Reba McEntire may be a country superstar without parallel, but her career in Nashville was almost cut short by a devastating tragedy 31 years ago.

In a new interview with People , McEntire reflected on the March 1991 plane crash that killed eight members of her band following a performance in San Diego, California. The three-time Grammy winner told the publication that she considered quitting the music industry for good after hearing the news that day.

I didnt know if I was going to be able to continue, she explained. But it showed me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place.

On the night of the accident, McEntire had elected to stay behind in California with her then-husband Narvel Blackstock to recover from a case of bronchitis, according to the Los Angeles Times . The rest of the singers crew, however, departed for Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they were slated to perform the following day.

Musicians Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Evans, Terry Jackson, Anthony Saputo, Michael Thomas and tour manager Jim Hammon were killed after the plane crashed into Otay Mountain, which is situated on the U.S.-Mexico border about 33 miles southeast of downtown San Diego. Pilot Donald Holms and co-pilot Chris Hollinger also died in the crash.