Charlie Battles was an American rodeo cowboy, steer wrestler, and rancher best known as the first husband of country singer Reba McEntire. The couple married in 1976 and divorced in 1987 after 11 years together.
Charlie had two sons, Lance and Coty, from an earlier marriage. He later married Donna Granger and continued his life in ranching and rodeo. He died in 2013 after dealing with health problems following a stroke.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Charlie Battles |
| Full name | Reported as Charles Warner Battles |
| Born | 1945 |
| Reported birthday | March 9, 1945 |
| Birthplace | Oklahoma, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rodeo cowboy, steer wrestler, rancher |
| Military service | Reportedly served in the U.S. Army |
| Known for | Rodeo career and being Reba McEntire’s first husband |
| First wife | Reportedly Sherrie |
| Second wife | Reba McEntire |
| Later wife | Donna Granger |
| Children | Lance Battles and Coty Battles |
| Marriage to Reba | 1976–1987 |
| Died | 2013 |
| Reported age at death | 68 |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Charlie Battles’ Early Life
Charlie Battles was born in 1945 in Oklahoma. One source gives his full name as Charles Warner Battles and his date of birth as March 9, 1945.
His exact birthplace is less certain. One report lists Tulsa, Oklahoma, while other available information simply connects his birth and early life with Oklahoma.
His parents have been reported as Earl Warner Battles and Ocey Irene Donaho.
Information about his siblings is not widely available.
His Education and Military Service
Charlie’s formal education is not clearly documented. No reliable school, college, or degree has been identified.
One report says he served in the United States Army as a specialist in armored intelligence before returning to Oklahoma.
His military service is not described in detail in the available sources.
Charlie Battles’ Rodeo Career
Charlie built his career around rodeo, particularly steer wrestling, also known as bulldogging.
He competed in rodeo events around the United States and became known as a successful steer wrestler.
Several secondary sources describe him as a multiple-time rodeo champion. However, they disagree about the exact years of his championship wins.
One source lists championships in 1968, 1970, and 1971. Another lists International Rodeo Association steer wrestling titles in 1970, 1972, and 1973.
Because these dates conflict, his exact championship record should be treated with caution.
One report also says Charlie earned a place at the 1974 PRCA National Finals.
His Life as a Rancher
Ranching remained an important part of Charlie’s life alongside rodeo.
He worked with cattle and continued his connection to the rodeo industry after his competitive years.
One report says he bought a ranch in Stringtown, Oklahoma, in 1993 and started the Charlie Battles Battles PRCA Rodeo Livestock Company.
Public information about the later operation of the company is limited.
Charlie’s First Marriage and Children
Before marrying Reba McEntire, Charlie had already been married.
One source identifies his first wife as Sherrie and says they married in 1966. Their marriage later ended in divorce.
Charlie had two sons from this earlier relationship:
- Lance Battles
- Coty Battles
Very little is publicly known about Lance.
Coty reportedly followed his father into steer wrestling before later becoming a rancher.
Marriage to Reba McEntire
Charlie married Reba McEntire in 1976.
Reba was about 21 at the time, while Charlie was about 31, giving them an age difference of roughly 10 years.
Their shared connection to ranching, horses, and rodeo was an important part of their life together.
Charlie Battles was already a father when they married, and Reba became stepmother to Lance and Coty.
Charlie and Reba did not have biological children together.
Reba Was Close to Charlie’s Sons
Reba continued to consider Charlie’s sons an important part of her family even after the marriage ended.
She reportedly remained close to both Lance and Coty.
Coty was involved in steer wrestling like his father and later worked as a rancher. Much less information is publicly available about Lance’s adult life.
Why Charlie and Reba Divorced
As Reba’s music career grew, her work required more of her time.
According to Reba, Charlie wanted her to slow down professionally. She chose to continue building her music career.
Reba later described the situation simply by saying that she believed she had chosen her career over her marriage.
After about 11 years together, Charlie and Reba divorced in 1987.
Reba’s The Last One to Know Album
Reba released The Last One to Know on September 7, 1987, during the period surrounding her divorce.
The album has often been connected with the emotions she experienced during the end of her marriage. One account says she dedicated it to Charlie.
Songs discussed in connection with the album include What You Gonna Do About Me and The Stairs.
Not every song on the album should be treated as a direct account of Charlie and Reba’s relationship.
Who Is Reba McEntire?
Reba McEntire is an American country singer, actress, and television personality.
She was born in 1955 in Oklahoma and grew up on a cattle ranch. Before focusing on music, she was interested in horses and barrel racing.
In 1974, while studying at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Reba sang at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.
Country singer Red Steagall heard her perform and helped her connect with the music industry. She later signed with Polygram Mercury and developed a successful country music career.
Reba married Narvel Blackstock in 1989, two years after her divorce from Charlie. They had one biological son, Shelby Blackstock, and Reba also became stepmother to Narvel’s children.
Charlie Battles’ Later Wife
Charlie Battles also found another relationship after his divorce from Reba.
He reportedly married Donna Granger, also known as Donna Battles.
Donna remained with Charlie during the later years of his life and was reportedly still his wife when he died.
Charlie’s Stroke and Health Problems
Charlie reportedly suffered a serious stroke in 2006.
His health declined afterward, and reports say he experienced long-term complications from the stroke.
He also suffered from heart problems later in life.
When Did Charlie Battles Die?
Charlie Battles died in 2013.
One source gives his exact death date as April 21, 2013, which would make him 68 years old.
His death has been linked to heart failure and complications from his earlier stroke.
One secondary source says he was buried in Sulphur, Louisiana, although this detail is not confirmed across the other available sources.
Charlie Battles’ Net Worth
Charlie’s personal net worth was not reliably documented.
One secondary source estimates that he was worth around $3 million at the time of his death, based on his rodeo, ranching, and livestock work. However, there is no strong financial evidence supporting that figure.
Social Media
Charlie was not known for maintaining a public social media presence.
Much of his life and career took place before social media became a major part of public life.
Interesting Facts
- Charlie Battles was born in Oklahoma in 1945.
- His full name has been reported as Charles Warner Battles.
- March 9, 1945, is reported as his birthday.
- His parents have been identified as Earl Warner Battles and Ocey Irene Donaho.
- He reportedly served in the U.S. Army.
- Charlie Battles competed professionally in steer wrestling.
- He has been described as a multiple-time rodeo champion.
- Sources disagree about his exact championship years.
- He also worked as a cattle rancher.
- Charlie had two sons, Lance and Coty Battles.
- His first wife has been identified as Sherrie.
- He married Reba McEntire in 1976.
- Charlie was about 10 years older than Reba.
- Reba became stepmother to Lance and Coty.
- Charlie and Reba had no biological children together.
- Their marriage ended in 1987.
- Reba later said her growing career played a role in their divorce.
- Charlie later married Donna Granger.
- He suffered a stroke in 2006.
- Charlie died in 2013 at a reported age of 68.
- His net worth was not reliably documented.
Explore More:
