What makes a place ‘home’ for country music star Reba McEntire
The singer and actress, who said while speaking at NAR NXT that she views agents’ jobs as very important, shared advice for those who are looking to stand out.
NEW ORLEANS — Country music legend Reba McEntire grew up on an 8,000-acre cattle ranch in the tiny town of Chockie, Oklahoma. In her family's home, she and her three siblings were hired hands — and everyone, including the ranch workers, gathered at noon for what they called "dinner."
"I can still smell how the house smelled and the energy that it had," McEntire told thousands of attendees at the National Association of Realtors' annual NAR NXT conference in New Orleans on Nov. 7. "It was a loving home."
McEntire is the face of Realtor.com's "Nearly Home" ad campaign, which debuted in May 2025 and shows the singer and actress introducing beleaguered homebuyers to Realtor.com's features.
Sharing Realtor.com's 'uniquely American story': Realtor.com wanted someone "defined by absolute authenticity" to tell Realtor.com's "uniquely American story," according to CEO Damian Eales — and in McEntire, "we found an Oklahoma ranch kid whose hard work, whose unwavering honesty and storied career reflect American exceptionalism."
"She has spent a career telling true stories," Eales said. "We are proud that she is now telling our story."
What makes a house a home: As the "Fancy" singer came onstage, the audience was a sea of Realtor.com-provided cowboy hats labeled, "Reba loves REALTORS." Justin McIntosh, McEntire's manager and a former Nashville Realtor, noted while interviewing McEntire onstage that she has lived in many places since childhood and asked what makes a place home.
"It's got to have a good feel to it," McEntire said. "A house has energy, and when you come in and you bond with that energy, it makes it a home."
McEntire recalled once looking for a property in Tennessee and having a good friend introduce her to an agent, who took her to see an old farmhouse with a couple of creeks running nearby. "The love I had for that house just took my breath away, and I knew I wanted to live there," she said with tears in her voice.
A people-first job that requires 'lots of heart': McEntire told the NAR NXT audience that she views their job as very important. "You match the people. You care so much. That's why I like Realtor.com. You guys care," she said.
McEntire said she got "all choked up" while watching a video NAR had shown earlier recognizing its 2026 Good Neighbor Awards winners. "I love your organization because you have heart," she said. "Whether it's a song or a TV show, if you don't have heart, you're missing the point — and y'all do. Y'all got lots of heart."
Reba's top tip for agents: "If you can be different by being yourself, that's the best because honesty builds trust — and if you are consistent with that, you've got your circle of people that you hang with that are trustworthy, who are honest, and then that little circle just keeps growing," McEntire said when asked what advice she would offer Realtors about standing out.
McEntire's warmth toward the audience was palpable through the end of the interview as she took a selfie with the crowd. "Thank y'all so much," she said. "Y'all are wonderful. I'm glad to be a part of your team."