Not only is Reba McEntire starring in the new NBC comedy, Happy’s Place, but she also wrote and sings the theme song! The Country Music Hall of Fame member penned the song with songwriting icon Carole King, which McEntire released ahead of Happy’s Place premiere on October 18.
“I’m so happy for the opportunity to write the theme song for Happy’s Place with my good friend, Carole King,” McEntire says. “It just doesn’t get much better than that! I hope my fans will love this song as much as they did the theme song for the Reba show.”
McEntire stars in Happy’s Place with her longtime boyfriend, Rex Linn. While some couples might like to keep their personal and professional lives separate, McEntire is happy that their work and relationship intersect.
“We love to act,” McEntire tells Us Weekly. “We want to be prepared. So, he and I rehearse a lot. We did a Lifetime movie together. We did Big Sky on ABC. We’ve both been on Young Sheldon, and now we’re doing Happy’s Place together, so we get real serious about rehearsals and we know our dialogue for sure. To have fun and be comfortable with dialogue, you’ve got to know it. We work hard on that.”
McEntire and Linn might have found love later in life, but the 69-year-old insists Linn was worth the wait.
“I think we have made each other better,” McEntire boasts. “Rex brings out the little girl in me and I have fun. I’m dorky, I’m goofy. He is too. We love to laugh, and we love each other. We both love watching television. We’re always on the lookout for a new series or movie to watch. He says that it’s his homework, watching other actors and learning from them. I do it for pure enjoyment. Right now we’re streaming The Penguin.”
McEntire is getting plenty of time on TV this fall. In addition to her role on Happy’s Place, she is also appearing as a coach for her third season on The Voice. McEntire acknowledges that all of her recent career successes might not have happened without Linn and his influence.
“I think it’s a newfound strength,” McEntire concedes. “Once you’re confident in your love life, your at-home life, then you can go out and conquer the world … Everything just gelled, the success of us getting to work together, my touring and everything else fell into place. Timing is everything and everything happens for a reason.”
McEntire has fortunately learned, at this stage of her life, to take time to stop and be grateful for everything she has, and the opportunities she has been given.
“I’ve got two great jobs,” McEntire reflects. “I have a love of my life, Rex Linn. We’ve been together for almost five years. And my health is good, his health is good. My family is healthy. What more could I ask for?”
Happy’s Place will premiere at 8:00 PM ET on NBC on October 18, and stream the next day on Peacock. Find all of McEntire’s music and upcoming shows at Reba.com.
Photo Credits: Courtesy of NBC