Reba McEntire’s Boyfriend Rex Linn Is ‘Very Special!’ Everything to Know About the Actor

He’s a Country Boy

Rex was born on November 13, 1956, to his mom, Darlene Linn, and dad, James Paul Linn. He grew up in Spearman, Texas, alongside his two siblings. By the time he was 13, Rex and his family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, so his father could practice law, according to reports.

He Didn’t Go Straight Into Acting

While he was living in Oklahoma City, Rex attended Casady School, an independent college-preparatory academy affiliated with the Episcopal Church. He also worked as a part-time employee at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Following his graduation from Oklahoma State University in 1980, the hunk worked his way up to the role of vice president of energy lending for Lakeshore Bank. He remained there until 1982.

He’s Best Known for ‘CSI: Miami’

Rex is best known for playing Frank Tripp in CSI: Miami from 2002 to 2012, but he’s also appeared in dozens of other TV shows and films throughout his career. His showbiz run kicked off in the early 1990s with roles in 1991’s My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, 1992’s Thunderheart and 1993’s Cliffhanger.

He later portrayed characters in 1997’s Breakdown, 1999’s Blast from the Past, 2001’s Ghosts of Mars and many more. Rex most recently appeared in 2023’s Big Sky.

He’s a Duck-Calling Champion

According to the Oklahoman, Rex is the former chairman of the Oklahoma City chapter of Ducks Unlimited, which was an annual fundraising banquet event in the 80s. In 1986, Rex won the state duck-calling competition. He also came fourth in the national competition.

He Was Previously Engaged

Because Rex is extremely private about his personal life, he’s never disclosed whether he’s been married before. However, multiples outlets reported he was previously engaged to Renee DeRese in 2010.

Reba and Rex Were Involved in a Scary Incident

The lovebirds experienced a terrifying situation when a staircase inside a building they were in collapsed in Atoka, Oklahoma, in September 2021. The singer and actor were rescued by the local fire department, Reba’s rep confirmed to Closer.

“While my team and I were in Atoka, OK, checking out an old historical building, a staircase collapsed. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured,” the rep said in a statement on her behalf at the time. “We were safely evacuated from the building thanks to the quick response from the Atoka fire and police departments.”

According to video footage obtained at the scene and shared on Twitter, Reba, as well as Rex and others, evacuated by climbing down a ladder. Atoka Emergency Management Director Travis Mullins told local news channel KXII that Reba was treated on the scene by paramedics and was doing OK, and only one person was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

He Attends Award Shows With Reba

The pair seriously age backward! Rex and Reba were glowing at the 2022 CMA Awards. 

Reba Is Head Over Heels for Him!

Reba is very willing to walk down the aisle with her beau in the future.

“He’s the love of my life,” she gushed. “We’ve talked about [getting married] and giggled about it. We thought, ‘Man, if we ever did have a ceremony, we would have to have a 2 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 6 o’clock and an 8 o’clock because we have so many friends, acquaintances and family.”

“I said, ‘If you want to, that’s fine with me.’ I’ve been married twice. He’s never been married. So if he wants to, that’s totally up to him,” she further explained.