| Rumor Has It | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Reba McEntire |
| Cover: | Rebarumorhasit.jpg |
| Released: | September 4, 1990 |
| Recorded: | April 2–15, 1990 |
| Studio: | Emerald Sound Studios and Masterfonics (Nashville, TN). |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 38:23 |
| Label: | MCA |
| Producer: | Tony Brown, Reba McEntire |
| Prev Title: | Reba Live |
| Prev Year: | 1989 |
| Next Title: | For My Broken Heart |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
Rumor Has It is the sixteenth studio album by American country music artist Reba McEntire. It was released on September 4, 1990, by MCA Records. The album continued her streak of success and features one of her signature songs, a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s 1969 hit "Fancy", of which CMT ranked at No. 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs in 2003.[1] Additionally, they ranked the video at No. 35 on their list of 100 Greatest Country Videos. "Fancy" wasn't one of McEntire's larger radio hits, despite its acclaim. It peaked outside of the Top 5 at No. 8. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard country album chart and No. 39 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first album to enter the mainstream top 40. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Rumor Has It was McEntire's first collaboration with record producer Tony Brown.
The album also contained a TV theme song - though not the last TV theme song McEntire would record. The track "Climb That Mountain High" was featured in the opening credits of an early 1990s ABC sitcom called Delta starring Delta Burke, who played an aspiring country singer. Reba also made a guest appearance on the short-lived sitcom.
Both "You Lie" and "Waitin' For the Deal to Go Down" were previously recorded by country singer Cee Cee Chapman on her 1988 album Twist of Fate,[2] and the latter was covered in 1992 by the short-lived country music band Dixiana on their self-titled album. Their version was released as a single that year, peaking at #39 on the country charts.
The album debuted at #17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums for the week of September 29, 1990, and jumped to number 3 the next week then peaked at #2 the next week. The album stayed in the Top 10 for 26 weeks.
A 30th Anniversary Edition of the album was released on September 11, 2020, and includes two bonus tracks: a new remix of "Fancy" by Dave Audé and a live version of "Fancy" recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in 2020.
| Chart (1990) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[3] | 65 | |
| Chart (1991) | Position | |
| US Billboard 200[4] | 63 | |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[5] | 4 |
| Year | Song | Chart positions[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[7] | CAN Country[8] | ||
| 1990 | "You Lie" | 1 | 1 |
| "Rumor Has It" | 3 | 1 | |
| 1991 | "Fancy" | 8 | 8 |
| "Fallin' Out of Love" | 2 | 1 | |