Month: June 2020

Reba McEntire

Bill Thompson

Reba McEntire recorded her first song in 1976, when she was just 21.

Photo: Gage Skidmore

Her first number one record didn’t come for another decade, but she’s been on a roll ever since, and today is a country music icon.

In 1994, Reba wrote an autobiography, and that;s when I met her.

And yes, it was another one of those times that I was pretty starstruck. But she immediately put me at ease.

And that day, I also brought my 11- and 13-year-old daughters and my wife to meet one of our favorite performers. In fact, at one point in this interview, you’ll hear a brief exchange between Reba and my wife.

And after we listen to the interview, stick around — I have to tell you one of my favorite celebrity stories.

So here now, from 1994, Reba McEntire.

Reba McEntire’s most recent album, “Stronger Than the Truth,: was released last year.

And she recently guest starred on TV’s “Young Sheldon.”

Her own TV show, “Reba,” is still seen in syndication.

Dave Pallone

Bill Thompson

A little bit of backstory: in 1979 major league baseball umpires went on strike. MLB hired substitutes — scabs, as m,any call them — and veteran minor league umpire Dave Pallone was offered a big-league job.

He remained in the National League for ten years.

But as he told in his 1990 book “Behind the Mask,” his fellow umpires disliked him. And he developed a reputation for being quick-tempered.

In April 1988, Pallone had a very high-profile confrontation with someone else who had a reputation for his temper: Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose. During an argument over a controversial call, Rose shoved Pallone — a very serious offense in baseball — and was suspended for 30 days.

Dave Pallone was forced to resign from baseball in September 1988.

I met him two years later, when he published his book.

Here now, from 1990, Dave Pallone.

“Behind the Mask” was a New York Times best-seller

Dave Pallone is 68 now, and does diversity training for corporations, as well as NCAA colleges, universities and athletes.

And he’s in the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

Stephenie Meyer

Bill Thompson

When I was a kid, all my friends and I were into The Twilight Zone, the Rod Serling TV series.

Photo: Gage Skidmore

But in the later 2000s, another “twilight” captured the world’s imagination: the “Twilight” series of novels by Stephenie Meyer.

Four, in all, chronicling the stories of teenager Bella, vampire Edward. and werewolf Jacob.

The third book in the series, “Eclipse,” was published in 2007. And that’s when I met the author — who, as you’ll hear, was still getting accustomed to the fact she had become more popular, book-sales-wise, than J.K. Rowling.

Here now, from 2007, Stephenie Meyer.

Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” books have been turned into popular movies. And her books continue to sell tens of millions of copies worldwide.