The lights went down. The crowd hushed. Reba McEntire stood alone on the ACM stage—still, quiet, strong. She didn’t sing right away. Her voice caught a bit as she looked out, then she said, “This is for anyone who’s ever been called a country bumpkin… ever been laughed at just for being real.” Then came the first twang of “Okie from Muskogee.” The room went still. No noise, no movement—just Reba, singing for every small-town soul who never felt seen. It wasn’t just a song. It was a moment. For every grandpa in overalls, every hard-working mama, every kid who never fit in—it was theirs. No glitter. No flash. Just truth. As the chorus rose, so did hands and tears. Reba didn’t just start the show—she lit a fire in people’s hearts. For a few minutes, it wasn’t an awards show. It was a homecoming…