By India McCarty
Reba McEntire honored the eight members of her band and crew who died in a tragic 1991 plane crash.
“Thirty-five years ago today, Heaven gained some very talented angels,” McEntire said in a statement given to PEOPLE on March 16.
Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Tony Saputo and Michael Thomas all died after a plane they were traveling on to get to a San Diego concert crashed.
Related: Reba McEntire Details ‘Worst Thing to Ever Happen in My Life’
“Our band and crew that were with us for way too short a time, were more than co-workers…they were dear friends who shared the road, the music, the audiences and so much more with me,” McEntire continued. “In their memory, we’re honored to support MusiCares, an organization that takes care of the people who take care of the music. My hope is that this gift helps musicians and their families when they need it most.”
Theresa Wolters, Executive Director at MusiCares, told PEOPLE, “MusiCares is incredibly grateful to Reba for honoring her band and crew in such a heartfelt way…At MusiCares, we’re here to support music people and their families when they face hardship, whether that’s medical crises, recovering from disaster, or simply getting through a difficult time. Reba’s generosity helps ensure music people and their families have the care they need, to keep the music playing for all of us.”
McEntire has often spoken about the impact losing her friends and coworkers had on her. In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, she said, “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue. But it showed me how precious life is, and by the grace of God and my faith, I realized that they went on to a better place.”
In a recent interview with Garden & Gun, she commented on the kindness shown to her by her country music peers.
“It was really hard for me to get back onstage,” McEntire said. “But Vince Gill called and said, ‘Buddy, I’ll be there for you.’ Dolly Parton said, ‘Here, take my band.’ It was such a gift to see how many people stepped forward to help, and to reassure, because so many of us had hearts that were broken.”
McEntire continues to remember and honor her late friends, keeping their memory alive through her donation to MusiCares.
Read Next: How Dolly Parton Supported Reba McEntire After Devastating 1991 Plane Crash
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