Although Charlie Battles is best known as Reba McEntireAs a first husband, he was much more than that, as he was a great example of a truly American man. Charlie Battles was a Southerner at heart, having been born and raised there.
In 1945, Earl and Ocey Battles welcomed Charlie Battles into the world in Oklahoma. He was raised in a pretty typical way. Charlie Battles, like other young people of the era, followed Uncle Sam’s call and joined the United States Army in 1962. However, unlike many other members of the military, Charlie Battles did not was sent to Vietnam. Instead, he spent ten months at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, receiving training.
He then spent most of his military career abroad. He was an armored reconnaissance specialist in Germany. Charlie Battles was honorably discharged in 1965 and returned to his hometown in Oklahoma. Charlie Battles took up steer riding after his service ended and has developed very well there. He began competing in rodeo competitions across the country and won the title three years in a row, in 1968, 1970 and 1971. He then demonstrated his skills by earning a spot in the PRCA National Finals in 1974 .
In 1966, Charlie moved in with Sherrie, his first wife. The Battles family grew from there as Lance and Coty were born from their love. Unfortunately, rodeo was not a way to make a living, so Charlie Battles began working as a cow herder, although he continued to compete in rodeo competitions.
On June 21, 1976, young country singer Reba McEntire, then 21, married champion steer wrestler Charlie Battles, then 31. Reba was starting her own career in country music, had just gotten married, and was adjusting to being a stepmother. His song “I Don’t Want to be a One-Night Stand” reached number 88 on the Billboard country singles chart.
Unfortunately, Reba McEntire and the Battles’ sons had little in common. Charlie also did little to develop relationships with his two sons and his second wife. Reba felt completely cut off from the family because the couple had no children. So much so that when Reba McEntire asked to attend some activities with the father and his two sons, Charlie Battles completely ignored her requests.
Reba McEntire found solace in her music and her husband Charlie Battles was wonderfully supportive. As a result, Reba McEntire later moved to Tennessee to pursue her music career, which was a wise decision. Charlie Battle’s protectiveness and support, which Reba McEntire appreciated, quickly turned to possessiveness and jealousy as his fame grew. All the money Reba made from his job went to Battles because he controlled their assets. He even went so far as to steal money from her purse because he felt he deserved his feat.
Reba filed for divorce in 1987 with the help of her parents and sister. Charlie never wanted this divorce, even though it was justified, and it led him to withdraw all the money from their joint account after learning that Reba filed for divorce to convince her to stay.
After his divorce from Reba, Charlie Battles immediately got back on his feet and returned to his favorite pastime, rodeoing. In 1993, he bought his own ranch in Stringtown and began rodeoing there. Charlie also entered the business world, perhaps due to his experience managing Reba and her assets when he was with her. Charlie Battles later purchased his own company, now known as Charlie Battles PRCA Rodeo Livestock Company.
In 1998, Charlie Battles had a new love affair and married Donna Granger, who would become his third wife. But they never had children. Unfortunately, Charlie Battles suffered a stroke in 2006. Afterwards, he became completely crippled. He died in 2013 from complications of a stroke and heart failure and was buried in Sulfur, Louisiana.