In the glittering world of country music and heartfelt sitcoms, few bonds shine as brightly as the one between Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman. For six seasons on the beloved WB/CW series Reba (2001-2007), they brought to life the unlikely friendship between no-nonsense matriarch Reba Hart and the bubbly, often exasperating Barbra Jean Hart, turning on-screen tension into off-screen magic. Fast-forward nearly two decades, and the duo is reuniting on NBC’s Happy’s Place, proving their chemistry is as timeless as a classic country ballad. But today, in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Spotlight, Peterman is spilling the tea on something even more personal: her dream role in the upcoming wedding of McEntire, 70, to her fiancé, actor Rex Linn, 68.

Picture this: a low-key Tennessee ceremony at McEntire’s sprawling ranch, where the Queen of Country says “I do” to her longtime love under a canopy of twinkling stars and blooming magnolias. Friends and family gather for barbecue, bluegrass tunes, and heartfelt toasts. And right in the heart of it all? Melissa Peterman, not just as a guest, but as the officiant—wielding her growing expertise in tying the knot to seal the deal for her bestie. “I’ve officiated four weddings now—two of my TV sons from Baby Daddy, my TV husband, and my niece—and they’re all still together,” Peterman reveals with a laugh, her voice bubbling with that signature Barbra Jean enthusiasm. “I floated the idea to Reba and Rex, and fingers crossed, they’re considering it. I’d be honored to stand up there and say, ‘By the power vested in me—and in our 20-plus years of friendship— I now pronounce you hitched!’”

It’s a role that feels predestined, blending Peterman’s comedic flair with the deep, sisterly love she’s shared with McEntire since their Reba days. As fans buzz about the engagement—announced at the 2025 Emmys in September—their story isn’t just about rings and vows; it’s a testament to second chances, late-in-life romance, and the enduring power of chosen family. With Happy’s Place kicking off its second season on NBC this fall, Peterman’s revelation adds a layer of real-life sparkle to the show’s fictional barroom antics. Buckle up, y’all—this wedding watch is about to get as heartwarming (and hilarious) as a Reba reunion special.

To understand why Peterman’s potential gig as wedding officiant feels like poetic justice, we have to rewind to the roots of her bond with McEntire. The two first crossed paths in 2001 during auditions for Reba, a fish-out-of-water comedy about a divorced mom navigating family chaos in small-town Oklahoma. McEntire, fresh off a string of chart-topping albums like For My Broken Heart (1991) and Read My Mind (1994), was dipping her toes into sitcom stardom after a pilot flop in the ’90s. She needed a co-star who could match her quick wit and Oklahoma drawl without overshadowing her. Enter Peterman, a Minnesota native with theater chops from the Guthrie Theater and a breakout role on Dharma & Greg (1997-2002). “I walked into that audition, and Reba just lit up,” Peterman recalls in our chat. “She said, ‘You’re her—you’re Barbra Jean.’ It was like we’d known each other forever.”

From day one, the sparks flew—not romantically, but comedically. Barbra Jean was the ultimate foil: the ditzy dental hygienist who stole Reba’s husband, Brock, only to evolve into the family’s chaotic cheerleader. Their banter—think Reba’s eye-rolls meeting Barbra Jean’s oblivious optimism—became the show’s heartbeat, earning Reba a loyal following and syndication immortality on networks like CMT and Logo. Off-set, the chemistry deepened into a friendship forged in late-night script reads and shared laughs over Whataburger runs. “Reba’s not just a boss or a co-star; she’s family,” Peterman says. “We’ve cried together, celebrated together, and yes, we’ve even argued like sisters. That’s what makes it real.”

The Reba era wasn’t without its hurdles. The show navigated network shifts from The WB to The CW, cast changes (like the addition of Scarlett Pomers as daughter Kyra), and McEntire’s grueling tour schedule. Yet, through it all, Peterman and McEntire leaned on each other. When McEntire’s divorce from manager Narvel Blackstock finalized in 2015—after 26 years and three kids (son Shelby and stepchildren Brandon and Chassidy)—Peterman was there with wine and wisdom. “I’ve been through my own ups and downs,” Peterman shares, alluding to her 2001 marriage to actor John Ong and their son Riley, born in 2013. “We talk about everything—love, loss, raising kids in this crazy business. Reba’s the one who calls me at 3 a.m. with a heartbreak, and I’m the one who drags her to karaoke when she needs to let loose.”

Their post-Reba collaborations kept the flame alive. In 2011, they reunited for a guest spot on Working Class, a short-lived sitcom starring Peterman. The 2020 podcast Living & Learning with Reba McEntire, co-hosted by the duo, featured intimate chats with Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson, blending humor with heartfelt life lessons. Then came Young Sheldon (2017-2024), where fate—or clever casting—placed them in the same Texas town but never in the same scene. McEntire played sassy salon owner June Ballard, while Peterman was the wisecracking neighbor Brenda Sparks. “Fans begged for a crossover,” Peterman laughs. “We teased it endlessly, but the producers kept us apart. Now, with Happy’s Place, we’re finally sharing the screen like we should.”

Happy’s Place, which premiered in fall 2024, is a love letter to their dynamic. McEntire stars as Bobbie, a bar owner blindsided by a half-sister inheritance, with Peterman as her needy bestie Gabby, the bartender who’s “dramatic and would kill to be family.” It’s Reba echoes without the baggage—no ex-husbands or teen pregnancies, just adult women tackling midlife with margaritas and mischief. The show’s success—pulling 5.2 million viewers for its pilot—owes much to their rapport. “Gabby’s got a touch of Barbra Jean, but she’s me now: wiser, funnier, and zero filter,” Peterman explains. Season 2, filming as we speak, promises guest spots from Reba alums like JoAnna Garcia Swisher (who had McEntire and Peterman as bridesmaids in her 2010 wedding to Nick Swisher). “We’re manifesting a full reunion episode,” Peterman teases. “Imagine Cheyenne crashing the bar—pure chaos!”

But amid the TV triumphs, the real drama brews in McEntire’s love life. Enter Rex Linn, the gravel-voiced actor whose path first crossed Reba’s in 1991 on the set of The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, a Kenny Rogers Western. McEntire was a rising star at 36, married to Blackstock; Linn, 34, was building his resume with roles in Manhunter (1986) and Cliffhanger (1993). “We were just acquaintances then—polite nods and shared craft services,” McEntire recounted in her 2024 memoir Not That Fancy. They stayed loosely connected through Hollywood’s grapevine, but life pulled them apart: McEntire’s empire grew with hits like “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (1991), while Linn carved a niche in procedurals like CSI: Miami (2002-2012) as the no-nonsense Sgt. Frank Tripp.

Sparks didn’t fly until 2020, amid the COVID quarantine blues. A mutual friend suggested dinner in New Orleans, but lockdown nixed it. Instead, they bonded over phone calls—deep, soul-baring talks about grief (McEntire’s mother Jacqueline had passed in 2020) and dreams. “We created intimacy without being physical,” McEntire told People in 2021. By January 2020, they were official, though the world didn’t know until October, when McEntire casually dropped it on her podcast: “Yeah, I’m dating.” Their red-carpet debut at the 2020 CMAs was electric—McEntire in a shimmering gown, Linn in tailored black, arm-in-arm like they’d been posing together for years.

What followed was a whirlwind of “dorky, goofy” romance, as McEntire describes it. They raised chickens at her Nashville ranch (“Sugar Tot” and “Tater Tot” nicknames ensued), survived COVID together (“Not fun, but we had each other,” she shared on TikTok), and supported careers: Linn guested on The Voice (where McEntire coaches), while she cheered his Better Call Saul arc. Their shared Oklahoma-Texas roots—barbecue obsessions, football fandom—sealed the deal. “He’s the first person I talk to in the morning and the last at night,” McEntire wrote in Not That Fancy. Linn echoes: “We wanna cross the finish line together.”

Peterman, ever the matchmaker, claims a sliver of credit. “I worked with Rex on Young Sheldon before Reba joined, and I was like, ‘Reba, you gotta meet this guy—he’s hilarious and kind,’” she reveals exclusively. “When they finally connected, I was thrilled. Watching them now? It’s like seeing two puzzle pieces snap. Reba’s never been more herself—playful, relaxed, glowing.” In our interview, Peterman gushes about their dynamic: “Rex brings out her silly side. They’ll be at a gala, and next thing you know, they’re doing a tater tot dance. It’s adorable.”

The proposal? A Christmas Eve 2024 fairy tale at McEntire’s Ziegfeld Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. After an afternoon ride, Linn suggested a creek-side stop. Down on one knee, with a custom rose-gold ring studded in black diamonds (designed by an Austin jeweler who also crafts her Longhorn necklaces), he popped the question: “I want to cross the finish line with you. Will you marry me?” McEntire, teary-eyed, said yes without hesitation. They kept it private for months—”savoring the fun phase,” as she puts it—until the Emmys spotlight in September 2025. “I’ve never been loved like this,” McEntire told People post-announcement. “Rex saved the best for last.”

News broke like wildfire, with fans flooding socials: #RebaRexWedding trended for days, spawning memes of Linn as a cowboy sheriff “arresting” McEntire’s heart. Peterman, privy to the secret (“It was torture not spilling!”), was among the first to know. “Reba called me that night, screaming with joy. I ugly-cried,” she shares. “To see her this happy after everything—divorces, losses, the grind—it’s magic.”

Now, wedding planning is underway, albeit leisurely. “We’re low-key—no rush,” McEntire confirmed in a November 10, 2025, People interview. Envision a “nontraditional” bash: friends, family, great food, and “a great time.” Think ranch roast, live band (maybe McEntire crooning “I Keep on Loving You”), and zero fuss. “Every day’s Valentine’s for us,” she added. Linn, a sitcom newbie via Happy’s Place (as gruff cook Emmett), jokes he’s “game for whatever—as long as there’s cake.”

Enter Peterman’s pitch: officiant extraordinaire. With a 100% success rate (those Baby Daddy weddings in 2022 included Derek Theler tying the knot), she’s no novice. “I’d weave in our Reba jokes—maybe quote Barbra Jean’s ‘I’m here for you, whether you like it or not!’” she envisions. “But seriously, it’s about celebrating their love. Reba deserves this joy.” If not officiating, she’d “serve in any capacity”—singing (though “intimidating next to her”), toasting, or corralling the Reba crew for a group number.

The fandom’s abuzz. On Reddit’s r/Reba, threads explode: “Melissa as officiant? Iconic!” TikToks edit Reba clips with wedding filters, while X (formerly Twitter) speculates guest lists (Dolly? Garth Brooks?). Peterman’s revelation ties into Happy’s Place‘s themes: found family, second acts. “This show, their engagement—it’s all about embracing the unexpected,” she muses. As Season 2 films, whispers of Reba crossovers grow. Garcia Swisher, who credits McEntire and Peterman for her “bridesmaid glow-up,” hints at a return: “Count me in for the wedding and the bar!”

Peterman’s life mirrors this serendipity. Post-Reba, she juggled Baby Daddy (2012-2017), game shows like Person, Place or Thing, and Hallmark flicks (Christmas in Evergreen, anyone?). Motherhood to Riley, now 12, grounds her: “He’s my mini-me—sassy and sweet.” Yet, reuniting with McEntire feels like destiny. “We waited 17 years, but it was worth it,” she says. ” Happy’s Place is our encore, and Rex’s wedding? The cherry on top.”

As McEntire and Linn’s big day looms—date TBD, but spring 2026 whispers circulate—their story inspires. At 70, McEntire’s thriving: The Voice coach, Broadway vet (Annie Get Your Gun, 2001), and philanthropist via her Reba’s Ranch dog rescue. Linn, 68, brings gravitas from Cliffhanger to The Hammer (2023, with McEntire and Peterman). Together? Unstoppable. “Love doesn’t have an age limit,” Peterman affirms. “It’s about finding your person, your laugh, your home.”

In our exclusive, Peterman leaves us with a vow of her own: “Whatever role I play, I’ll make it memorable. Because Reba’s not just my friend—she’s my heart.” As fans, we can’t wait to raise a glass. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get a livestream toast. Until then, here’s to love, laughter, and a wedding that feels like coming home.