Culture

Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock Split After 26 Years of Marriage

Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire attend the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards at AT&T Stadium on April 19, 2015 in Arlington, Texas.
Larry Busacca/ACM2015/Getty Images

August 03, 2015, 10:18 PM

 -- Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock are ending their 26-year marriage.

In a joint statement on McEntire's website, the two revealed that they have been separated for the past few months.

"Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other," the statement read. "They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time."

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McEntire, 60, and Blackstock, 58, her manager, married in 1989. The next year, they welcomed a son, Shelby. Blackstock also has children from a previous marriage.

"We highly respect each other. We like each other. We love each other, but that respect has to be there. I respect his judgment, and he respects mine. We respect each other," she once told the Boot of their relationship. "I think that is one of the strongest things in a relationship. You have to have respect for each other."

Together, McEntire and Blackstock own Starstruck Entertainment, a talent management group that represents the likes of Blake Shelton. This was the second marriage for both.