Charlie Battles wasn’t just known for being Reba McEntire’s ex-husband. Before their romance in the 70s, he carved his path as a rodeo champion. The former army personnel would later dominate the steer wrestling scene, even achieving the world champion title.
It’s been over a decade since Charles passed away, however, he is still remembered for his contributions to the Rodeo world and has secured a place in the history of country music as Reba’s ex-husband. The pair married in 1976 and were together until 1987 when they divorced. Years later, he got married to Donna Granger who remained his wife until he died in 2013 following a heart failure.
A Brief Biography of Charlie Battles
Reba McEntire’s ex-husband was born Charlie Battles on March 9, 1945. From the records, he was raised in Tulsa County, OK, United States by his parents Earl and Ocey Battles. He grew up alongside his siblings, brother Jim Battles, and sister Roxey Battles, However, several details about his early life and family background have not been established.
At the age of 17, he joined the US Army and trained for 10 months before he was deployed to Germany as part of the Armor intelligence specialist. Following the end of his enlistment in 1965, he returned to his hometown to pursue rodeo. However, he did not record so much success until he switched to steer wrestling.
A Look at His Career
Even though Charlie Battles’ face is largely linked to his marriage to Reba, he also recorded success at some point in his career. His most notable career pursuit was his success as a champion steer wrestler in the rodeo circuit. He was known for his skill, agility, and fearlessness in the arena which quickly made him renowned in the world of rodeo
In 1993, Charles purchased a ranch in Springtown and in 1995 he bought a company which he named the Charlie Battles PRCA Rodeo Livestock Company. He was mostly occupied with the work there and juggled between providing quality livestock for rodeo events and contributing to the success of numerous competitions.
Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire Crossed Paths at the Early Stage of Their Careers
Charlie Battle’s first crossed paths with country singer Reba McEntire in in 1971 through the rodeo and soon connected as friends. At the time they met, she was a struggling artist trying to make a name for herself in the music industry while the former military personnel had gained some level of success as a rodeo star.
Reba revealed in her book “Reba: My Story” that she didn’t think he would be interested in her. While the got talking, she found out that he was already married and they stayed apart until 1974 when they reconnected at a bar. She revealed that they developed a romantic connection after their meeting disregarding the 10-year age difference between them. In her book, she revealed that he was the love of her life.
I loved Charlie with all my heart, I wanted to marry him … We had a lot of fun,”. “We rodeoed together, we ranched together.”
Charles who was still married at the time, eventually divorced his first wife to be with Reba. The couple tied the knot on June 21, 1976, and a few friends and family members witnessed their wedding ceremony.
The Pair Divorce After Over a Decade of Being Married
The couple’s marriage, however, was not without its challenges. As Reba’s music career began to take off and she rose to fame as a country music sensation, tensions emerged between the couple.
Charlie, who had made a name for himself in the rodeo world as a champion steer wrestler, struggled to support Reba’s ambitions and aspirations in the music industry. She noted that he didn’t seem excited about her career path and made it look like his job was more important.
Aside from this, she felt distant from her stepchildren and recalled a time when she hinted at feeding the cattle with the boys but Charles said there was no room for her and drove off.
Their problem increased when she hired Charles to help her with the band. At some point, he called her a wench in front of her bandmates. He later became domineering as he felt overshadowed by Reba’s success.
Despite these, they remained married until he started taking money from her purse and even attempted to hit her during one of their arguments. It was at this point she knew their marriage had reached a breaking point.
The singer eventually filed for divorce in 1987 and said it almost ruined her career as she received less love from her fans. In the end, she hinted that she had to choose her career over her marriage.
Following their divorce, Charlie focused on his career in rodeo and rodeo livestock management. On the other hand, Reba continued to push for her place in the industry. She got signed to Mercury Record five years later and became a powerful figure in the industry.
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Charles Battle And Reba McEntire Found Love Again
A decade after his divorce, Charles married his third wife, Donna Granger in 1998. They opted for a private life and not so much was known about their marriage.
In the same vein, Reba tied the knot with her second husband a Texan musician and former guitar player, Narvel Blackstock. Their marriage ceremony was held in Lake Tahoe and witnessed by friends and family. The pair were married for over 2 decades before parting ways in 2015.
He Fathered Two Children With His First Wife
As hinted earlier, Reba wasn’t Charles’ first wife. He was first married sometime in the late 60s after his return from Germany. There are no details about his wife and what career she pursued however, the singer hinted in her autobiography that his first wife was Sherrie and she was from a big family. She also added that they were opposites and didn’t get along so well. This could have been the reason, Charles would jump on a divorce after their connection.
Charles and Sherrie’s union saw the birth of two sons, Lance and Coty Battles who were a significant part of his life. There is not much information about them as they have always maintained a low profile away from the spotlight. However while they were growing up, they would regularly accompany their father to his ranch to feed the animals. It’s possible that they also took after his career path.
Charles Battles Died in April 2013 after Suffering a Heart Failure
Tragically, Charlie Battles’ later years were marked by health challenges. He suffered a stroke in 2006 that left him completely disabled and in need of constant care. He was mostly cared for by his wife Donna and he managed to keep going for several years. Unfortunately, he passed away in April 2013 due to heart failure while in Sulphur, Louisiana.
His death was mourned by his family, friends, and fans, who remembered him for his achievements and contributions in the rodeo world.
