Reba McEntire’s ‘No U in Oklahoma’ Is Old-Fashioned Country Swing [Listen]
Reba McEntire's upbeat new song "No U in Oklahoma" will take you back.
The legendary singer's vocals are crisp over a bouncy traditional country melody that's anchored by pedal steel guitar, fiddle and a jazz piano that makes you feel as though you've transported to an old-fashioned honky-tonk.
Co-written by McEntire, longtime friend and collaborator Ronnie Dunn and Donna McSpadden, "No U in Oklahoma" uses clever wordplay to tell the story of a soured love that was doomed from the start, with McEntire name dropping cities all around the country.
"You put the T for tears in Texas / S for sad in St. Louis / Our reckless travels led us / To the state of Missouri / There's no U in Oklahoma / And that's okay with me," she sings charmingly. It's the kind of song you would find on an old jukebox with its Western swing vibe, and it's clear that McEntire is having fun singing it.
"No U in Oklahoma" is the second song the country icon has shared off her upcoming album Stronger Than the Truth, along with the title track. McEntire describes the project as "probably the most country album I've ever recorded" — it reflects the music she grew up listening to on a ranch in Oklahoma. The album follows her gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2018.
Stronger Than the Truth drops on April 5 — two days before the reigning ACM Awards host returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host the 54th annual ceremony on April 7.
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