It's been one of the most talked-about tales in recent country music history: Reba McEntire was originally slated to appear in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, as Molly Brown, before declining the role when it became apparent that film production would extend beyond its schedule date. But McEntire says the real story isn't exactly the way it has been portrayed all these years.

"I turned it down because they kept moving my schedule, and we had arenas booked," McEntire tells Taste of Country. "And then I had 75 people on payroll out there, and we were doing concerts, concerts, concerts, three or four a weekend. And they would say, 'Okay, we need you for these three months.' We said, 'Okay.'

"We were pretty much telling everybody, 'We're just gonna be gone these three months,'" she continues. "And then they'd say, 'Oh, not these three months, these three months. The arenas were getting booked up, and we were promoting ourselves and our own shows. And so finally, I just had to say, 'Guys, this is not working,' and I pulled out."

Watch the entire video above -- part of Taste of Country's Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? series -- to learn more (possibly surprising) truths about McEntire's life and career, including new revelations about her family life and her auspicious beginnings, and the real reason behind dropping her last name for professional reasons.

Reba McEntire Through the Years

Test Your Reba McEntire Knowledge!

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