Boston Herald

While listening to Reba McEntire dig her formidable vocal nails into her grandiose wife-mistress melodrama, "Does He Love You," in a duet with her able backing vocalist, one wondered how the people of VH1 could've passed up this true country diva two years in a row.

With apologies to Faith and Shania, McEntire is the real deal, and the redhead from Oklahoma has been proving it for more than 20 years.

Saturday night at the Tweeter Center, as the headliner for WKLB's Boston Country Music Festival, McEntire wrung every ounce of emotion out of her steely voice and indulged her gift for high production values in a 90-minute set that was as flashy as it was heartfelt.

McEntire began the night in the first of five costumes, strutting down a long, black staircase in front of a huge video screen to the zippy strains of her midlife-crisis number, "Is There Life Out There" (RealAudio excerpt).

As always, her nine-piece backing band was stellar, playing well and playing along with her stagier numbers, for which she employed six dancers and numerous set pieces.

But McEntire has repeatedly shown that she can do small as well as big. As fun as a sly, guitar-heavy version of the Linda Ronstadt song "You're No Good" (RealAudio excerpt of McEntire's version) and her own sassy blues romp "Take It Back" were, it was a short acoustic set that showcased her emotional side.

Especially poignant was "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" (RealAudio excerpt), a delicate and wrenching ode to her undemonstrative but still loving cattle-rancher father.

The sizable crowd clearly adored her, singing along gaily and happily dancing at her behest.

Sturdy balladeer Mark Wills seemed obsessed with chart position and airplay during his pleasant if formulaic pop-country set. Songs included his countrified versions of "I Do (Cherish You)," "Almost Doesn't Count" and "Back at One," done originally by 98°, Brandy and Brian McKnight, respectively.

Listening to solo artists John Berry, Suzy Bogguss and Billy Dean make heavenly harmonies together was like being privy to a back-porch hootenanny. The trio and their five-piece backing band joined together to make a superb team.

Cincinnati sextet Yankee Grey kicked off the main stage with a rocking set of tunes from their debut album, Untamed.

A surprisingly large crowd turned out early to check out the locals in the True Value Country Competition on a side stage. Lots of great talent was on display, and big-voiced Smithfield, R.I., native Nick Tella was the winner, advancing to the regional competition.

— Sarah Rodman