Photo: Getty Images
Reba McEntire stars alongside boyfriend Rex Linn, Reba costar Melissa Peterman and others in the new sitcom, Happy’s Place.
McEntire posted a photo on Instagram on Tuesday evening (May 7) holding up the script for the TV show. The photo also arrived as the beloved music legend released her new single, “I Can’t,” and delivered the debut live performance on The Voice. Happy’s Place follows McEntire’s character, Bobbie, who “inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had,” per NBC. McEntire is one of the executive producers of the series, alongside Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis, Julie Abbott and writer Kevin Abbott. The comedy series will also star Belissa Escobedo, Pablo Castelblanco, and Tokala Black Elk.
Photo: Episodic
There was no word on a premiere date as of publication time on Wednesday morning (May 8); however, NBC confirmed Happy’s Place is “coming soon” on NBC and Peacock.
“It’s another creative outlet – that’s why I love acting,” McEntire shared via her record label. “When I did ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ I got to sing, I got to act, but I also got to be another character. I wasn’t Reba McEntire, so that’s what I really enjoy doing – being outside my character.”
Happy’s Place reunites McEntire with a few other Reba alumni, including Peterman and the executive producers. The early 2000s sitcom premiered in 2001 and ran for six seasons. McEntire played Reba Hart, “a single mom of three, navigating life in a Houston suburb.” She starred in the show with Peterman, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey, Scarlett Pomers, Mitch Holleman and Christopher Rich. McEntire previously said in an interview on The Bobby Bones Show that she was “trying hard” for a reboot of Reba, though nothing has been confirmed to be in the works since then.
McEntire is set to host the ACM Awards for her 17th time next week, returning more than any other artist. She said she was “tickled to pieces” to host the show again, and confirmed she’ll perform “brand new music during the show.” McEntire said on The Jennifer Hudson Show that her new album is “coming soon,” and she would perform her new single at the 59th ACM Awards. She shared a sneak peek of “I Can’t” during her appearance on the talk show. Other artists taking the stage include Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan; Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne; Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. See the full list of 59th ACM Award nominees here.
The show is set to return to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, leading up to the milestone 60th year in 2025. This year’s ACM Red Carpet will kick off at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT. The show is set for Thursday, May 16 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.