During one of her performances, Reba impressed country artist Red Steagall who was also performing at the show. When Reba, her mother, and her siblings later joined him at a hotel party, Reba performed an acapella version of Dolly Parton’s song titled “Joshua.” Steagall contacted them after he got back to Nashville, and while he couldn’t take all three siblings as per the request of Reba’s mother, Jacqueline, he said that he could take in Reba.
At first, Reba was not entirely sure about pursuing a professional music career, but one conversation with her mother struck through her. Jacqueline told Reba that if she didn’t want to go to Nashville, they didn’t have to, but she was living all of her dreams through her. It changed her mind, and she went on to record a demo and secure a Nashville contract with PolyGram/Mercury Records.
And the rest is history.