Melissa Peterman was “having all the feels” on the 25th anniversary of Reba’s premiere on Monday (October 5).

Peterman played Barbara Jean Hart on the beloved early 2000s sitcom, a high-energy, unlikely friend to Reba McEntire’s title character, Reba Hart. McEntire played a single mother of three in Houston, Texas. The cast also included Christopher Rich, Steve Howey, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. The show premiered on October 5, 2001, and ran until February 18, 2007.

Peterman shared a clip on Instagram by her official fan account. She wrote in her caption: “The Reba show premiered 25 years ago today. I can't believe it's been 25 YEARS!! I am having all the feels....I'm sure some are age-related 😊 But I'm so grateful I got to barge into your living rooms 25 years ago. ❤️”

Earlier this year, Peterman joined Bobby Bones on an episode of The BobbyCast. During their conversation, the actress reflected on a character choice she made during the audition process (she quickly scored the role): “I remember sitting in the parking lot about to go in, and I just went, ‘oh, I got it. I have to play her that she has no idea that they are not best friends. I have to play that I have no idea that whatever insult or anything she throws, it’s like, it doesn’t register with her. Because I have to think that, of course we’re going to be best friends. We have so much in common. You know, we like the same guys.’ So, I go back to, I think a network callback, and then it was studio. I did the final test, which is nerve-wracking. And when I was driving out, I got a call from my agent that I booked it.”

Though a Reba reboot hasn’t happened yet (which Peterman also addressed on The BobbyCast), Peterman has remained friends with McEntire, and the pair reunited on Happy’s Place. The sitcom premiered in 2024, and is gearing up for its third season to debut later this month. Happy’s Place also stars Belissa Escobedo, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and McEntire’s real-life fiancé, Rex Linn. Some Reba cast members have made guest appearances on the show over the years.

McEntire, who spoke with iHeartCountry about her beloved sitcom roles in an interview last year, also marked the 25th anniversary of Reba’s debut in a post of her own: “‘Reba’ premiered 25 years ago today! 🥳 Thankful you all welcomed the Hart family into your lives and for all the memories this show brought us! 📺”

Bob Delmont