Reba McEntire ‘Doesn’t Want to Stop’ Working, ‘Refuses to Take Her Foot Off the Gas Pedal’

Reba McEntire is nothing short of a legend in Hollywood, a source tells Closer, especially when it comes to her incredible work ethic.

“She doesn’t phone any of this stuff in and is the first one on set and the last one to leave, and always with a big smile on her face,” shares the source. “She’s wired for show business in general and she doesn’t get in front of a camera if she can’t give it everything she has.”

The country icon continues to record new music, including her latest single “Hurt Like That.” She also has a hit NBC sitcom, Happy’s Place, which has been renewed for a third season, set to premiere this fall.

“Even at 71, she is still a reliable force in entertainment and packs her schedule with high-energy, high-paying gigs all over the place,” the source reveals. “But considering the struggles a similar talent like Dolly Parton has faced over the last year, where she’s had to pull out of multiple public appearances for health reasons, the question around Reba herself starts to be, ‘How much is too much?'”

The subject of retirement has come up between McEntire and Parton, 80, before.

“Dolly and I talked about that an awful lot when she did the Reba show,” she told People last year. “I said, ‘Are you going to retire?’ She said, ‘Why would I? What in the world could I do and have as much fun as what I’m doing in this job right now?’ I agree with her a hundred percent. Slow down, maybe, but no plans of retiring.”

And the “I’m a Survivor” singer stands firmly behind her decision.

“Reba refuses to take her foot off the gas pedal,” says the source. “Regardless of the challenges any of her similarly-aged peers have faced, she doesn’t want to stop anytime soon!”