Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors

Reba McEntire is proving that love gets sweeter with time.

On Friday, January 24, the 69-year-old queen of country toasted to half a decade with boyfriend Rex Linn in an Instagram post that had fans swooning.

“Celebrating five years of tater tots this week! ❤️ #thetots #anniversary,” McEntire captioned the post, sharing side-by-side photos: one from their early dating days and another that appeared to be more recent.

For those unaware, the nickname “tater tots” dates back to the happy couple’s first dinner date. On The Jennifer Hudson Show in 2023, McEntire explained that after a meal with friends, they stopped at a wine bar offering appetizers.

“I said, ‘What do you have?’ They said, ‘Well, we have tater tots.’ I went, [raises hand], and so Rex said, ‘That’s your nickname from here on out —Tater Tot,'” she recalled. In return, the “Can’t Even Get the Blues” singer calls Linn “Sugar Tot.”

“We’re the tots — sugar and tater,” she added. “So, we’ve been together ever since.”

After McEntire’s post hit the internet, fans wasted no time reacting in the comments section.

“You two are the cutest, and I love that you’re on Happy’s Place together 💞 Happy 5th Anniversary 💞,” one person wrote.

“Oh my goodness, stop—I’m gonna cry!!! I’m so happy you found one another, and God puts everyone in our lives for a reason!!! ❤️❤️❤️ You found your somebody! Happy Anniversary!” said another.

“Congrats lovebirds!! ❤️❤️” chimed in a third.

“I love that you two found each other! Congratulations 🥂😍♥️,” someone else added.

“Y’all are so gosh darn cute ☺️💕💕,” another fan gushed.

McEntire and Linn first crossed paths over 30 years ago while filming The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991. At the time, the Grammy Award winner was married to her second husband, Narvel Blackstock, but she and Linn stayed in touch.

Fast forward to 2020, the pair reconnected while working on Young Sheldon. “We started texting and talking on the telephone and getting to know each other better during the quarantine,” McEntire shared with Andy Cohen during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live at the time.

While the pair aren’t married, the Voice judge is perfectly happy with their relationship as it is. “I told him if he wanted to get married that’s up to him totally,” she told Taste of Country in 2023. “We get along so well. We have fun. We travel together. Now, if you can do a road trip with a person and not get in an argument and still like each other when you get to your destination, that’s a pretty good partnership right there.”