Reba McEntire has finally shared why she and her longtime love, Rex Linn, kept their engagement under wraps for almost a year — and her reason couldn’t be more heartfelt.

Speaking with People, the country icon revealed that Rex proposed on Christmas Eve 2024 in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, making it a holiday to remember. “He’s very romantic,” Reba said with a smile. “It was a total surprise — pure Rex Linn timing.”

But while they were overjoyed, the couple chose to keep their news private. They had planned to announce their engagement in January after returning to Los Angeles, but life had other plans.

“The fires happened,” Reba explained. “People were losing their homes, and we even had to evacuate twice. It just didn’t feel right to share our happy news then.”

So, they waited — until the perfect moment finally came during the Emmys red carpet nearly a year later. “The time never presented itself until the Emmys,” Reba said. “It wasn’t planned at all — it just happened.”

Reba also shared that Rex had considered popping the question a few times earlier — even during their trip to Africa — but wanted to wait for the right time. And when that moment came, it couldn’t have been more special.

The couple hasn’t set a wedding date yet, choosing instead to enjoy this chapter together. “We’re having fun being engaged,” Reba said. “No rush.”

Their love story goes back decades. They first met in 1991 while filming The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, but it wasn’t until 2020, when they reconnected on the set of Young Sheldon, that sparks truly flew. Even when the pandemic forced them apart, they stayed close through FaceTime — proving that love can thrive, even from a distance.

Since then, they’ve worked together on several projects, including Big Sky, Happy’s Place, and the film The Hammer.

Now, with years of friendship and love behind them, Reba has a message for anyone still waiting for their happy ending:
“Never give up. If you’re in heartbreak right now, take care of yourself and your heart. I wasn’t looking for love at all — it just happened. Right time, right place. God’s timing is everything.”