Honestly, it’s been nearly twenty years since the last episode of Reba aired, but if you flip through the channels on a Tuesday night, there she is. The red hair, the biting sarcasm, and that theme song that basically everyone knows by heart. But for the cast members of Reba, life didn't just freeze-frame in a suburban Houston kitchen.
A lot has changed since 2007. Kids grew up, marriages ended, and health scares nearly took some of our favorites off the board entirely. Now that we’re sitting in 2026, the "Reba-verse" is actually more active than it has been in a decade, mostly thanks to a brand-new sitcom that feels like a spiritual successor.
Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman: The Duo That Won’t Quit
It’s pretty rare for co-stars to stay genuinely close for two decades, but Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman are the exception. You probably saw the news that they finally teamed up again for the NBC sitcom Happy’s Place. In 2026, the show is deep into its second season, and it’s basically become a clubhouse for the old gang.
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Reba plays Bobbie, a woman running her late father’s tavern. Melissa plays Gabby, a bartender. It’s not Reba, but the chemistry is identical. They still finish each other's sentences. Reba is also still juggling her coaching chair on The Voice and her relationship with actor Rex Linn (who also stars in Happy's Place). She’s 70 now, but honestly, she has more energy than most 30-year-olds I know.
Christopher Rich’s Hard-Fought Comeback
For a while, fans were worried about Christopher Rich. The man who played Brock Hart—the dentist we loved to hate—went quiet for a long time.
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In 2018, he suffered a severe stroke that left him unable to walk or speak clearly. It was a brutal recovery. He’s been very open recently about how he didn't even want to leave his house because he felt embarrassed by the physical toll.
But here’s the cool part: Reba and Melissa literally "dragged" him back into the spotlight. In February 2025, he guest-starred on Happy’s Place as a character named Maverick, a tattoo artist who also survived a stroke. By the start of 2026, he’s been making more appearances and credit’s Reba for "engineering" his return to acting. He’s 72 now, and while he says he’s still making "tiny bits of progress," seeing him back on screen with the girls was a massive win for fans.
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The Hart Kids: Where Are They Now?
The three siblings from the show took wildly different paths. Some stayed in the spotlight; others vanished.
- JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Cheyenne): JoAnna is arguably the most successful of the "kids." In June 2026, she’s returning for Season 5 of the massive Netflix hit Sweet Magnolias. She’s also been popping up on Happy’s Place as an "influencer" character, which is a fun nod to Cheyenne’s old vanity. She’s still married to former Yankee Nick Swisher, and they’re basically Hollywood’s most stable couple.
- Steve Howey (Van): The lovable jock Van Montgomery turned into a gritty TV mainstay. After his long run on Shameless, he’s been doing more film work. He and Sarah Shahi finalized their divorce a few years back, but they’ve stayed dedicated to co-parenting their three kids. He also made a guest appearance on Happy’s Place recently, proving there’s no bad blood with his TV mother-in-law.
- Scarlett Pomers (Kyra): This is the one that makes people sad. Scarlett, who played the sarcastic middle child, retired from acting right after Reba ended. She struggled with an eating disorder during the show’s run and eventually decided Hollywood was too much. She’s been doing photography and jewelry making (The Mermaid’s Lure) for years. In 2026, she remains very private. She occasionally pops up on social media, but she has no interest in a TV comeback.
- Mitch Holleman (Jake): Little Jake isn't little. Mitch is in his 30s now. He married his wife, Emma, in 2020 and mostly does voice-over work and the occasional guest spot. He’s living a pretty normal life outside the paparazzi bubble.
Why the Cast Members of Reba Still Matter in 2026
The reason this specific group of actors stays in the news is that they actually liked each other. You hear horror stories about sitcom sets, but the Reba crew is constantly at each other's houses for dinner or football games.
If you’re looking to catch up with them, your best bet is following the Happy's Place guest list. The producers have been leaning hard into the nostalgia, bringing back old favorites whenever the schedule allows.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Happy's Place on NBC (Fridays) to see the Reba/Melissa/Christopher reunion in action.
- Mark June 11, 2026, on your calendar for the return of JoAnna Garcia Swisher in Sweet Magnolias Season 5.
- If you're feeling nostalgic, the original Reba is still streaming on platforms like Hulu and Netflix, where it remains a top-performing legacy title.