Jennifer Nettles Channels Reba McEntire’s Iconic Hairstyle For Role On ‘The Righteous Gemstones’

Jennifer Nettles recently took to Instagram to reveal how she channels Reba McEntire as she transforms into her recurring character on the HBO comedy, The Righteous Gemstones. In the post, Nettles was seen wearing a brunette wig and holding up two photos of the country legend that were used as inspiration for the layered hairstyle. 

The last image on the carousel of photos showcased the Sugarland star on the set of the series in which she plays the role of Aimee-Leigh Gemstone. With her lips pursed, Nettles is seen decked out in her full costume attire, which includes a conservative, bright-colored dress with large eyeglasses and of course, her Reba-inspired hairdo. 

Her caption read, “When your favorite role/character gets hair inspo from one of your biggest idols, well, art does imitate life now doesn’t it?! Watch tomorrow night’s @therighteousgemstones and catch Aimee Leigh.”

“I love you, girl!!!,” she added as a message to McEntire. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer Nettles (@jennifernettles)

This isn’t the first time the GRAMMY-winning star has been compared to McEntire. In the past, she has been complimented for her generosity towards others in a way that reflects McEntire. 

“It’s humbling,” Nettles previously told The Boot. “I also take it as a responsibility. That’s not to say that I think all people who are celebrities or who are famous always have to be perfect. I am not perfect and neither is anyone else, but I do take the responsibility very seriously.”

Additionally, in 2015, Nettles appeared on a song called “Enough” with McEntire. Written by Kelly Archer, Aaron Scherz and Emily Shackelton, the somber tune finds the country artists depicting parallel narratives as one is portrayed as a wife and the other is a mistress. Despite the adulterous actions of one, both women are left to face the loneliness and sadness of the neglectful man. 

“He tells me he’s working late,” Reba delivers in the opening line before Nettles follows with her own aching lyrics, “He tells me that he can’t stay too long.”

Together, they dive into the chorus as they sing, “But every time I think I’ve had enough / He comes around and wraps me up in love / And I wind up giving in / Cause he gives me just enough / To make me think that /There’s still hope for us In the end it’s only me / Wishing I could be / Wishing I still was.”

The female-powerhouse-led track is featured on McEntire’s Love Somebody record. 

As Jennifer Nettles pointed out in her recent post, viewers can watch for her character with the Reba McEntire-inspired hair on the latest episode, which aired Sunday, July 9. 

The Righteous Gemstones starring Danny McBride (Jesse Gemstone), John Goodman (Dr. Eli Gemstone), Edi Patterson (Judy Gemstone) and Adam Devine (Kelvin Gemstone) follows the story of a world-famous televangelist family who has “a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.” 

So far, Nettles’ character has only appeared on the series a few times, but Aimee-Leigh still serves as an important part of the narrative. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer Nettles (@jennifernettles)

With Season 3 underway, Jesse, Judy and Devine are left with a slew of new responsibilities to maintain, which don’t necessarily align with their extravagant lifestyles. They have been put in charge of keeping the Gemstone empire intact, following the semi-retirement of their patriarch, Eli Gemstone’s (John Goodman). Meanwhile, Aimee-Leigh, the deceased wife of Eli and mother of Jesse, Judy and Kelvin, emerges throughout the series in flashbacks and in photographs.

Created, written, and executive produced by Danny, the latest season of The Righteous Gemstones premiered on Sunday, June 18. The show airs at 10:00-11:12 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is also available to stream on Max.