Charlie Battles joined the US Army at age 17 in 1962 and completed military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before serving his three-year enlistment overseas as an Armor Intelligence Specialist in Germany.
After marrying Sherrie and having two sons with her – Lance and Coty – he began participating in rodeo events and eventually earned himself the distinction of an International Rodeo Association steer wrestler championship title.
He was married to Reba McEntire.
Reba McEntire and Charlie Battles were married for eleven years without having children together, yet according to her autobiography Reba: My Story, she revealed him to be jealous and greedy, making her feel excluded from his life and those of his two sons from previous relationships, taking money without permission, taking from her purse without authorization, etc. They decided to divorce in 1987 due to these actions from Charlie Battles.
Reba and Charlie met at one of Charlie’s rodeo events and fell instantly in love, both being avid rodeo fans who admired each other as steer wrestlers. Even though Reba was ten years older than her new partner, shortly after that, their arguments over financial matters and careers started heating up quickly.
After their marriage, Reba’s career quickly blossomed, leading her to travel regularly for work. However, Charlie felt as though her success had come at the cost of their marriage, and too much time was being spent away from home.
He was controlling and domineering, refusing to allow her to have any children. She became tired of his infuriating ways and decided to end the marriage. He would often take money without her permission and criticize her appearance; his rising anger eventually drove her away and caused them to divorce in 1987; she left Oklahoma behind and moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
Though their marriage ended in divorce, both Reba and Charlie found new love after that. Reba married Narvel Blackstock in 1989 before divorcing him in 2015. Reba then married Donna Granger; unfortunately, Donna passed away three years later at age 64. Charlie Battles suffered a stroke that crippled his body in 2006 before passing away five years later at 68.
Reba McEntire’s marriage to Charlie Battles may have ended in divorce, yet her legacy stands as an inspirational testimony to perseverance and following dreams. Her journey through fame, heartache, and resilience serves as an example for many fans; her enduring spirit and tireless dedication have made her one of country music’s beloved icons.
He was married to Sherrie Battles.
Sherrie Battles first met Charlie Battles when she was 16 and attended one of his rodeo events in 1971 as a 16-year-old country singer. Though ten years older and already with two sons from his first marriage, Sherrie was so entranced with him that she asked him to leave his wife and be with her instead. Three years later, they met again at a bar where they began talking seriously about a relationship, which quickly blossomed into marriage before moving in together in Stringtown, Oklahoma, shortly after that.
At first, their marriage flourished for 11 years until 1987, when it started to disintegrate due to Reba’s career taking off and her constant traveling. Charlie felt as though Reba put her career before him, so he withdrew all his money from their joint account in an effort to convince her otherwise.
Charlie was an accomplished steer wrestler and rancher, as well as managing artists successfully. His generosity extended to giving to charities and other causes; additionally, he attended church regularly.
He died at 68 in 2013 following heart failure and stroke, his obituary published by Dignity Memorial listing his parents, sons Lance and Coty as survivors.
Charles Warner Battles was born and raised in Oklahoma before answering “Uncle Sam’s call” by joining the US Army in 1962 at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for training purposes before being deployed as an armor intelligence specialist overseas to Germany in 1965.
Once he left the army, he returned to Oklahoma and pursued steer wrestling as an avid hobby. For years, he was the champion of his sport. Thanks to multiple streams of income, he led an extravagant lifestyle, owning numerous ranches and boasting an extensive luxury car collection while hunting and fishing were among his hobbies.
He was married to Donna Granger.
Charlie Battles married Donna Granger following his divorce from Reba McEntire. Their 11-year union, but without children, was marked by closeness between both parties and an abundance of adventures together on their ranch in Texas.
Battles first met McEntire at one of his rodeo events in 1971, and she fell instantly in love. Although there was a 10-year age difference between them, they began dating shortly after that.
They wed in 1976 and relocated to Stringtown, Oklahoma. While together, they lived with his two sons from his previous relationship as well. Unfortunately, Reba felt neglected during this period; therefore, she wrote her autobiography, Reba: My Story.
Although she enjoyed great success as a singer, she never felt content in her marriage to Charlie. He wasn’t supportive, taking money without permission and failing to give enough attention; eventually, she left him in 1987.
After his divorce from Reba, Charlie went on to enjoy an incredibly successful career as a rancher and steer wrestler – winning three consecutive championship titles! Charlie enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, and golf before succumbing to complications related to stroke and heart failure in 2013. He died at Sulphur Liaison later that same year.
Charlie Battles wasn’t best known for acting or singing; instead, he was an avid sports fan, skilled bull rider, horse breeder, nature enthusiast, and car collector, and he had an affinity for classic automobiles – among many other hobbies and interests. After his divorce from Reba, he lived a whole and happy life before being laid to rest in Sulphur, Louisiana.
He died in 2013
After his military duty ended, Charlie Battles turned his focus toward ranching cattle and rodeo steer wrestling, an event at which he excelled and won three consecutive rodeo championships until he died in 2013. Additionally, Charlie ventured into business, possibly due to managing Reba’s financial assets during their marriage, thus founding Charlie Battles PRCA Rodeo Livestock Company in Texas.
Charlie was not always successful, but he was undoubtedly hardworking. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, his passion for cowboying and rodeo became second nature to him. Charlie answered, “Uncle Simon’s Call,” joining the army shortly after that for soldier training before serving overseas for ten months as an armor intelligence specialist stationed in Germany until retiring back home to Oklahoma at 65.
He met Reba in 1974 and married her the following year despite their 10-year age difference, and they made the perfect pair. Together, they raised two children, Lance and Coty, while living on a ranch near Stringtown in Oklahoma – their marriage lasting eleven years.
As their fame increased, however, their relationship became complicated. Reba notes in her memoir Reba My Story how Charlie’s love and support turned to jealousy and possessiveness; according to Reba, he would get all her wages before even taking it from her purse!
After his divorce from Donna Granger in 1998, Charlie Battles remarried her the following year and was content until 2006, when he suffered a debilitating stroke that ultimately resulted in his death from complications related to both heart failure and the stroke itself. Charlie Battles was laid to rest at Sulphur Cemetery at age 68 years.
