Does He Love You

"Does He Love You"
"Does He Love You"
Single by Reba McEntire with Linda Davis
from the album Greatest Hits Volume Two
B-side	"Straight From You"
Released	August 9, 1993
Genre	Country
Length	4:19
Label	MCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Sandy Knox; Billy Stritch;
Producer(s)	Tony Brown; Reba McEntire;
Reba McEntire singles chronology
Linda Davis singles chronology

"Does He Love You" is a song written by Sandy Knox and Billy Stritch, and recorded as a duet by American country music artists Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. It was released in August 1993 as the first single from Reba's compilation album Greatest Hits Volume Two. It is one of country music's several songs about a love triangle.

History[]

"Does He Love You" was written in 1982 by Billy Stritch and Sandy Knox. He recorded it with a trio in which he performed at the time, because he wanted a song that could be sung by the other two members of the trio, both of whom were women. It had been pitched to Barbara Mandrell and Liza Minnelli, but McEntire ended up recording it. She had wanted to include Linda Davis, then a vocalist in her road band, as a duet partner. McEntire's husband and manager, Narvel Blackstock, told her that MCA Records "would rather [she] record this with somebody more established", such as Wynonna Judd or Trisha Yearwood, both of whom were on the same label at the time. McEntire called Tony Brown, then working as a record producer for both her and Judd. Brown told her that Judd might record the song if McEntire asked her personally, but added that Judd did not want to record songs about "marital problems". McEntire submitted a demo to Judd and, after not hearing back from her, recorded the song with Davis in June 1993.^[1]

The single went on to win the Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration,^[2] a Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year, and a TNN/Music City News award for Best Vocal Collaboration.

In 1996, Minnelli released the song as a duet with Donna Summer, from Minnelli's album, "Gently". In 1997, it appeared on Patti LaBelle's album, Flame. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "LaBelle effectively reinvents the Reba McEntire and Linda Davis hit as a R&B ballad."^[3]

Content[]

The song features a vocal battle between two female narrators who are in love with the same man. Both women know that the man is being unfaithful to them and are wondering who he truly loves.

Music video[]

The big-budget, Jon Small-directed video was filmed over 3 days in mid-1993. It begins with Reba in her dressing room wearing a lilac feather gown, where she sees a picture of her lover, which she glances at. It then shows Linda as a professional actress at a movie premiere, then cuts back to Reba smashing the picture with a metal object. Reba shows up in a limo with the same man. The two women are seen then in a photo shoot holding an award and the man in the background.

The next scene shows Linda and the man flirting in a hotel bar. Reba appears wearing a white suit, standing behind a glass and wood wall, as if not to be noticed by Linda. She sees what is really going on, and Linda notices her, only to come over to her and begin singing the second chorus.

It then briefly goes back to the dressing room, where Reba continues to smash her lover's picture. The next scene shows Reba approaching Linda's house in the pouring rain at night, while Linda stands on her porch as they sing the bridge.

The scene then shifts to the next day, where Reba watches from afar as Linda and the man are seen on a speedboat, where he hugs her, implying that Linda is who he truly loves. Reba finally smiles as the boat leaves the dock and then explodes.

After the song is complete, the director (portrayed by actor Rob Reiner) yells "cut" and shows Reba and the crew the footage.

Track list[]

United Kingdom Maxi single CD1

"Does He Love You" (Album Version)
"Does He Love You" (Live)
"I'll Be" (Live)

United Kingdom Maxi single CD2

"Does He Love You" (Album Version)
"The Greatest Man I Never Knew" (Live)
"What If"

Chart performance[]

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[4]	1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[5]	1
Chart (1999)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	62
Australian Singles Chart	59
Sweden Singles Chart	72

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1993)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[6]	52
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[7]	40

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[8]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[]

^ McEntire, Reba; Carver, Tom (1994). Reba: My Story. Bantam Books. pp. 272-273.
^ "And the Winners Are . . ". The New York Times. 1994-03-02. pp. C 22. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
^ Flick, Larry (November 15, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2296." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 13, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "Reba McEntire Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1993". RPM. December 18, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "Best of 1993: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "American single certifications – Reba McEntire – Does He Love You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 3, 2020.

[1] McEntire, Reba; Carver, Tom (1994). Reba: My Story. Bantam Books. pp. 272-273.

[NYT032094-2] "And the Winners Are . . ". The New York Times. 1994-03-02. pp. C 22. Retrieved 2009-05-12.

[3] Flick, Larry (November 15, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved December 5, 2020.

[sc_Canadacountry_-4] "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2296." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 13, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Reba_McEntire-5] "Reba McEntire Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[6] "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1993". RPM. December 18, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

[7] "Best of 1993: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

[United_StatesReba_McEntireDoes_He_Love_YousingleCertRef-8] "American single certifications – Reba McEntire – Does He Love You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 3, 2020.

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show v t Reba McEntire 1990s singles
Sweet Sixteen	"Walk On"
Rumor Has It	"You Lie" "Rumor Has It" "Fancy" "Fallin' Out of Love"
For My Broken Heart	"For My Broken Heart" "Is There Life Out There" "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"
It's Your Call	"Take It Back" "The Heart Won't Lie" (with Vince Gill) "It's Your Call"
Greatest Hits Volume Two	"Does He Love You" (with Linda Davis) "They Asked About You"
Read My Mind	"Why Haven't I Heard from You" "She Thinks His Name Was John" "Till You Love Me" "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" "And Still"
Starting Over	"On My Own" "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" "Starting Over Again" "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
What If It's You	"The Fear of Being Alone" "How Was I to Know" "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" "What If It's You"
If You See Him	"If You See Him/If You See Her" (with Brooks & Dunn) "Forever Love" "Wrong Night" "One Honest Heart"
So Good Together	"What Do You Say" "I'll Be" "We're So Good Together"
Other songs	"What If"
Guest singles	"Oklahoma Swing" (with Vince Gill)

show v t Linda Davis
Studio albums	In a Different Light Linda Davis Shoot for the Moon Some Things Are Meant to Be I'm Yours Love Remains (w/ the Scott family)
Notable singles	"Some Things Are Meant to Be" "A Love Story in the Making" "I Wanna Remember This" "I'm Yours"
Guest singles	"Does He Love You" (with Reba McEntire)
Related articles	Hillary Scott (daughter)

show v t Patti LaBelle
Studio albums	Patti LaBelle Tasty It's Alright with Me Released The Spirit's in It I'm in Love Again Patti Winner in You Be Yourself Burnin' Gems Flame When a Woman Loves Timeless Journey Classic Moments The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle Bel Hommage
Christmas albums	This Christmas Miss Patti's Christmas
Live albums	Live! One Night Only
Singles	"You Are My Friend" "Release (The Tension)" "I Don't Go Shopping" "The Best Is Yet To Come" (with Grover Washington Jr.) "If Only You Knew" "Love Has Finally Come at Last" (with Bobby Womack) "Love, Need and Want You" "New Attitude" "Stir It Up" "If You Don't Know Me by Now (Part 1)" "On My Own" (with Michael McDonald) "Oh, People" "Kiss Away the Pain" "If You Asked Me To" "Yo Mister" "Feels Like Another One" "Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is)" "When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)" "The Right Kinda Lover" "All This Love" "When You Talk About Love" "Does He Love You" "New Day" "Gotta Go Solo"
Related articles	Discography Labelle Labelle discography

show v t CMA Musical Event of the Year
1988-1990	"Trio" (1988) "There's a Tear in My Beer" (1989) "'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" (1990)
1991-2000	"Restless" (1991) "This One's Gonna Hurt You (For a Long, Long Time)" (1992) "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" (1993) "Does He Love You" (1994) "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart" (1995) "I Will Always Love You" (1996) "It's Your Love" (1997) "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" (1998) "My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man" (1999) "Murder on Music Row" (2000)
2001-2010	"Too Country" (2001) "Mendocino County Line" (2002) "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (2003) "Whiskey Lullaby" (2004) "Good News, Bad News" (2005) "When I Get Where I'm Going" (2006) "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" (2007) "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" (2008) "Start a Band" (2009) "Hillbilly Bone" (2010)
2011-2020	"Don't You Wanna Stay" (2011) "Feel Like a Rock Star" (2012) "Highway Don't Care" (2013) "We Were Us" (2014) "Raise 'Em Up" (2015) "Different for Girls" (2016) "Funny How Time Slips Away" (2017) "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (2018) "Old Town Road" (2019) "I Hope You're Happy Now" (2020)