Reba McEntire is usually the one being interviewed, but she’s turning the tables for the sake of her dear friend Dolly Parton!
The season 28 coach on “The Voice” is sitting down with Dolly for a special TalkShopLive this Thursday, September 25, to talk about music, friendship and Dolly’s upcoming book “Star of the Show.”
“Star of the Show” is the third book in the “Jolene” singer’s photographic trilogy that already includes “SongTeller: My Life in Lyrics” and “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.”
While “SongTeller” focused on Dolly’s prolific work as a songwriter, and “Behind the Seams” looked at her iconic wardrobe, “Star of the Show” focuses on her amazing more than seven-decade career.
It’s one that Reba McEntire has been a part of for almost the entire journey.
Reba’s First Encounter With Dolly Was in 1977
According to Reba McEntire, she first crossed paths with fellow Queen of Country Dolly Parton in 1977.
At the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry100 celebration back in March, Reba told WSM radio that the night she was about to make her Opry debut was the first time she encountered Dolly, who was already an Opry star.
In a clip posted on Instagram, Reba told WSM, “I walked in and they said, ‘We’re going to cut you back to one song, because Dolly just rolled into the parking lot and we’re gonna give her one of your songs. I said, ‘OK. Can I meet her?’ I didn’t get to meet her but she did walk right in front of me.”
Dolly Parton Has Reportedly Been Playing Matchmaker for Reba McEntire
Since that fateful first encounter, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have become close friends.
In fact, Dolly has reportedly been working behind the scenes as a matchmaker to get Reba’s now fiancé Rex Linn to pop the question.
The pair confirmed their engagement on the Emmys red carpet Sunday, September 14.
But before that, Dolly was apparently serving as Reba’s “wingwoman.”
According to the Examiner, an inside source revealed, “Dolly’s [been] telling Rex to stop messing with her friend and that people would be happy if he’d do the right thing. Life is short and Dolly is the first to know that. Besides, she thinks they make a great couple. A holy union would only solidify what they have.”
Reba’s Experience on ‘The Voice’ Is Something Dolly Would Never Do
While season 28 marks Reba McEntire’s fourth season as a coach on “The Voice,” it’s an experience she is unlikely to ever share with her friend Dolly Parton.
Dolly told “E News” that she’s been asked many times to be a judge on both “The Voice” and “American Idol,” but her answer will always be no.
“I’ve been asked to do that a lot of times,” Dolly said. “It’s too hard for me. That’s why I don’t accept it, because I know how sincere everybody is. Even if they’re not that good, they believe they are. And I just can’t hurt people.”
Still, Dolly has had a little experience with the singing competition. She served as a guest mentor in season 9 in 2015 and again in season 11 in 2016.
How to Watch Reba & Dolly’s TalkShopLive
You can watch Reba and Dolly’s epic conversation here on TalkShopLive starting Thursday, September 25 at 8:00p.m.
In an Instagram post about the pre-taped conversation, Dolly promises “sneak peeks and randomly signed copies” of “Star of the Show,” which drops November 11.
