You Can't Get a Man With a Gun - Reba McEntire - 2001 - Annie Get Your Gun

Here is "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun" as performed by Reba McEntire in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, which ran from March 4, 1999 to September 1, 2001. Music and lyrics are both by Irving Berlin.
Having already portrayed Annie Oakley in the 1995 CBS film / miniseries Buffalo Girls, Reba's run in the production lasted from January 26 to June 22, 2001. Critically acclaimed by several newspapers, The New York Times commented of her Broadway debut, "Without qualification the best performance by an actress in a musical comedy this season." Reba herself commented that the musical was "some of the hardest work I've ever done in my life."
This video is a combination of an audience recording of the (I believe) May 15, 2001 performance, as well as press-reel footage of Reba in the role.

[@Lgevirtz]

The perfect mating of a sublime performer and a sublime role.

[@natea3221]

I keep coming back to this clip because you're correct: Reba is just the best to begin with and, in this role, everything is just elevated. Or rather, she elevates everything.

[@pilotusa]

Although I never got to see her in this role, I am a huge Ethel Merman fan and I felt she "owned" this role. When they revived the musical in 1999 on Broadway, they cast Bernadette Peters in the role. As much as a love Bernadette Peters, I could not bring myself to see it with her playing Annie Oakley. Just seemed totally miscast in light of Merman's history with it. But when the announced Reba McEntire would replace her, I bought my ticket and have not regretted it. She was perfect for the role of Annie Oakley and filled Ethel Merman's shoes differently ,but so effectively with her own enormous talent and interpretation of Annie Oakley and Irving Berlin's timeless music and lyrics.

[@sgtdroxie]

I saw it with both Bernadette and Reba. They were both excellent for different reasons. Bernadette is a theater veteran and everything she does is gold. She was very funny and touching in addition to her usual powerhouse singing. Obviously, Reba, brought authentic country western singing which was great for this show. I'm glad I got to see both of them. I enjoyed this production immensely.

[@richardmayora1289]

I grew up thinking this was Merman's role...and then I saw Judy Kaye as Annie and realized the nuances of the lyrics and the genuine rich musicality of this great score. So sorry didn't see Reba since I had already seen the show and thought it was just okay.

[@mlchc9004]

Iconic spectacular brilliant mind blowing . Love Reba’s performance of Annie Oakley. Best ever

[@poetcomic1]

She was great and tuffed it out for six months which is GRUELING if your not used to Broadway. The cute boy who played her little brother was....NICHOLAS JONAS. And they remained good friends.

[@jacksonurenmusic]

Wait like THE Nick Jonas?!!!

[@poetcomic1]

@@jacksonurenmusic She's doing a special with the Jonas boys I believe next week.

[@sheismymom]

Thank you for posting this, she is perfection in this role

[@scottthomas6682]

Great performance Reba McEntire

[@showtunestarpower]

I love the way you've edited this video to combine audience footage with footage from a professional shoot. I hope that somewhere there is a complete professional shoot of Reba McEntire's wonderful performance as Annie Oakley. I hear that they were talking about doing a telecast of the musical with Reba but it all fell through. Now, if only the show could be returned to the way it was in the 1966 revival, before Peter Stone's unnecessary and severe revision.

[@yarnover]

One of my favorite Broadway shows ever. She was great. Thanks for the reminder.

[@maggiemccoywilliamson9357]

iconic

[@mattias5157]

Fantastic sound, considering the circumstances. She must be good!

[@marzipanshepherdess9190]

This is a lot of fun! And one of the funniest things about it is that the REAL Annie Oakley did indeed charm Frank Butler when they first met at a shooting contest - and SHE beat HIM at sharpshooting! Fortunately, the real Frank Butler was far more secure and confident than the fictional "Annie Get Your Gun" character, and the two remained happily married until her death at age 66. It's more than a little ironic that the real Frank (who was born in 1847) was far more modern in his outlook than the one in the 1946 musical! But honestly, I can't see the real Annie marrying a hypercompetitive so insecure that he could only be mollified by her failing at a sharpshooting contest. Women like Annie don't want to marry wimps - and the real Annie Oakley certainly didn't!

[@jochenstossberg5427]

She was very good, but as terrific as the songs are - it's time to put this show to rest now.

[@thesingingclown]

🙄

[@ur_nephew8628]

I am just your normal basic white girl but when I get home I reveal my true form, a cowboy frog :sunglasses: