Reba McEntire Makes Rare Plea to Fans in New Video
Although country superstar Reba McEntire spent the week filming Blind Auditions for season 28 of “The Voice,” filling her team up with new talent, there was something else weighing on her mind.
On July 11, 2025, McEntire recorded a social media video — still dressed in the teal, suede jacket she wore in photos on “The Voice” set — to share her concern for the future of PBS.
McEntire rarely speaks up about anything political or endorse candidate. In 2018, she told The Hill, “That’s not my job.” She even inspired a 2024 “Saturday Night Live” skit about “Team Reba” being for everyone and opting to remain “undecided.”
But with a big budget vote looming in the Senate in July, the three-time Grammy winner felt compelled to step outside her comfort zone and show her support for the nonprofit Public Broadcasting Service, which she’s partnered with on TV specials for nearly 40 years.
Reba McEntire Says ‘PBS Needs Our Help’ & Hopes Fans Can Pitch In
In McEntire’s video, she said, “Hey, it’s Reba. From my appearances on ‘Austin City Limits’ in 1987 to a ‘South Pacific’ concert from Carnegie Hall in 2006, I’ve had a long relationship with PBS. Now PBS needs our help. In just a few short days, the Senate is going to vote on a bill that would remove federal funding from PBS.”
The bill McEntire referenced is a rescissions package that the House of Representatives narrowly approved in June, per UPI. It now faces a Senate vote; if the budget bill passes, it would include a $1.1 billion cut in funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees public broadcasting TV and radio stations across the U.S.
McEntire continued in her video, “PBS has done so much for us — from children’s education to teaching us about science, the earth, and the stars, to the most near and dear to my heart, the incredible arts programming that brings the the power of live performance into our homes.”
McEntire asked fans to visit the Protect My PBS website and learn how to help “if you believe in PBS like I do.”
The singer’s video was posted by PBS and added to McEntire’s Instagram feed by the 55-year-old nonprofit, which referenced lyrics from her 2001 song “I’m a Survivor” in its caption, writing, “With gentle hands and a heart of a fighter (and your visit to protectmypublicmedia.org) … PBS will be a survivor. Thanks to @reba for this important message.”
Many Fans Thanked Reba McEntire for Using Her Voice to Support PBS
GettyReba McEntire attends Variety Power Of Women: Nashville on May 01, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Many of McEntire’s fans noted what a big deal it was for the singer to use speak out, including one who wrote in the comment section, “I know you don’t talk about politics, at least publicly, and I understand why. That said, thank you so much for speaking up on this matter. 🧡🧡🧡”
Another person wrote, “YES QUEEN REBA!!! This video is awesome!! It’s awesome seeing Reba voice her support for such an essential service. PBS is INCREDIBLE. I will always voice my support for PBS, and I will 100% back PBS up.”
Someone else wrote, “❤️❤️❤️💯👋 our kids grew up with PBS. Awesome seeing your voice about it also”
A March 2025 national survey by the Pew Research Center showed just 24% of Americans thought Congress should remove funding from PBS and NPR, while 44% said it should not, and 33% said they did not know.