Charlie Battles: The Tough Cowboy Who Was Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband

Before Reba McEntire became the Queen of Country Music, she was a small-town cowgirl from Oklahoma. And before she had fans all over the world, her heart belonged to one man—Charlie Battles.

Charlie wasn’t a singer. He wasn’t rich or famous. But he was strong, charming, and lived the real cowboy life. He worked with cattle, rode in rodeos, and lived far from the spotlight. Reba loved him deeply, and their story shaped her early years.

In this article, we’ll talk about Charlie Battles, his cowboy life, how he met Reba, their marriage, and what went wrong. It’s a story of rodeos, dreams, heartbreak, and how two people grew apart on very different paths.

Charlie Battles Quick Bio

Charlie Battles’ Early Life in Oklahoma

Charlie Battles was born in 1945 in Oklahoma. He grew up in a small town, just like Reba. From a young age, Charlie loved horses, cattle, and the rodeo life. His days were full of ranch chores, dirt roads, and strong family values.

He was raised in a hardworking home. His parents, Earl and Ocey Battles, taught him to live simply, work hard, and respect the land. That country life stayed with him forever. Charlie didn’t want big-city fame. He wanted open skies, cattle, and the sound of rodeo crowds cheering.

Even before Reba came into the picture, Charlie had already built his life around these things. He had been married before, had two sons, and lived fully in the cowboy world.

Charlie Battles’ Career in Rodeo

Charlie wasn’t just any cowboy—he was a champion. He made a name for himself as a steer wrestler, also called a bulldogger. This rodeo event is one of the toughest. The cowboy rides a fast horse, jumps off while moving, and wrestles a running steer to the ground. It’s dangerous, fast, and takes real skill.

Charlie won rodeo titles in 1968, 1970, and 1971. He even made it to the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in 1974, which is a big deal in the rodeo world. People respected him. He was strong, fearless, and always gave it his best.

His life was not easy, but he loved it. Rodeos didn’t pay much, so Charlie worked hard on the ranch to make ends meet. He never chased fame or money. He chased bulls, and he chased grit.

Life on the Ranch

When Charlie wasn’t at rodeos, he was working on his ranch. He loved ranch life. That meant waking up early, feeding animals, fixing fences, and working under the hot sun. To some people, it sounds hard. But to Charlie, it was perfect.

He lived in Stringtown, Oklahoma. There, he raised cattle, trained horses, and took care of the land. His boots were always dirty, and his hands were always rough from work—but that’s who he was.

Charlie didn’t want a flashy life. He didn’t care about crowds or cameras. He liked quiet, work, and being close to nature. This simple, rugged lifestyle is what Reba first fell in love with.

How Charlie Battles Met Reba McEntire

Charlie and Reba met through the rodeo world. At that time, Reba dreamed of being a barrel racing champion, not a singer. She spent her days around horses, trailers, and dusty rodeo arenas.

Charlie was older and already known in the rodeo scene. Reba was young, full of energy, and still figuring out her future. When they met, there was a spark. Reba once said she loved Charlie with all her heart. To her, he was strong, smart, and kind. He made her feel safe.

They shared a deep bond through their love of ranch life. That bond grew quickly. It wasn’t about music or money—it was about shared values, hard work, and love under the Oklahoma sun.

Marriage Story

In 1976, Charlie and Reba got married. Reba was just 21 years old, and Charlie was 31. They moved to Charlie’s ranch in Stringtown and began life as husband and wife.

Reba helped on the ranch, doing all the daily chores—feeding animals, helping with cattle, and keeping up with the rough and tough lifestyle. At the same time, she was chasing a new dream: singing. Her first songs didn’t bring instant fame, but she kept going.

Charlie supported her in the beginning. He even helped manage her shows and bookings. They traveled together. It looked like they were building a future, side by side.

But behind the scenes, things were slowly changing.

Reba McEntire’s Early Career and Charlie’s Role

As Reba’s music started to take off in the early 1980s, their life shifted. She got signed by a big record label, MCA, and started performing more. Her name was growing, and so was her success.

At first, Charlie helped her travel, book shows, and handle her growing schedule. But as her fame increased, Charlie didn’t feel the same joy. He liked being in control, and now Reba’s life was moving in a direction he couldn’t lead.

Reba later shared that Charlie became controlling. He would argue with her band, get angry often, and didn’t like being in the background. His support turned into stress, and their marriage began to suffer.

Trouble in the Marriage

The tension got worse. Reba once told a story about a moment that really hurt her. Charlie and his sons were going out to feed the cattle—something Reba usually did with them. But that day, Charlie told her, “There’s no room in the truck.” That simple line made her feel left out and unimportant.

It wasn’t just that one moment. Over time, Charlie would speak harshly to her, even in front of others. Reba felt small, ignored, and pushed aside in the marriage. Her career was growing, but at home, her heart was breaking.

This was the start of the end—and that’s where we’ll continue in the second half of the article.

Why Reba McEntire Divorced Charlie Battles

By the mid‑1980s, the marriage was no longer peaceful. Reba’s music career was growing fast. She was touring more, recording more, and being seen everywhere. Charlie Battles wanted a quiet ranch life. Reba wanted to keep moving forward.

Reba later said something very honest. She said she chose her career over her marriage. That choice did not come easy. She tried for years to balance love and work. But the fights, the control, and the hurt feelings became too heavy.

In 1987, after 11 years of marriage, Reba filed for divorce. She left Oklahoma and moved to Nashville. It was painful, but it was the start of a new chapter for her life and career.

Charlie Battles’ Life After the Divorce

After the divorce, Charlie Battles did not talk to the media. He did not sell stories. He did not chase attention. He went back to what he knew best—ranch life.

Charlie later married Donna Granger, who stayed with him until the end of his life. Together, they lived quietly, far from fame and cameras. Charlie focused on his land, his animals, and his work.

In the 1990s, he even started his own business, the Charlie Battles PRCA Rodeo Livestock Company. It was his way of staying close to the rodeo world he loved.

Charlie Battles’ Health Problems and Death

In 2006, Charlie suffered a serious stroke. After that, his health never fully recovered. Life slowed down for him, and daily tasks became harder.

For several years, he lived with health problems linked to the stroke and heart trouble. His strong cowboy body had finally begun to fail him.

Charlie Battles passed away in 2013 at the age of 68. The cause was heart failure and stroke complications. He was laid to rest in Sulphur, Louisiana, remembered by family as a tough but quiet man.

Charlie Battles and His Two Sons

Before Reba, Charlie had been married once before. From that marriage, he had two sons, Coty Battles and Lance Battles.

Reba became their stepmother when she married Charlie. She tried hard to be part of their lives, even when it was difficult. After the divorce, Reba stayed close to them, especially Coty.

Coty followed in his father’s footsteps. He became a steer wrestler, just like Charlie, and later worked as a rancher. Very little is known about Lance, as he chose a private life.

Final Thoughts

Many people only remember Charlie Battles as Reba McEntire’s ex-husband. But his life was bigger than that. He was a respected rodeo champion, a rancher, and a man who lived by old cowboy rules.

He never used Reba’s fame to make money or stay in the public eye. That choice says a lot about who he was. He valued privacy, hard work, and pride over attention.

Charlie Battles will always be part of Reba’s story. Their love, their pain, and their split helped shape the woman Reba became. And in true country fashion, she turned that heartbreak into music that touched the world.

(FAQs)

Did Charlie Battles have kids with Reba McEntire?

No! Charlie Battles had two sons, Coty and Lance, from his first marriage, not with Reba. Reba became their stepmother but never had kids with Charlie.

What was Charlie Battles’ net worth when he died?

Surprisingly, around $3 million — even though he lived a quiet ranch life and stayed out of the spotlight after divorcing Reba McEntire.

How old was Charlie Battles when he died?

Charlie Battles was 68 years old when he died in 2013. He was born in 1945, but his exact birthdate was never widely shared.

How many times was Charlie Battles married?

Charlie Battles was married three times! His second wife was Reba McEntire. Before her, he married Sherrie (mother of his sons), and after Reba, he married Donna Granger.

Why did Reba McEntire divorce Charlie Battles?

Reba said she chose her career over her marriage. Charlie became controlling as her fame grew. He didn’t support her success, and the marriage fell apart by 1987.

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