Reba McEntire Unveils ‘One Night in Tulsa’ at Oklahoma Bar Debut

On April 9, Reba McEntire debuted a new song titled “One Night in Tulsa” at her restaurant in Atoka, Oklahoma. The intimate performance took place inside Reba’s Place, where roughly 200 people filled the room.

The performance and crowd

McEntire stood close to fans in the front row. She introduced the new material and led the audience through the song’s first public outing. Overflow guests filled a second-floor standing area and gathered outside to hear a simulcast.

Staff at the restaurant paused to watch the surprise set. The atmosphere mixed hometown warmth with star-level excitement.

Ticket lottery and fan stories

In late March, Reba’s Place offered free tickets. Organizers received more than 35,000 entries from four eligible states: Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.

Just over 100 patrons were chosen to attend. A 25-ticket drawing also gave additional fans a chance to enter the room.

• Nine-year-old Mikayla Hoult and her father drove over 10 hours from Illinois without tickets. They waited and later met McEntire when her bus arrived.
• Amy Shelby drove two hours from Tuttle, Oklahoma, and pulled her daughter from school to try their luck. They got in by chance.

Atoka and Reba’s Place

Atoka sits about 50 miles northeast of the Texas-Oklahoma border. The town’s population is roughly 3,000.

U.S. Highway 69 sees about 30,000 cars on a typical weekday. Holiday traffic can climb to near 80,000 vehicles.

McEntire opened Reba’s Place in 2022, converting a restored century-old Masonic Temple. She has described the venue as a learning experience.

The space includes an antique bar, four old Coliseum seats on display, and walls lined with albums and photos. McEntire praised Chef Kurtess Mortensen for desserts such as banana pudding and strawberry cake.

Johnson, associated with the venue, estimated the restaurant draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. Across the street, Atoka Cola Soda Shop owner Cory Richards keeps a pinboard map. Over two years, visitors from every U.S. state pinned their hometowns. International guests added flags representing 53 countries.

Local memories and lore

Richards recalls meeting McEntire’s family and historic moments, including her 1977 shopping-center signing. The town now welcomes fans who stop in for sodas and candy while waiting for events.

Opening act and influence

Opening singer Jordan Rainer moved to Nashville after saving tips from a night-shift job. She auditioned for The Voice in 2023 and sang a song associated with McEntire.

Rainer described McEntire as a trailblazer for women in country music. The artist’s career continues to inspire younger performers.

What comes next

McEntire said she has fielded offers but has no plans to open additional restaurants. She framed Reba’s Place as a hometown project and part of her heritage.

She is preparing for the third season of the sitcom Happy’s Place. Her fiancé and co-star Rex Linn had a prior commitment and missed the Atoka performance. Several members of McEntire’s family attended the show.

Song origin and reception

McEntire discovered “One Night in Tulsa” after hearing a demo from a young songwriter. She connected with the material as an Oklahoma native and chose to unveil it at her bar debut.

The performance closed to a standing ovation. Attendees described the moment as a once-in-a-lifetime hometown reveal, blending Reba McEntire’s new music with her Atoka roots.