Country superstar Reba McEntire is on the brink of a professional resurgence once again, but she recently considered quitting music for good after a very personal loss.

Appearing on NBCs Today Tuesday, McEntire said she questioned her future as a singer in the weeks after her mother, Jacqueline Smith, died of cancer in March 2020.

The star and her sister Susie were cleaning out the house, and I was going through pictures, McEntire explained. I said, I just dont think Im gonna do this anymore. She said, What? I said, Sing. She said, Why? I said, I said, Cause I always did it for Mama.

It was clear throughout the interview that McEntire is still grieving Smiths death. As co-host Hoda Kotb pointed out, the singer glanced away as photos of her mother were displayed on the Today studios screens.

I cant talk if I see Mama, McEntire said.