The Many Lives of Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire photo by Marc Baptiste, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Oct. 17, 2008 — Reba McEntire is living one heck of a life, but it might not be her first.

"I believe in reincarnation," she told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I believe I've gone both ways — that I have been here before as a man. I will get flak from Christians who will say I can't be a Christian if I believe this... I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe. I believe I have spent time with my son, Shelby, before. I believe I have spent time with other people in my life before. Who knows? Maybe I'm part Buddhist."

Reba’s certainly doing several versions of reincarnation in her career these days. She’s returned to the cover of Redbook magazine — where she’s definitely been before; a number of her biggest singles are finding new life in the upcoming album 50 Greatest Hits; and she’s helping reincarnate the Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton duet "Islands In The Stream." Reba’s recorded a new version of that 25-year-old hit with Barry Manilow, according to Billboard, for his album The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, due Nov. 25.