With Empowering Performance On ‘The Voice’

Reba says the new song has already received “great reviews” from fans.

By

Madeleine O’Connell

| Posted on

May 8, 2024

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Reba McEntire; Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC

Reba McEntire raised excitement among fans when she announced that she would be premiering her latest single, “I Can’t,” during NBC’s The Voice on Tuesday night (May 7). 

The “Queen of Country” opened the show on a strong note as she appeared in a cloud of haze while standing on a makeshift desert terrain with a blue sky in the background. Dressed in a dazzling black ensemble featuring a sequin top, a stylish jacket embellished with fringe, a large gold belt buckle and stunning earrings to match, McEntire starts reclaiming her power in the heart pounding track. 

“I’ve got the thunder in my bones, I’ve got the trouble in my soul/ Drowning in tears my eyes were too proud to cry/ I hear you knockin’ at my door, but I can’t open it no more/ ‘Cause this heart’s half full of rain and risin’ high/ Sometimes all that you can do is just survive,” she sings in the opening verse. 

Reba McEntire; Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC
Reba McEntire; Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC

A Thundering Display Of Honesty

As she approaches the chorus, the weather in the background begins to shift from bright skies to dark clouds that erupt into a storm. This transition matches the deep vulnerability of the lyrics, which find Reba McEntire coming to the realization that she needs to fix herself before she can help anyone else. She unleashes her haunting vocals alongside the full band and chorus of background singers, bringing the Tania Hancheroff, Tia Sillers and Victoria Banks-penned song to its fullest potential. 

She continues, “I can’t burn you a flame right now/ I can’t burn you a flame right now/ I’m too busy seeing the light/ I can’t lift you up right now/ I can’t lift you up right now/ I’m too busy tryin’ to fly/ So, let go the anchor, let go the chain/ Don’t reach for me and don’t call my name/ Shake off the past and, baby, just swim for the shore/ Blow me a kiss and hope for the best/ Wish what you will and take what you get/ Do what you want but I can’t save you no more.”

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Following her fiery performance that marked the start of a new musical chapter and earned a standing ovation from her fellow The Voice coaches, Reba McEntire got on social media to thank all her fans for the great feedback they have offered for the new release. 

“I just got done performing my brand-new single called ‘I Can’t’ right here on The Voice. It was the premiere and we’re so excited. We’re getting great reviews already, everybody’s loving it,” she shared. “So thank y’all so much, we appreciate it. It’s been a long time coming, I love this song and I’m so glad y’all do too.”

Tuesday night’s episode also revealed the voting results from the Top 12 live performances. Only eight artists scored enough votes to make it through while the remaining contestants performed for the instant save, in hopes of being the final artist to make it through to the live semi-final.

Reba’s New Sitcom, “Happy Place” Earns The Green Light From NBC

In addition to the new music drop, this week brought even more exciting news for Reba fans. NBC announced on Tuesday that it has handed a series order to her new sitcom, Happy’s Place

“#ICant think of a better way to end the day…a new single and now a new sitcom. We’ll see you at #HappysPlace on @nbc soon,” she wrote on Instagram.

The multi-cam project will find the country superstar reuniting with Kevin Abbott, Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis, who all worked as executive producers on her 2000’s sitcom, Reba. In addition to the former Reba teammates, Julie Abbott will also serve as executive producer. 

In the show, McEntire takes on the role of Bobbie, who inherits her father’s restaurant, only to later discover that this property also comes with a new business partner in the form of a half-sister she never knew existed.The comedy series will also star Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn.

More New Music Set To Debut At Upcoming ACM Awards

Reba McEntire will host the ACM Awards for the 17th time in 2024
Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy the Academy of Country Music

Reba McEntire will showcase even more new music off her forthcoming project during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16. In addition to taking the stage among the star-studded lineup of performers, the Oklahoma native will also host the coveted award show for the 17th time.

Airing on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, “Country Music’s Party of the Year will stream exclusively live for a global audience on Prime Video. Fans don’t need a Prime membership to join in live; everyone is welcome to attend the Party of the Year.  

A limited number of tickets to attend the ACM Awards are still available for purchase. 

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Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.