Nashville is buzzing that country legend Reba McEntire’s ex-husband and manager of over 25 years has already moved on to another woman, sources tell Page Six.
McEntire shocked Nashville when she announced she was splitting from hubby Narvel Blackstock last summer.
“It was a bombshell. No one saw it coming,” said a source. But sources further tell Page Six that Blackstock’s fallen in love with a local power real estate agent and friend of the couple, Laura Putty Stroud.
Very private McEntire only confirmed she’d actually divorced on Facebook last month, saying, “Narvel and I are divorced . . . Thanks for all the sweet messages. Narvel and I are friends. We always have been.” There was speculation the split was spurred by their business relationship.
Now there’s word Blackstock’s with Stroud, who spent time in the past with McEntire. “They are very serious,” said a Nashville country source. “It’s unclear when they started dating. The word on the street is that they’re getting married.”
But plucky McEntire appears to be unfazed. “Every time I have seen Reba since the split, she has been in great spirits and focused as ever on her work. Reba’s a pro,” said a source who didn’t acknowledge Narvel’s new relationship. “She’s not going to air her personal life in public.”
Stroud and McEntire attended a 2014 Katy Perry show, where they wore multicolored wigs, and have seen Reba and Narvel’s son, pro driver Shelby, race. “Thanks Laura Stroud for the great picture,” McEntire captioned a photo.
The broken-up power couple continues to run Starstruck Entertainment, which manages McEntire, Blake Shelton, Caroline Kole, Shelby and daughter-in-law Kelly Clarkson. McEntire posted a photo of her next to Blackstock at the company’s holiday party last month.
Blackstock and Stroud did not get back to us. McEntire’s rep could not be reached. An insider said Reba celebrated New Year’s in Cancún, Mexico, with friends and family, adding, “If she seems upset, I certainly haven’t seen it show.”