In the early-aughts heartland sitcom about a not-so-nuclear Texas family, country star Reba McEntire led the cast of the hugely popular, eponymously titled Reba—her first major TV role. Unfortunately, Reba was one of the many shows to fall victim to UPN and the WB's 2006 merger (creating the CW), and the show was canceled, then suddenly renewed for only 13 episodes for its sixth and final season. So, where did the actors who played Barbra Jean, Montgomery, and Van end up? Click through to find out.
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Reba McEntire (Reba Hart)
"A single mom who works too hard/Who loves her kids and never stops/With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter/I'm a survivor." Country icon Reba McEntire played Reba Hart, a tough, recently-divorced mom of three with a penchant for sarcastic one-liners.
After her TV show, McEntire released several more successful albums like Reba Duets (2007), All the Women I Am (2010), Love Somebody (2015), Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope (2017), and Stronger Than the Truth (2019).
On the television front, in addition to guest spots on Better With You, Baby Daddy, The Voice, and America's Got Talent, McEntire starred on the ABC sitcom Malibu Country, which was canceled after one season. She has a recurring role on the CBS show Young Sheldon, joined the cast of ABC's Big Sky for the crime drama's third season, and starred in a 2023 Lifetime TV movie, Reba McEntire's The Hammer.
Cheyenne, played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher, went through a great character arc over the six seasons, starting out as an absent-minded, narcissistic high school senior who got pregnant, and becoming more responsible and thoughtful as she got sober, raised a daughter with her high school sweetheart, and became an addiction counselor.
Since her turn on the show, Swisher has enjoyed a robust television career, booking lead roles on Privileged, Better With You, and The Astronaut Wives Club, and recurring roles on Gossip Girl, Royal Pains, The Mindy Project, and Once Upon a Time (as Ariel). She starred opposite Jason Ritter in the ABC comedy Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and plays Maddie Townsend on the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. She has been known professionally as JoAnna Garcia Swisher since marrying baseball player Nick Swisher in 2010.
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Steve Howey (Van Montgomery)
Van Montgomery was the footballing goofball who, after being kicked out of his house for planning to marry a pregnant Cheyenne, moved in with her. Steve Howey played the character, and, since his Reba days, he's had supporting roles in Bride Wars (2009) and Conception (2011), as well as recurring roles on New Girl and Sons of Anarchy.
The most prolific of his roles, however, is dive bar owner Kevin Ball on Showtime's Shameless, a fan-favorite character that he played for 11 seasons. Following Shameless, Howey took on a starring role in the CBS drama series True Lies, an adaptation of the 1994 film.
Reba's vain, golf-obsessed ex-husband Brock left her to marry his assistant at the beginning of the series.
Christopher Rich played the perpetually orange dentist, and, since then, has enjoyed regular TV work. He has booked recurring roles on Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives, and Melissa & Joey, and has been staying busy working in film with a string of B movies.
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Melissa Peterman (Barbra Jean Hart)
Brock left Reba for Barbra Jean, the wacky, gullible dental assistant. As the seasons went by, Barbra charmed her way from Reba's biggest annoyance to being her best friend.
Melissa Peterman played the comic character from 2001 to 2007, and, in the years since, Peterman booked roles on smaller sitcoms like Bob Saget's Surviving Suburbia, Rita Rocks, and Working Class, which she led opposite Ed Asner.
Peterman played the equally zany Bonnie Wheeler on the Freeform series Baby Daddy during its six-season run. Like McEntire, she has a recurring role on Young Sheldon, reuniting with her costar again in Reba McEntire's The Hammer.
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Scarlett Pomers (Kyra Hart)
Scarlett Pomers played the witty, grounded middle child Kyra, who liked to tease her younger brother Jacob and brother-in-law Van.
Pomers hasn't taken on any onscreen acting roles since Reba ended in 2007, but she did lead the band SCARLETT, which released an EP in 2010 called Insane.
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Mitch Holleman (Jacob Hart)
Jacob was the innocent, youngest Hart sibling, who, for the majority of the series, was oblivious to the family conflict surrounding him.
Mitch Holleman played the adorable little boy, and, since the show ended in 2007, has booked a few small roles in TV shows and films like The Hangover (2009) and Shake It Up (2010). From 2009 to 2021, he cohosted a podcast called Extremely Internet.
They get married, and Van moves in with his mother-in-law, Reba. While life for the young couple is rocky at times throughout their marriage, they keep pushing through because of their love for each other.
Jake Hart, Reba's youngest child, was played by actor Mitch Holleman. His adorable innocence made him a beloved character and he could always be counted on for a laugh. Mitch Holleman acted in small roles after Reba, hosted a podcast called Extremely Internet, and now does comedy.
He played a villain in and served as a producer for The Gambler IV, which marked his first project with country singer Reba McEntire and solidified their friendship; he would later co-star with her on her sitcom, Reba.
Pomers hasn't taken on any onscreen acting roles since Reba ended in 2007, but she did lead the band SCARLETT, which released an EP in 2010 called Insane.
If you've never seen Reba, here's an important piece of back story: Reba and Brock officially decided to go from separated to divorced after Brock admitted to cheating on Reba with the receptionist at his dental practice, Barbra Jean, a loud, ditsy blonde whom Brock eventually marries -- because he knocked her up.
She married Zach Davis! On Sept. 29, 2022, Cheyenne and Zach Davis said "I do," People reported. They had been engaged since April 2021, when Zach popped the question at the baby shower for the couple's first child together — a son they intend to name Ace, who arrived in May 2021.
Reba and Brock are shocked when Kyra announces that she is postponing college to go on tour with her band. Unfortunately, when Reba puts her foot down and tells Kyra that she won't allow her to make this huge mistake, she decides to move out. Meanwhile, Cheyenne and Van can't agree on how to decorate their new house.
Reba McEntire's boyfriend is Rex Linn, who she started dating in 2020. The duo met in 1991, but at the time, McEntire was married to her second husband, Narvel Blackstock.
Cheyenne gives birth to their daughter, Elizabeth, after going into labor on graduation day. She can be somewhat air-headed and self-centered, but she can also be thoughtful and kind-hearted. She is very sensitive, especially when she is insulted (mainly by Kyra).
A good diet, regular exercise, proper sleep, and constant hydration have been the ultimate secret behind Melissa Peterman weight loss. The renowned American actress and comedian gained weight due to her pregnancy and was determined to get back in shape to play the role of Barbara Jean in Reba.
October 14, 2021: Reba McEntire shares that she and Rex Linn have been "inseparable" since they started dating. During an appearance on Today, McEntire discussed the early days of her and Linn's relationship, revealing that Linn supported her after the death of her mother, Jacqueline McEntire.
Personal life. In late 2005, Pomers checked into an anorexia nervosa treatment facility. The 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) actress' weight had dropped to 73 pounds (33 kg) and she was exercising as much as six hours per day.
It's no wonder that the cast of her popular sit-com self-entitled Reba, became a close-knit family. The hit show aired on the WB (now CW) from 2001 to 2007, and stars McEntire as Reba Hart, a resilient and clever single mother juggling family, career and the challenges that come her way.
Cheyenne married Van in the beginning of their senior year after she became pregnant. Their marriage is occasionally rocky but very loving. They have a daughter named Elizabeth, and are currently expecting a son.
The Bo-Cheyenne Relationship is the relationship between Bo Derek Thompson and Cheyenne Lee. Their daughter Harmonica was born during the last episode of Season One and the two of them later got married in Season Two's episode "Cheyenne's Wedding".
In the series finale, Cheyenne and Van are forced to move back in with Reba after a house fire. Barbra Jean and Kyra get job offers of a lifetime, forcing them to leave Houston.
Howey landed the role of Van Montgomery when he was 21. "When I got that part, I achieved my life goal," he told CBS. For six years, he portrayed the clueless teen dad who eventually grows up to become Reba's business partner in real estate.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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