TV SERIES · 2001– · USA
Reba
25 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
22 Interesting Facts About Reba
- #001
Reba McEntire (Reba Hart) and Melissa Peterman (Barbra Jean Booker Hart) are very good friends in real life.
- #002
The character of Reba was originally going to be named "Sally," but Reba McEntire decided that naming the character "Reba" would help her loyal fan base from her singing career connect with the series.
- #003
Reba McEntire, JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Steve Howey are the only actors who appear in all 125 episodes.
- #004
Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman were bridesmaids at the wedding of JoAnna Garcia, who married professional baseball player Nick Swisher in 2010.
- #005
Reba's real middle name is Nell, as stated in the series.
- #006
Steve Howey (Van Montgomery) and Shanola Hampton (Marci), who plays Cheyenne's cheerleader friend, also play the married couple V and Kev on Shameless.
- #007
The series was originally set to premiere on September 14, 2001, but it was postponed because of the September 11 attacks in New York City, so the series first aired on October 5, 2001.
- #008
Reba tells Jake that he was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, which is Reba's real-life birthplace.
- #009
In an episode of Live! with Regis and Kelly, Reba McEntire explained that the original name of the series (and the character) was Sally. They shot the pilot using the name Sally, but when they first filmed the pilot in front of a live studio audience, they changed the character's and the series' name to "Reba."
- #010
Van and Cheyenne name their daughter Elizabeth, after Elizabeth Montgomery. Elizabeth Montgomery, of course, is the actress famous for playing Samantha Stevens on Bewitched.
- #011
Christopher Rich and Steve Howey are the only cast members from Texas.
- #012
In 2005, The WB renewed Reba for two years, covering the series' fifth and sixth seasons. However, in the months before The CW's debut in the fall of 2006, the network's executives tried to cancel the series even though it was the highest-rated sitcom on The WB, because it did not target the core young-adult demographic. To prepare for that possibility, the fifth-season finale was arranged to serve as a potential series finale in the event of cancellation. The CW ultimately honored the series' two-year renewal but ordered only 13 episodes for the sixth and final season.
- #013
Memorable guest stars include Dolly Parton, Kelly Clarkson and James Denton.
- #014
Nell Carter, who played the first family counselor, was meant to have a recurring role. Unfortunately, Carter died on January 23, 2003, from complications of diabetes.
- #015
Although JoAnna Garcia-Swisher is two years younger than Steve Howey, Cheyenne is older than Van. This is mentioned in the episode "Girl's Night Out," in which Cheyenne celebrates her 21st birthday at a club and Van is kicked out for being underage.
- #017
The series had three different opening title sequences, all of which used the same theme song during its first three seasons. New opening title sequence photography was shot seasonally in the first two seasons. The fourth, fifth and sixth seasons were the same as the third.
- #018
Kyra's full name in the series is Kyra Eleanor Hart.
- #019
Jake's full name is Jacob Mitchell Hart. Jake is played by Mitch Holleman.
- #022
In the first season and the early episodes of season 2, Barbra Jean is usually called BJ. After that, she is consistently referred to as Barbra Jean.
- #023
Before The WB picked up the series, it was first pitched to UPN.
- #024
Melissa Peterman receives the "And" credit starting with the season 5 opening sequence, while between seasons 1 and 4 she was credited normally alongside the other six cast members.
- #025
In the opening sequence from season 2 through season 6, Reba McEntire consistently had five clips, Christopher Rich always had four, Joanna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey and Scarlett Pomers each had three, and Mitch Holleman and Melissa Peterman consistently had two.
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