Reba McEntire’s Country Version of “If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce Is So Good

Entertainment superstar Reba McEntire, who’ll be a Coach on Season 24 of The Voice following her role as a Mega Mentor last season, knows that choosing certain songs can make a singer really pop.

McEntire has been there, and done that — including that time she put her distinctive country stamp on Beyonce’s 2008 hit “If I Were a Boy.” 

Reba covers Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy”

On June 18, 2010, McEntire wrapped her country-flavored twang around the contemplative ballad for a performance on Country Music Television’s Unplugged. 

Later that same year, she performed the song at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and recorded and released a studio version for her album All the Women I Am. This rendition became the second single from the album. 

RELATED: Lady A Beautifully Covered 2 of Reba McEntire's Biggest Hits — in Front of Her

In an interview, according to songfacts.com, McEntire noted that the song choice fit like a glove with the theme of the album. “Every song on the album portrays a different story for each woman in the song," she said. 

She added that the lyrics spoke to the various sides to her individual complexities. “Different personalities, different things, different hats I wear throughout the day.”

In her official music video for “If I Were a Boy,” which is about relationship double standards, McEntire’s jade green glamor gown is its own statement piece. 

Reaction to Reba’s “If I Were a Boy”

In an interview with Billboard, Reba acknowledged that her cover of “If I Were a Boy” didn’t reach her greatest-hits levels. But there’s no denying her smoky voice sounds so good and her interpretation does the introspective number justice – and then some. 

In its review of the song, Taste of Country praised Reba’s “churning, muscular take” along with her “commanding vocals.” It goes on to note that “as momentum builds … McEntire’s passion builds.”

What is “If I Were a Boy” about? 

Written by Brittany Jean Carlson and Toby Gad, “If I Were a Boy” is a song about gender gap when it comes to relationships. They flip the script on that as the woman at the center of the song vows that she’d do better as a man than guys typically do. Check out the lyrics, below:

If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I'd roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
'Cause they'd stick up for me

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleepin' alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
'Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waitin' for me to come home (to come home)

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted (wanted)
'Cause he's taken you for granted (granted)
And everything you had got destroyed

It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong

But you're just a boy
You don't understand
Yeah, you don't understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you've taken her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
But you're just a boy

We're looking forward to more covers and suprises by Reba McEntire when she joins fellows Coaches Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, and John Legend for Season 24 of The Voice.