Reba McEntire is remembering Rob Reiner not just as a celebrated filmmaker, but as a creative force whose courage and generosity left a lasting imprint on everyone he worked with.
In an exclusive tribute shared with PEOPLE, McEntire reflected on her time collaborating with Reiner on the film North, recalling an experience shaped by trust, curiosity, and a shared belief in storytelling that takes risks. “Rob had a way of seeing the heart of a story,” she said. “He wasn’t afraid to follow it wherever it led — even when the choice wasn’t obvious.”
That fearlessness, McEntire noted, extended beyond the film set. She revealed that Reiner also played a meaningful role in shaping the ending of her iconic music video, “Does He Love You.” At the time, the project sat at the intersection of music and narrative, and Reiner’s perspective helped bring clarity to its final moments. “He understood emotion,” McEntire said. “Not just how to show it, but how to let it breathe.”
The video, now considered one of the most memorable in McEntire’s career, benefited from Reiner’s instinct for balance — knowing when to resolve a story and when to leave space for the audience to feel its weight. “He didn’t rush endings,” she explained. “He respected them.”
McEntire described Reiner as a collaborator who listened closely and encouraged bold choices without ever imposing his own voice. “Rob made you feel safe being honest,” she said. “He believed that if you told the truth, people would meet you there.”
Beyond specific projects, McEntire emphasized the impact Reiner had as an artist and a person. “He was a true artist who was not afraid,” she said, repeating the phrase with quiet conviction. “Not afraid of ideas, not afraid of emotion, and not afraid to stand by what he believed in.”
As news of Reiner’s passing has prompted tributes from across the entertainment world, McEntire’s words highlight a side of him that often mattered most to those closest to his work: his willingness to take creative risks in service of sincerity.
“He helped people tell better stories,” she said. “And he did it with kindness.”
For McEntire, the loss is both professional and personal — a farewell to a collaborator who shaped pivotal moments in her artistic journey. “I’m grateful I got to learn from him,” she added. “And I’ll carry that with me.”
In remembering Rob Reiner, McEntire’s tribute echoes a sentiment shared by many who knew him: that his legacy isn’t only found in the films he made, but in the courage he gave others to tell their stories honestly — and without fear.