(writers: Doug Gilmore, Bob Simon & Jim Allison)
Con Hunley (#48, 1986)
Reba McEntire (#1, 1987)
On
October 14, 1986, Reba McEntire picked up country music’s ultimate
prize: the Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” award.
Even as a youngster, Reba coveted CMA trophies. She used to practice
acceptance speeches when she went to bed at night.
Naturally, she
was moved by her victory and took out an ad in Billboard Magazine with a
pledge: “Whenever I can get a foot in the door for country music, my
boot will be there for all of us….we will do our best to carry the
banner for country music.”
As country’s reigning queen, Reba
first carried the flag with “What Am I Gonna Do About You,” a single
that debuted on Billboard’s country chart two days before the CMA
bestowed its honor. She had first considered the song for her “Whoever’s
In New England” album, but was uncertain about it and held it back. As
plans were being made for a new album several months later, “What Am I
Gonna Do About You” came around again and this time Reba was on board.
McEntire
felt that she had passed on the song earlier because of the mood she
was in at the time. Realizing that “What Am I Gonna Do About You” had
potential and knowing she would be in a different frame of mind another
day, Reba kept the song to reconsider later.
Reba listened again
to “What Am I Gonna Do About You” on her bus during a concert tour and
two band members, Leigh Reynolds and Narvel Blackstock, overheard the
tape and confirmed their beliefs that the song was a hit, even
recommending that it become the new album’s title track.
“What Am
I Gonna Do About You” ranked among Reba’s most adventurous performances
to that point, filling it with more vocal embellishments – passing
notes, grace notes and “curlicues” – than on any other prior single.
Often criticized (even by her producer Jimmy Bowen) for getting too
carried away with the curlicues, Reba countered by pointing out her long
list of number one hits and saying that if the fans liked what she was
doing, that was good enough for her. A sensible argument.
“What
Am I Gonna Do About You” topped out at number one on Billboard’s country
singles chart January 17, 1987, marking Reba’s eighth of 25 career
chart-toppers, the most of any female artist. Dolly Parton comes in
second with 24 and Tammy Wynette had 20.
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