Reba McEntire’s son, Shelby Blackstock, chose a very different path from his famous mother. While Reba built her legacy as a country music icon, Shelby found success as a professional race car driver.
He is McEntire’s only child with her former husband, Narvel Blackstock. The couple was married for 26 years before divorcing in 2015.
Both had been married to different people before making their own “I do.” McEntire wed steer wrestling champion and rancher Charlie Battles in 1976, becoming stepmother to his two sons. They divorced in 1987. Narvel had earlier been married to Elisa Gayle Ritter, and the two shared three children, including Brandon Blackstock, who passed away on August 7, 2025.
In October 2022, McEntire told PEOPLE, “Shelby is a gift from God to me. We’re very close. I was a very self-centered person to a degree before Shelby. But then there’s a little character who you are given the job to protect and nurture and love and teach, so all the attention’s not on you anymore.”
Now, let’s take a closer look at Shelby Blackstock’s life, his wife, and his career achievements.
He Grew Up in Nashville
Blackstock was born on February 23, 1990, in Nashville, Tennessee. He spent his early years there until the age of nine and later moved with his mother, Reba McEntire, to New York City. The family later relocated to Los Angeles.
Years later, Shelby settled in Cornelius, North Carolina, on Lake Norman.
Shelby Is a Former NASCAR Driver and Businessman
Shelby discovered his passion for racing while attending the University of Arizona in 2010.
After completing two semesters, the star kid trained at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and soon entered the Skip Barber competition, finishing fifth in the 2011 National Championship. That same year, Shelby made his professional debut in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, driving a Ford Mustang, and competed at Daytona’s Grand-Am 200.
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In 2012, Blackstock joined Andretti Autosport in the U.S. F2000 National Championship, finishing eighth in points. He moved up to the Pro Mazda Championship in 2013, placing third overall with one win and six podiums, and finished fourth the following year.
From 2015 to 2017, the avid racer raced in the Indy Lights series, earning two podiums at Mid-Ohio and a best season finish of eighth in 2016. His final Indy Lights race came in 2018 and placed second with Team Pelfrey.
Blackstock later competed in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2019, finishing fourth in the TCR class, and in 2020 won the GT World Challenge America Silver Cup in an Acura NSX with co-driver Trent Hindman.
Beyond racing, he has pursued multiple business ventures. He is the Principal and Co-Founder of B&R Developments LLC in Nashville, Tennessee, and serves as business development manager at Global Source Advisors, a distributor of healthcare products and services.
He also launched the outdoor clothing brand Hartland, though its activity ceased in 2021. Additionally, Shelby is said to be involved in real estate and investment projects.
He Married Marissa Branch in 2022
Blackstock married his wife, Marissa Branch, on February 12, 2022, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The fairytale ceremony took place in front of Cinderella Castle, with Reba McEntire, her boyfriend Rex Linn, and Shelby’s brother Brandon among the guests.
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The couple first connected on Tinder in 2014 but began dating two years later. Blackstock proposed on New Year’s Eve in 2020 at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
The couple does not have children at this time.
His Wife, Marissa, Is an Influencer
Branch was born in June 1992 in Florida and is believed to be a former medical professional. She is a licensed esthetician and has built a following as a social media influencer, with thousands of followers on Instagram.
On June 12, 2025, Branch celebrated her 33rd birthday on Instagram with the caption, “Sake to Me, I’m 33.”
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He Now Lives in Nashville with His Wife and Two Dogs
Blackstock currently resides in his hometown of Nashville with his better half, Marissa. Earlier in their relationship, the couple lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, before deciding it was time for a change. That shift also led Shelby to step back from racing and return home.
The couple has two dogs — Belle, a husky, and Watson, a corgi — who are part of nearly everything they do, from pumpkin patch visits and car rides to snowy days outside.
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Shelby Blackstock Has Earned a Modest Net Worth
Blackstock’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million, compared to his mother Reba McEntire’s $95 million fortune.
His earnings come from a mix of professional racing and his business ventures.
