JoAnna Garcia Swisher Reveals “Reba” Nods in Her 'Dream'“ ”Guest Role on “Happy's Place” (Exclusive)

Sabienna BowmanSat, March 14, 2026 at 12:30 AM UTC

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JoAnna Garcia Swisher (left) and Reba McEntire on 'Happy's Place'Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC -

JoAnna Garcia Swisher reunites with Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman for a guest role on NBC's Happy's Place

The episode includes nods to Reba, including a storyline referencing McEntire and Peterman's characters from the sitcom

Garcia Swisher says impersonating McEntire was a fun challenge and calls the reunion a "dream come true"

Happy's Place isn't afraid to wink at its Reba roots.

On the Friday, March 13, episode "Social Discontent," JoAnna Garcia Swisher guest stars alongside her former Reba costars Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman as a character who quite literally steps into Bobbie's (McEntire) shoes.

In the episode, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) hires Garcia Swisher's Kenzie, a local actress and influencer, to play Bobbie in the bar's social media campaign.

For Garcia Swisher, 46, guest-starring on the NBC comedy was the perfect excuse to reunite with her friends McEntire, 70, and Peterman, 54.

"It honestly didn't feel like a day had passed," she tells PEOPLE. "The only thing that was different is that we were incessantly talking, because we were just trying to catch up with each other, just to be back in the same room together. ... It just felt like old times."

From left: Melissa Peterman, JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Reba McEntire on 'Happy's Place'Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC

The writers also found a way to nod to the Sweet Magnolias star's time playing McEntire's TV daughter Cheyenne on the beloved WB sitcom.

Near the end of the episode, Kenzie reveals that her parents got divorced after her father had an affair with his dental hygienist — which is the plot of Reba and a nod to both the country singer's titular character and Peterman's role as Cheyenne's stepmother, Barbara Jean.

If it seems like McEntire breaks into genuine laughter in that moment, Garcia Swisher confirms it's because she did.

"It's always fun to make that, give that little homage to our show and the story," she says of the scene's not-so-subtle reference. "And I think it's fun for fans of the show. It was a fun little moment to be able to throw it out there and see who got it."

The Happy's Place writers also nod to the fact that Bobbie and Kenzie look as if they could be related as Garcia Swisher slips into one of Bobbie's signature looks and attempts to perfect her Tennessee drawl.

For the Reba alum, imitating her former TV mom proved to be a fun challenge.

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She explains, "Oh my gosh, it was a dream come true. I laughed. I laughed out loud when I got the script because that was ... I mean, I kind of knew the character. And I knew also, when Kevin had called me, Kevin Abbott, the showrunner, about trying to work out the dates, it was almost as if he was just like, 'Just come show up and we'll surprise you.' Because he did say always, 'I want to make it really special and different and fun and wild.' "

Garcia Swisher says her response was "bring it." She adds that when she realized she would be impersonating McEntire, "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, here we go.' I got to wear her cozy sweater. She's so epic."

JoAnna Garcia Swisher on 'Happy's Place'Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC

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Trying to capture the Happy's Place leading lady's essence was no easy task though, and Garcia Swisher notes she had never impersonated McEntire in front of her before.

"She has these really funny sayings, and then sometimes she'll just say a word or two that tickles us. So there's just a lot of running... those little running things in our lives," she says. "But no, I certainly have never done that before. She's kind of hard to emulate. You could only hope to be like Reba. ... She's a very special queen."

Garcia Swisher is the third Reba alum to guest star on the show alongside McEntire and Peterman. Both Steve Howey and Christopher Rich stopped by in season 1.

For her part, The Ultimatum: Queer Love host says she thinks "it would be really fun for everyone" in the Reba family "to get their shot" at stopping by the sitcom, which was recently renewed for season 3.

From left: Melissa Peterman, Reba McEntire and JoAnna Garcia Swisher on 'Happy's Place'Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC

"I'm just really happy for them," she shares. "It's so rare to be able to stay on the air. To be able to do a show for six years like we did with Reba was really, really special. And it far surpassed any job. It was a family."

She continues, "These are people that have meant so much to me in my life. And then to be able to go back, and get to observe, and be a part of. ... That they've been able to create this beautiful work environment again and have a show that's once again celebrated, and they're having fun and everyone's so lovely. To me, that's just a dream come true."

New episodes of Happy's Place air Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and stream the next day on Peacock.

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