Studio Album · No. 4

Rumor Has It Songwriting Credits by Reba McEntire

1990 MCA Records 10 tracks 38 min

Produced by Tony Brown, Reba McEntire  ·  Engineered by John Guess, Marty Williams, Milan Bogdan, Glenn Meadows

MCA Records Country
10%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 1 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 1 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Reba McEntire carries a lyricist or composer credit.

10%
1 trackwritten by Reba McEntire 9 tracksoutside writers
Reba McEntire's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist10%
Composer10%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
17
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1990
Released
Data Insight

Rumor Has It is a singer's album, not a writer's. McEntire is the interpreter throughout, and her name appears in the writing credits only once, sharing 'Climb That Mountain High' with Don Schlitz. Every other song comes from outside writers, most notably 'Fancy,' written and originally recorded by Bobbie Gentry, whose legal name is Roberta Lee Streeter. The composer column therefore carries the songwriters' names, with McEntire credited as a performer and co-producer rather than as an author, the pattern that defines her catalog.

Rumor Has It is the fifteenth studio album by Reba McEntire, released on September 4, 1990 on MCA Records and co-produced by Tony Brown and McEntire. As an interpreter rather than a writer, McEntire built the record from outside songs, taking a single co-writing credit on the opener 'Climb That Mountain High' with Don Schlitz. Its centerpiece is her signature reading of 'Fancy,' a cover of the 1969 song written and first recorded by Bobbie Gentry, which became one of her most identified performances. The album also carried the number-one country hit 'You Lie' and the top-three title track 'Rumor Has It,' backed by a Nashville session band featuring Dann Huff, Michael Rhodes, and backing vocals from Vince Gill. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA and stands among the biggest sellers of her career.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Climb That Mountain High
Don SchlitzReba McEntire Don SchlitzReba Nell McEntire Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
2
Rumor Has It #3
Bruce BurchVern DantLarry Shell Bruce BurchVern DantLarry Shell Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
3
Waitin' for the Deal to Go Down
Bobby FischerAustin RobertsCharlie Black Bobby FischerAustin RobertsCharles Black Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
4
You Lie #1
Bobby FischerAustin RobertsCharlie Black Bobby FischerAustin RobertsCharles Black Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
5
Now You Tell Me
Donny KeesShawna Harrington-Burkhart Donny KeesShawna Harrington-Burkhart Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
6
Fancy #8
Bobbie Gentry Roberta Lee Streeter Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)Vince Gill (Backing Vocals)
7
Fallin' Out of Love #2
Jon Ims Jon Ims Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
8
This Picture
S. Alan TaylorLisa Palas S. Alan TaylorLisa Palas Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
9
You Remember Me
Jesse Winchester James Ridout Winchester Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)
10
That's All She Wrote
Joe SchemayJohn Hobbs Joe SchemayJohn Hobbs Tony BrownReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Steve Gibson (Guitar)Dann Huff (Electric Guitar)Michael Rhodes (Bass)Larrie Londin (Drums)Matt Rollings (Keyboards)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 28 contributors

AR
Austin Roberts
Writer
On this album2 written
BF
Bobby Fischer
Writer
On this album2 written
CB
Charles Black
Writer
On this album2 written
CB
Charlie Black
Writer
On this album2 written
RM
Reba McEntire
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album1 written
BG
Bobbie Gentry
Writer
On this album1 written
BB
Bruce Burch
Writer
On this album1 written
DS
Don Schlitz
Writer
On this album1 written
DK
Donny Kees
Writer
On this album1 written
JR
James Ridout Winchester
Writer
On this album1 written
JW
Jesse Winchester
Writer
On this album1 written
JS
Joe Schemay
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Reba McEntire

1984 0%
My Kind of Country
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1986 0%
Whoever's in New England
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1987 10%
The Last One to Know
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1991 10%
For My Broken Heart
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1992 10%
It's Your Call
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1994 0%
Read My Mind
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10 tracksProd. Tony Brown
1995 0%
Starting Over
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1996 0%
What If It's You
MCA Records
10 tracksProd. Reba McEntire
1999 0%
So Good Together
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12 tracksProd. Reba McEntire
2009 8%
Keep On Loving You
Valory Music
13 tracksProd. Reba McEntire
2019 17%
Stronger Than the Truth
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Frequently Asked Questions Rumor Has It

Who wrote 'Fancy' on Rumor Has It?
'Fancy' was written by Bobbie Gentry, whose legal name is Roberta Lee Streeter. She wrote and first recorded it in 1969; Reba McEntire's version on Rumor Has It is a cover.
Did Reba McEntire write any songs on the album?
Only one. She shares the writing credit on the opener 'Climb That Mountain High' with Don Schlitz. Every other track comes from outside songwriters.
Who produced Rumor Has It?
It was co-produced by Tony Brown and Reba McEntire for MCA Records.
What were the hit singles from Rumor Has It?
'You Lie' reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 'Rumor Has It' peaked at number three, 'Fancy' at number eight, and 'Fallin' Out of Love' at number two.
How well did Rumor Has It sell?
The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA, denoting three million units shipped in the United States.
Is 'Fancy' the only cover on the album?
'Fancy' is the album's best-known outside song and the standout cover, though the record as a whole is built from material by outside writers rather than by McEntire herself.
Who played on Rumor Has It?
The Nashville session band included Steve Gibson and Dann Huff on guitars, Michael Rhodes on bass, Larrie Londin on drums, and Matt Rollings on keyboards, with Vince Gill among the backing vocalists.

Sources

Wikipedia: Rumor Has It (Reba McEntire album) MusicBrainz: Rumor Has It (release group) Discogs: Reba McEntire - Rumor Has It Discogs API: release 5566784 credits Cover Art Archive: Rumor Has It Cover Art Archive: Rumor Has It by Reba McEntire