Las Vegas Weekly

January 18, 2009 · 7:45 AM

Morning Call: Reba! Reba! Reba! The queen of country conquers The Orleans Arena

By Robin Leach

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

The queen of country came to town yet again last night and conquered one more time. Reba McEntire performed to a sold-out crowd at The Orleans Arena. In a sense, Las Vegas is her second home based on the number of times a year she’s here.

Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison was front and center for these candid concert photos.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Reba will be back in Vegas on April 5 to host for the 11th time the Academy of Country Music Awards live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Call it country music’s party of the year! The next night, also in Vegas, she’ll take part in the Artist of the Decade TV special honoring country legend George Strait. That will be taped for a later CBS broadcast.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Over the years, Reba herself has won 11 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the first-ever annual Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

This is the second year the ACMs will take place on a Sunday, the fourth year the show will be based at MGM Grand and the seventh year the show will be held in Las Vegas.

“We are thrilled that Reba is back to host and that George will be honored with this milestone award,” said Bob Romeo, executive director of the Academy of Country Music.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

During her extraordinary 33-year career, Reba has released 31 albums, selling more than 55 million records worldwide, and ranks as the seventh all-time best-selling female artist in all genres. She has racked up 23 No. 1 hits over the course of her career, second only to Dolly Parton as the female country performer with the most No. 1 singles.

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