Reba McEntire has a new addition to her family. Her son, Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock, and his wife, Marissa, announced that they are now parents.
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Reba McEntire Is a Grandmother Once Again
The Blackstocks announced the news yesterday, Oct. 21, on a series of Instagram Stories.
"After everything it took to get here, we finally get to call ourselves mom and dad," Shelby wrote alongside a picture of him and Marissa. "We've been taking these first few weeks just for us and there's nowhere else we'd rather be."
Shelby posted another picture of himself holding his child against his bare chest. His son was wrapped in a blanket and wearing a beanie. The child's name was written over the picture: Shelby Archer McEntire Blackstock.
"He had a rough first week, but at least he had the look down," his dad wrote.
Marissa also posted a picture of herself appearing to breastfeed the new arrival. The baby's nickname, "Archie," was written on the pic.
It Was a Long Journey to "Archie"
Late last year, Marissa and Shelby shared that they were expecting their first child after three years of trying.
The couple first attempted to add their family naturally. When those efforts were not successful, they began in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments last year, a process common for those struggling with infertility.
The IVF procedure, according to Mayo Clinic, involves collecting mature eggs from the ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab. Once fertilized, the eggs become embryos, which are then placed in the uterus, a process that can take several weeks.
Unfortunately, Marissa later revealed that the pregnancy ended in miscarriage.
"Our little boy... he arrived the day after my dad passed, two pink lines on Thanksgiving morning — something I had never seen before in three long years of trying," she wrote. "Biologically, time may not be on our side, but I'm not ready to set this dream down. Not now, not ever."
Then, in April, Marissa and Shelby announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first baby.
"Oh, BOY! We're beyond excited to FINALLY announce our little man is coming in October," they wrote. "See ya real soon, pal! Mommy + Daddy love you!
This is McEntire's first biological grandchild. She was married to Shelby's father, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015. Her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, died in August 2025. Brandon had two children with Kelly Clarkson, daughter River and son Remy.
