The show has been picked up for a pilot by NBC.
Reba McEntire is heading back to the world of scripted television -- and a familiar face is joining her.
On Monday, Melissa Peterman -- who co-starred with McEntire on her eponymous sitcom, Reba, as Barbara Jean Hart -- confirmed she'll be joining the country star for her newest TV project.
"This. This is why I have been smiling ALL the time. I am thrilled to share the news that I get another chance to work with my friends. Buckle up @reba We are going to have some fun!," Peterman, who most recently starred on Young Sheldon, wrote on Instagram. "Congratulations @belissae!!! #excited#grateful ❤️."
It was also announced that Hocus Pocus 2 star Melissa Escobedo is set to join them. "😳 I've been waiting to share this!!!! REBA!!! This cast!!! This script!!!" the Blue Beetle actress proclaimed on Instagram. "No amount of exclamation marks can do it justice. I am so immensely grateful. The last two years have been an uphill battle (thank you Miley) so this is so very welcomed and appreciated. AHHHH!!!!!!!!."
Escobedo stars as Bobbie’s sister, Isabella, an enthusiastic 20-something who has studied psychology and loves to analyze people. She is thrilled to start working at the tavern and is full of "great" ideas about how to bring it to life.
In January, ET confirmed that McEntire, 68, is planning to make her triumphant return to TV with an original NBC series that was picked up for a pilot.
According to representatives for NBC and Universal Television, The Voice coach will star and act as executive producer for a multi-cam comedy that sees her character, Bobbie, inheriting her father's restaurant following his death. Things get interesting -- and presumably hilarious -- when she discovers that her business partner in the endeavor is a half-sister she never knew she had.
According to Deadline, Peterman has been cast as a bartender named Gabby who works at the restaurant while Escobedo will portray the half-sister of McEntire's character.
The untitled project is also a reunion for McEntire and executive producers Kevin Abbott, Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis -- all who hail from the singer's eponymous TV show. New to the team of EPs is Julie Abbott.
The new show was the first to receive a pilot order for the 2024 broadcast pilot season following the concurrent Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the summer and fall of 2023.
Reba, which ran on The WB (which later became The CW) from 2001 to 2007, also starred Joanna Garcia, Steve Howey and Christopher Rich.
When the announcement was initally made, the singer and actress was coming off her first season on NBC's The Voice, where she coached two of the top five contestants, including runner-up Ruby Leigh, to the end of the show.
While speaking with ET in December, she took a moment to give a shout-out to her fellow coaches, John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan, and said they were incredibly helpful during her debut season.
"We're all still friends. And it's very helpful," she shared. "Especially John was really great... He helped me with the strategy."
She returned as a coach for the new season, alongside Legend and newcomers Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay.
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