Reba McEntire's Fiancé Rex Linn Reveals How His Safari Proposal Plan Went Awry
- - Reba McEntire's Fiancé Rex Linn Reveals How His Safari Proposal Plan Went Awry
Erin ClackDecember 16, 2025 at 2:29 AM
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Todd Williamson/NBCUniversal via Getty
Rex Linn and Reba McEntire -
Reba McEntire's fiancé, Rex Linn, intended to propose to the country music star while the pair were on a safari adventure in Africa last year
However, he revealed that he had to scrap the plan due to something unexpected
PEOPLE confirmed the couple's engagement after a reporter referred to McEntire and Linn as fiancés on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards in September
Rex Linn is revealing why he had to go to plan B for his proposal to fiancée Reba McEntire.
The actor, 69, and the country music star, 70, opened up about their engagement during a joint appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Dec. 11. During the conversation, Linn shared why his big plan to pop the question in Africa ultimately shifted to an at-home proposal in Tennessee.
He told host Drew Barrymore that he was all ready to propose to McEntire while the pair were on a safari adventure on the continent in June 2024. "When we went to Africa, I took the ring with me," he said.
After finding the perfect spot to ask the Reba star that all-important question, however, Linn had to scrap his plans.
"The moment that I found a little area I thought I was good [for the proposal], we had a guide named Mumps, and I came around the corner one evening, and I said, 'Hey Mumps, I'm thinking about proposing to Reba,' " Linn recalled. "And he kinda looks at me, and I said, 'But I haven't found a place.' "
"But, you know, we were driving back down this road, and over on the left side there was a little body of water down there, there was a pretty meadow, and I was thinking about doing that," Linn continued. "And he just looks at me and goes, 'Well, brother, that's an evening migratory walkway for male leopards. It wouldn't be a good time.' "
As McEntire and the audience laughed, Linn added, "I knew then that I was done looking for another spot. I thought, 'Yeah, you know what, I'll just back off that one.' "
Linn may have another shot at recreating the magical moment with his bride, as the couple revealed during a "Couple's Challenge" that Africa is their fantasy honeymoon spot. "It's always been our No. 1 destination," McEntire noted. "We just love it."
Although there were no lions, elephants — or male leopards — around to witness it, Linn ended up getting on bended knee while he and McEntire were taking a walk on their Tennessee ranch on Christmas Eve last year.
John Shearer/Getty
Rex Linn and Reba McEntire at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards
Recalling her reaction to her Happy's Place costar's surprise proposal, McEntire told USA Today in November that the first thing she did was ask Linn, "What are you doing?"
"He said, 'Would you marry me? I want to cross the finish line with you,' " the "I'm a Survivor" singer recalled, adding that she hugged Linn but didn't answer immediately.
"He said, 'You're not saying anything!' And I finally said, 'Well, yes! YES!' He thought he was going to have to jump into the creek," she said.
Linn joked to the outlet, "I thought, if she doesn't say 'yes,' I'll just disappear into that creek. But then she said 'yes' three times."
The couple kept their new relationship status under wraps for nearly a year. PEOPLE confirmed the engagement in September 2025, after an E! News reporter referred to them as fiancés on the Emmy Awards red carpet.
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McEntire told USA Today that the couple's engagement has been "a wonderful time."
"I'm having a blast. I feel like a teenager again," she said.
The star added: "I'm 70 years old, 50 years in the business, and I'm happier now than I've ever been in my life. God saved the best for last."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
