Reba McEntire On Returning To ‘Happy’s Place’ Set and Working With Fiancé Rex Linn: ‘It’s a Blast’

Reba McEntire is back on set for season two of her NBC sitcom, Happy’s Place, and she’s sharing just how much fun it is to once again be working alongside her fiancé, Rex Linn.

The pair first appeared on the show when it premiered on October 18, 2024. It’s witty and heartwarming storyline follows McEntire’s character, Bobbie, who inherited a Knoxville tavern after her father’s passing, alongside the restaurant’s colorful group of employees including Gabby (Melissa Peterman), Emmett (Rex Linn), Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), Steve (Pablo Castelblanco), and Takoda (Takala Black Elk).

Linn plays the often grumpy, yet wise cook who has been keeping the tavern’s kitchen in line for many years. However, in addition to his cooking duties, fans have started to see an on-screen romance blossom between him at McEntire’s characters. After some tension throughout Season 1, they kicked off the new season by finally leaning into their connection as they shared their first kiss and go on their first date.

As the episodes continue, their budding relationship becomes a bit complicated by a big secret Emmett is holding onto about Bobbie’s estranged half-sister Isabella. Regardless of how this situation plays out in coming episodes, the couple’s on-screen chemistry has been just as palpable as their real-life love story.

While appearing on the TODAY Show, Reba McEntire admitted that Season two of Happy’s Place has been “so much fun,” especially now that they cast has found their groove in working together on set again.

“Season one, you kind of get to meshing together and learn each other’s habits and how they want to work. And it was fun. Season two is so much more fun now,” she acknowledged. “We know each other, our crew is the best. We’re having a great time.”

The “Fancy” singer and her other half have always shared a love for filming and even met while acting in the movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991. Since then, they have gone on to work on several on-screen projects together including The Hammer (2023), and the ABC series Big Sky (2022). 

McEntire says that working on Happy’s Place has been a “blast” and that they have learned to balance their different work styles and support each other on set.

“He is a workaholic and he loves to rehearse. Me, not so much on the rehearsal part,” she joked. “So he really makes sure that I know my lines, that I’m ready to go when we have to have tape day, we have a blast. We’re so grateful and thankful that we get to go to work together and then go home together.”

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The lovebirds got engaged on Christmas Eve 2024 and are taking their time enjoying the engagement without rushing wedding plans. In a conversation with E! News, they revealed that no date has been set yet, but when the big day comes, it will truly reflect who they are as a couple.

“We like comfort, we love friends, we love food,” she explained.

Reba McEntire is staying very busy these days, between the wedding planning, acting on Happy’s Place and serving as a coach on the current season of NBC’s The Voice.

“I’m having a great time. Michael [Bublé], Snoop [Dogg], Niall [Horan], they’re just so much fun to hang out with. They’re cute as a button, as I always say. And Snoop’s always coming up with something new. So he entertains all of us,” she shared of her time on the singing competition show.

Plus, fans can catch her in NYC on December 3 when she hosts and performs at the annual holiday special, Christmas in Rockefeller Center. She is said to deliver three songs during the show, including one that she hasn’t recorded yet.

“I’ve never been in New York at Christmas time, so I’m really thrilled about that and getting everybody together. It’s a joyful, thankful time and lots of love. One of my favorite times of the year,” she declared.

Other musical guests performing at the tree lighting will include Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, the Radio City Rockettes and Gwen Stefani.