Country music fans had plenty to celebrate when The Voice announced on Monday, May 12, that Reba McEntire is officially returning to the show. The country icon previously served as a Coach during Seasons 24 through 26 and took home a win in Season 25 with her Artist Asher HaVon.
Reba stepped away from the competition for Season 27 to focus on several other projects, including her sitcom Happy’s Place, touring, and additional commitments. After a one-season break, however, she’s ready to reclaim her red chair when Season 28 premieres this fall.
Joining Reba on the Season 28 coaching panel are three familiar and fan-favorite faces: Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, and Michael Bublé, making for a dynamic and well-loved lineup.
Why Reba Once Hesitated to Join The Voice
Ahead of her return, Reba appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she candidly admitted that she initially had serious reservations about becoming a Coach on the show.
“I was really dreading it at first,” Reba shared. “Because I don’t want to tell anybody they suck.”
That same hesitation is what led her to decline an offer to join The Voice when it first launched in the U.S. in 2011. Reba explained that she simply didn’t feel comfortable discouraging aspiring artists.
“I passed on it years ago when it first came over from Holland,” she said. “I can’t tell somebody, ‘Don’t give up your day job.’ I’m not going to do that.”
Once she eventually joined the show, however, Reba quickly realized the environment was far more supportive than she had imagined. She praised her fellow Coaches for being uplifting and encouraging to contestants.
“We’re nice people,” she said with a smile. “We encourage. We lift up.”
Fans can watch the full interview to hear Reba share more about her return to The Voice — and her excitement over Happy’s Place being renewed for a second season.