Reba McEntire knows what it’s like to go through tough times. In 1991, something really sad happened to her. While she was performing at a big event in San Diego, a plane crash happened after the show. Her tour manager and seven band members, who were like family to her, died in the crash.
The crash happened on March 16, 1991, right after Reba and her band gave an amazing performance.
After the show, some of the band members were supposed to fly to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the next concert. Reba, her husband Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist Sandi Spika stayed in San Diego for the night. They didn’t get on the plane that crashed.
In 2012, Reba McEntire talked about what happened in a sad interview with Oprah Winfrey. The second plane that took off safely reached its destination.
But sadly, the first plane crashed only ten miles away from the airport. This crash changed the lives of the people left behind forever.
Reba told Oprah that the first plane crashed into a boulder on the edge of Otay Mountain, and everyone on board died. When they heard the news, Reba’s husband Narvel talked to their pilot.
Narvel came back to the hotel room late at night, around two or three in the morning, where Reba was waiting. The tragedy made the atmosphere heavy. Narvel told Reba that one of the planes crashed.
Reba asked about their friends, hoping they were okay. But Narvel’s answer made her lose hope. He said, “I don’t think so,” which made them both feel unsure.
Reba and Narvel wanted to know all the details about what happened to their loved ones. Reba’s voice shook with real sadness as she talked about how Narvel looked for answers on the phone. She said, “It’s been 20 years, but the sadness never really goes away.” Reba remembered how Narvel paced around, feeling really sad.
Reba found comfort in her close friends, like Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. After the tragedy, they offered to help finish the tour, but Reba said no.
Instead, she focused on healing herself. She poured her heart into her next album, “For My Broken Heart.” It was a way to remember her lost friends and show her love for them.
The album did really well. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold four million copies.
Every year, Reba McEntire remembers the people who died in a sad incident. She uses social media to keep their memory alive. In 2014, she made a special post on Instagram to remember the anniversary of the crash.
Then, in 2016, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, Reba went to San Diego, a place that was important to her because of what happened. She shared this important journey on social media with her fans, so they could see how she was doing.
Reba wrote a heartfelt message herself. She said, “Today is the 25th anniversary of the plane crash. I went back to San Diego in November and took a helicopter to the crash site. I felt like the people who died knew how much we miss them. I send my condolences and prayers to all the families and friends affected by this tragedy.”
World’s Most Jaw-Dropping ‘Man-aconda’ Discovery Will Leave You Speechless!
The animal world is full of surprises, with some creatures being more eye-catching than others because of their strange looks or unusual nature.
When I first saw a picture of this weird “penis snake,” I thought it was a joke. But, to my surprise, it turned out to be a real animal. So, let’s dive into the story behind the viral image that has left thousands of people in shock.
Throughout history, anything shaped like a phallus has grabbed attention and sparked curiosity. A few years ago, images of a strange-looking creature started making the rounds online, leaving many people scratching their heads in disbelief.
With its unique appearance, this mysterious animal quickly earned nicknames like the “penis snake,” “blind snake,” or the “man-aconda.”
But no, it’s not what you think.
Even though it looks a lot like a snake, this creature is actually called *Atretochoana eiselti*. It’s not a snake at all, but an amphibian, more closely related to a salamander. It’s also the largest known lungless tetrapod, which means it breathes through its skin instead of lungs.
This rare animal lives in the waters of the Amazon in Brazil and was hard to find for a long time. It was first discovered by Sir Graham Hales during an expedition with Sir Brian Doll in the late 1800s.
However, it wasn’t officially described until 1968. After more research, scientists reclassified it in 1996, giving it its own unique genus, *Atretochoana*.
In 2011, this species was rediscovered in the Amazon region. It lives only in the Amazon River and its largest tributary, the Madeira River in Brazil. The “penis snake” has only been found in this area and nowhere else in the world.
The viral pictures that blew up the internet a few years ago actually came from 2011. That’s when a whole family of these phallic-shaped creatures was found at the bottom of the Madeira River in Brazil. They were discovered when the river was drained during work on a hydroelectric dam.
Julian Tupan, a biologist working with the Santo Antonio Energy company on the dam, explained that not much is known about these lungless, limbless amphibians.
“Out of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild, and two were kept for study,” he told *Estadao*, according to the U.K.’s *The Sun*.
Tupan pointed out that these “snakes” aren’t dangerous and are unlikely to show any aggressive behavior.
“Even though they look like snakes, they’re not reptiles; they’re more closely related to salamanders and frogs. We think the animal breathes through its skin and probably eats small fish and worms, but that hasn’t been proven yet.
“The Amazon is full of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There’s still a lot more to discover.”
According to a paper published in the Brazilian scientific journal *Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi: Ciências Naturais*, one of these creatures found in the riverbed was photographed extensively. Some of the animals were released back into the Madeira River, while others were sent to the Emilio Goeldi Paraense Museum in Belem, Brazil.
The most popular photo, which Julian Tupan shared on Instagram, shows an adult female *A. eiselti* that’s just under 40 inches long.
Even though these creatures are fascinating, there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. One mystery that puzzles researchers is their diet. Scientists think these phallic-shaped animals might eat small fish, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Another mystery about these creatures is how they breathe, as scientists haven’t confirmed the method yet. When the six specimens were discovered in 2011, it made things even more puzzling. What’s especially interesting is where they were found— in cold, fast-flowing water with limited oxygen. Since warmer water holds less oxygen, their ability to live without lungs is even more remarkable.
Based on these findings, scientists believe this species might be widespread across the Brazilian Amazon and could even extend into Bolivia.
Nature constantly surprises us with its endless wonders. From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains, the natural world is full of amazing things waiting to be discovered.
Share this incredible story on Facebook with your friends and family to spark their curiosity and get them talking about the wonders of nature!
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