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Charlie Battles: Everything to Know About Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband

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September 21, 2026

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Charlie Battles: Everything to Know About Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband

Charlie Battles was the first husband of country singer Reba McEntire. Many people know his name because of Reba. But Charlie also had his own life and career before he married her.

Charlie loved rodeo and ranch life. He was a steer wrestler and won several rodeo titles. He also served in the U.S. Army when he was a young man.

Charlie and Reba married in 1976. They stayed married for about 11 years. Here we will learn about Charlie Battles and his early life family career children and marriage to Reba.

Who Was Charlie Battles?

Charlie Battles’ full name was Charles Warner Battles. He was born on March 9 1945 in Tulsa Oklahoma. He grew up in Oklahoma and spent much of his life around ranches.

Charlie is best known as Reba McEntire’s first husband. However he had his own career. He became a successful rodeo cowboy before Reba became a big country music star.

Charlie was also a soldier father and rancher. He worked hard for many years. Rodeo remained a big part of his life even after his days as a cowboy slowed down.

Charlie Battles’ Early Life

Charlie’s father was Earl Battles. His mother was Ocey Battles Pack. Charlie spent much of his childhood around Talala Oklahoma with his family.

There is little public information about his school years. Charlie was a private person. Most details about his younger years became known through family records and stories about his later life.

Charlie grew up around country life. Horses cattle and ranches were common in Oklahoma. This helped him build a love for rodeo that stayed with him for many years.

Charlie Battles’ Time in the U.S. Army

Charlie joined the U.S. Army in 1962. He was still very young at the time. This happened before he became well known in the rodeo world.

He trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Charlie later served in Germany. He worked in Army intelligence during much of his time there.

Charlie left the Army in July 1965. He received an honorable discharge. He then returned home and started a new part of his life in Oklahoma.

Charlie Battles’ Rodeo Career

After leaving the Army Charlie focused on rodeo. He became a steer wrestler. This is a rodeo sport where a cowboy tries to bring a running steer to the ground.

Charlie became very good at it. He won steer-wrestling titles in 1968 1970 and 1971. His success made him known in the rodeo world.

In 1974 Charlie reached the National Finals Rodeo. This was a big step in his career. It also happened before he married Reba McEntire.

How Charlie Battles Met Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire also grew up around rodeo. Her family lived on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. Her father Clark McEntire was a successful steer roper.

Reba loved horses when she was young. She enjoyed barrel racing and once hoped to do well in rodeo. But her strong singing voice soon opened a new path for her.

Charlie and Reba had many things in common. Both loved ranch life horses and rodeo. Their shared interests helped them become close and they soon fell in love.

Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire’s Marriage

Charlie Battles married Reba McEntire on June 21 1976. Reba was 21 years old. Charlie was about 31 years old so he was around ten years older than her.

Reba was still starting her music career at the time. Singer Red Steagall had heard her sing and liked her voice. He helped her get an important chance in country music.

Charlie and Reba shared a country lifestyle after getting married. Ranches horses and cattle were part of their world. At first their shared love of country life brought them closer.

Charlie Battles’ Children and Reba as a Stepmom

Charlie Battles had two sons from an earlier marriage. Their names were Lance Battles and Coty Battles. Reba became their stepmother when she married Charlie.

Charlie and Reba never had children together. Still Reba had a family role in the lives of Charlie’s sons. Reports say she stayed connected with them even after her marriage ended.

Coty later followed his father into rodeo. He became a steer wrestler just like Charlie. This showed how rodeo became part of the Battles family story.

Reba McEntire’s Career Changed Their Life

Reba was still a new singer when she married Charlie. Her music career grew slowly at first. She spent years recording songs traveling and trying to reach more people.

Things changed during the 1980s. Reba started having bigger hits and winning awards. Her 1984 album My Kind of Country became an important part of her rise to fame.

Reba now had to travel and work much more. Charlie remained close to ranch and rodeo life. Their lives started moving in different ways and this soon placed pressure on their marriage.

Why Did Charlie Battles and Reba McEntire Divorce?

As Reba became more famous her life changed. She had more shows and spent more time on the road. Charlie Battles stayed close to ranch and rodeo life. Their plans for the future were becoming different.

Reba later said Charlie wanted her to slow down with her music career. But Reba wanted to keep singing and working. She once said she felt that she chose her career over her marriage.

Their marriage ended in 1987 after about 11 years. Reba has said that ending the marriage was not easy. She had loved Charlie but felt she needed to follow the life she wanted.

Reba’s Music After Her Divorce From Charlie Battles

The divorce came during a big time in Reba’s career. In September 1987 she released The Last One to Know. The album was filled with songs about love heartbreak and relationships.

Because of the timing many people have called it Reba’s “divorce album.” Her own life had changed in a big way. The feelings in the music also matched the pain of losing a relationship.

Still not every song should be seen as the true story of Charlie Battles and Reba. Country songs often tell made-up stories too. The album simply came at a time when Reba was dealing with a major change.

Charlie Battles’ Life After Reba McEntire

After the divorce Charlie did not become part of the music world. He stayed close to what he knew best. He continued working with ranches livestock and rodeo.

Charlie later worked in the rodeo livestock business. His work helped provide animals for rodeo events. This gave him a way to stay part of the sport even when he was no longer competing.

This part of Charlie Battles’ life is easy to miss. His marriage to Reba made his name known to many people. But rodeo was part of his life before Reba and remained important after their divorce.

Charlie Battles’ Later Marriage and Family Life

Charlie later found love again. He married Donna Granger in 1998. Donna also knew the rodeo world and worked around rodeo events.

Charlie also enjoyed life as a father and grandfather. His sons Lance and Coty were adults by this time. Coty had followed his father into steer wrestling and competed at a high level.

Charlie’s later family life was much more private than his marriage to Reba. He was no longer linked to the daily world of country music fame. Instead he stayed close to family ranch life and rodeo.

Charlie Battles’ Stroke and Health Problems

Charlie Battles faced a very hard time later in life. He suffered a major stroke during the 2000s. Some reports give 2006 while another rodeo report gives 2007 as the year of the stroke.

The stroke caused serious health problems. Reports said Charlie had trouble moving and speaking afterward. His active days around ranches and rodeos were now behind him.

Donna stayed with Charlie during these hard years. She helped care for him as his health became worse. Charlie later lived in Sulphur Louisiana where he spent his final years.

Charlie Battles’ Death and Final Years

Charlie Battles died on April 21 2013. He was 68 years old. His obituary said heart failure and problems linked to his earlier stroke played a part in his death.

Charlie was living in Louisiana when he died. A graveside service was held on April 26 2013. He was laid to rest at Mimosa Pines Cemetery North in Sulphur Louisiana.

His death ended a life that had taken many turns. Charlie had been a soldier rodeo cowboy rancher husband father and grandfather. He had also lived through both success and very hard health problems.

Final Thoughts

Some websites say Charlie Battles had a net worth of about $3 million. However there is no strong public record that proves this amount. It is safer to say his true net worth was never made public.

What we do know is that Charlie earned money through rodeo ranching and livestock work. His rodeo business also became an important part of his later career. He stayed connected to the sport for many years.

His rodeo record matters more than an online money guess. Charlie won steer-wrestling titles and reached the National Finals Rodeo. Those wins show that he had real success before becoming known as Reba McEntire’s husband.

(FAQs)

When was Charlie Battles born and how old was he?

Charlie Battles was born on March 9 1945. He died on April 21 2013. He was 68 years old when he died.

Who was Charlie Battles’ wife?

Charlie Battles was famously married to Reba McEntire from 1976 to 1987. He later married Donna Granger in 1998. Donna stayed with him until his death.

What was Charlie Battles’ net worth?

Charlie Battles’ exact net worth was never made public. Some websites claim it was around $3 million. However there is no strong proof for this amount.