Reba McEntire’s Unforgettable Act of Kindness for Conway Twitty’s Family
The kindness of Reba McEntire has never been forgotten by Conway Twitty’s family. On the day the country legend died, Reba went far beyond what anyone could have expected to make sure his loved ones got the chance to say goodbye.
Conway Twitty passed away on June 5, 1993, after collapsing on his tour bus near Springfield, Missouri. His children were in Nashville at the time, with no quick way to reach him. The news from the hospital was grim. In a recent Facebook post, grandson Tre Twitty recalled what happened next — a story he had kept to himself for 26 years until he finally met Reba in person and could thank her.
Tre shared that in the middle of the night, his father Michael Twitty called Reba to explain the urgent situation. Without hesitation, Reba responded:
“Go to the airport, my plane is waiting. Take it as long as you need it. I’ll call my pilot now.”
Michael did exactly that. He and Conway’s other children — Joni, Kathy, and Jimmy — raced to the airport, flew to Springfield, and made it in time to say their final goodbyes. Afterward, they returned home on Reba’s plane.
A few days later, Michael called Reba to ask how much they owed her for the use of her plane. Her reply spoke volumes about her loyalty and love for Conway:
“Your daddy took me on tour and gave me $5,000 a night when I wasn’t worth $500. You don’t owe me anything. I loved him.”
For Tre Twitty, finally meeting Reba and thanking her was a long-awaited moment. “I’ve been waiting for 26 years to meet this wonderful lady and tell her thank you,” he said.
Today, Tre tours alongside Tayla Lynn, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn, in a show called A Salute to Conway and Loretta. As Tayla jokingly says, “Memaw’s not dead yet, so it’s not a tribute show.”
For the Twitty family, though, Reba McEntire’s selfless gesture on that heartbreaking day in 1993 remains one of the most cherished acts of kindness they’ve ever experienced — a reminder that true friendships in country music run deeper than fame and time.