The figures from left to right are Elisa Gayle Ritter and Reba McEntire
You probably raised your eyebrows when the photo search results of Elisa Gayle Ritter showed a bunch of Reba McEntire photos. Some people even assume they’re actual lookalikes. The truth is, it was just a search engine hiccup that caused the confusion.
Elisa Gayle Ritter and Reba McEntire have one thing in common, though: an ex-husband. Both women were married to famous TV producer, Narvel Blackstock.
So read on to find out who Elisa Gayle Ritter truly is, and the other famous connections she has in her life.
Elisa Gayle Ritter’s Biography, Relationships, and Net Worth
Elisa Gayle Ritter was born on January 6, 1956. Not much is known about her life before meeting and marrying Narvel Blackstock, whom she met in 1971. The couple was quickly engaged and married on March 30, 1973.
In October of the same year, they welcomed their first daughter, Shawna Rene (married name: Reed). Then on December 16, 1976, they had their only son, Narvel Brandon Blackstock, who goes by Brandon.
A couple of years later, in 1978, they welcomed their third child: a daughter called Chassidy Celeste (married name: Standefer).
Elisa and Narvel Blackstock were based in Tarrant County, TX, for the duration of their marriage. They remained married to each other until March 31, 1988, when their divorce was finalized.
Narvel had worked as a steel guitarist for Reba McEntire’s band and started an affair with her, effectively ending his marriage with Elisa.
Elisa didn’t remain single for long, marrying Daniel Gilbert the following year in August 1989. They have a daughter, Shayla, who still lives with the family in Big Piney, WY.
Through her son, Brandon, Elisa became mother-in-law to the famous singer, Kelly Clarkson, whom he married in 2013. The couple divorced in 2021, but their union produced two children: River Rose Blackstock and Remington Alexander Blackstock.
During both of her marriages, Elisa Ritter took her husband’s last name, so records of her being referred to as Elisa Blackstock and Elisa Gilbert are available. She also went with the first name “Lisa” for some time.
Her net worth has been rumored to be in the millions. However, since she divorced Narvel Blackstock before he became super-rich, and hasn’t had a big presence in the entertainment industry, it’s highly unlikely.
Who’s Elisa Gayle Ritter’s Ex-Husband, Narvel Blackstock?
Narvel Blackstock is an American music producer and talent manager who also dabbled in acting. He was born in Tarrant County, TX, on August 31, 1956, to Narvel Leroy Blackstock and Gloria Blackstock.
He met and married Elisa Gayle Ritter when both of them were still teenagers. 15 years and three children later, they finalized their divorce in 1988. He went on to marry Reba McEntire in the same year.
He had first met Reba in 1980 when he played steel guitar for her band. The pair started out as friends, but soon their relationship progressed. At the time, she was married to Charles Battles, a wrestler who had won local championships.
Reba’s relationship with her ex-husband, Charlie, deteriorated due to his attitude toward her fame. She filed for divorce in 1987, after 11 years of marriage.
In the meantime, Narvel Blackstock was growing apart from his family with Elisa Ritter due to his absence while on tour with Reba’s band.
Soon after they divorced, Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire remarried. They got married in a private ceremony in Lake Tahoe, CA. The couple welcomed their son, Shelby McEntire Blackstock, in 1990.
After 26 years of marriage, Narvel Blackstock filed for divorce from Reba McEntire in 2015. The divorce was finalized on October 28, as she later said on her Facebook account.
On the business side of things, in 1988, Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire built a company called Starstruck Entertainment. It managed Reba’s business affairs until the couple divorced in 2015.
The company currently represents top country artists like Blake Shelton, Maggie Rose, Caroline Kole, Emily Ann Roberts, and Pryor Baird.
Following the divorce, Reba went on to date actor Rex Linn, and Narvel Blackstock moved on with real estate agent, Laura Putty Stroud, who was one of their mutual friends.
Conclusion
Elisa Gayle Ritter has had her share of celebrity relationships, thanks to her ex-husband, Narvel Blackstock, who’s been in the entertainment industry for over four decades. Not to mention her son, Brandon, who married and divorced the superstar singer, Kelly Clarkson.
She seems to enjoy her life away from the limelight, though. That’s why she was confused with Reba McEntire when search engines didn’t find any pictures of her, instead showing Reba’s photos with their shared ex-husband, Narvel.
Other than her famous ex-husband and her son’s famous ex-wife, her family isn’t much of a showbiz family. She currently enjoys a quiet life in Wyoming with her husband, Daniel Gilbert, and her daughter from her second marriage, Shayla.
