Reba McEntire remembers the time she went viral on TikTok with ‘I'm a Survivor.' She thinks Kevin Costner could help her do it again.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Four years ago, Reba McEntire went viral on TikTok.
In 2021, the platform was suddenly flooded with videos of millennials and Gen Z-ers accomplishing easy but undesirable tasks — like finally doing laundry from a week ago, taking out the trash when your partner is away or picking up your dinner rather than getting it delivered — soundtracked to McEntire's 2001 hit song, 'I'm a Survivor.'
Lyrics like, 'But she's just too hard-headed/A single mom who works two jobs/Who loves her kids and never stops/With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter/I'm a survivor,' have struck a satirical chord with TikTokers. The track, which was famously used as the theme song for McEntire's eponymous sitcom, Reba, even reached No. 2 on Billboard's Viral Songs Chart.
The song's virality came as a pleasant surprise for McEntire, who even got in on the trend herself. In the 23-second video clip that's been viewed on TikTok more than 25 million times, McEntire tries to feed the donkeys on her farm, only they couldn't care less.
'When it's time to feed your donkeys and they're not the least bit interested,' she wrote alongside the video.
McEntire believes the song took off on the video-sharing platform because of its relatability. We're all survivors in some respect, she says.
'Everybody's dealing with their own things in their own life. And 'I'm a Survivor' is a song about survivors,' McEntire told Yahoo Entertainment. 'We all are. We deal with our own problems in our own ways, and we get through. People can relate to that.'
After first hearing 'I'm a Survivor,' which was written by Shelby Kennedy and Phillip White, McEntire knew it was something special.
'I thought to myself, 'Oh, my cousin can relate to it.' Then I thought, 'Well, shoot, I can relate to it,'' she said. 'When I'm in concert, I'll look around at people and they are singing with me, and I know that they've had something in their life that they have overcome.'
When asked which of her songs she'd love to go viral next and how, McEntire's response is immediate: 1994's 'Why Haven't I Heard From You?' with a little help from Yellowstone star Kevin Costner. McEntire has often sung Costner's praises and even expressed interest in appearing in Yellowstone with the actor in 2022.
'That would be good,' she told Yahoo. 'Picking up the phone and saying, 'Kevin Costner, why haven't I heard from you?' Then, you could have Kevin on this side of the screen saying, 'Reba McEntire, why haven't I heard from you?' That could go viral.'
While fans may need to wait to witness McEntire's return to online virality, they can tune into the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, which McEntire will be hosting. This year marks the 18th time the Reba star has emceed the annual ceremony, which celebrates the highest achievement in country music.
Acknowledging how the awards show has 'totally changed' since the first time she hosted in 1986, McEntire's grateful for the opportunity to be back once again. She's particularly grateful to one entertainment industry mentor in particular. .
'Dick Clark was really, really good to me,' said McEntire.
The Academy of Country Music Awards, as with many awards shows, is a live production. The nature of the format doesn't lend itself to editing or rewrites — and requires that the ceremony takes place within its allotted time.
'What's very important is when they say, 'We're running over,' 'We're running short,' 'We're running behind.' It's my responsibility to keep things popping and clicking. And if they take some of my dialogue out, don't get your panties in a wad about it. You've got a job to do. Get back out there and make the show flow,' said McEntire.
Reba McEntire on NBC's The Voice in 2024. (Griffin Nagel/NBC via Getty Images)
'It's the excitement of live television' that's exhilarating for McEntire. In addition to her veteran hosting status, McEntire was a small-screen darling and primetime television mainstay thanks to the WB's Reba, which was shot in a classic sitcom style with a live studio audience. She revisited that live TV format 16 years later, when she took over for Blake Shelton as a coach on NBC's The Voice from 2023 to 2024.
McEntire will again find herself in front of a live audience with her latest sitcom, NBC's Happy's Place, which returns for its second season in October. It's a dream come true for the country superstar, who, as a self-described 'true fan of TV,' considers working in the industry to be 'such a gift.'
In Happy's Place, McEntire stars as Bobbie, a woman who inherits her late father's tavern and is thrown into a family business with a half-sister she never knew existed.
Like Reba, the series hinges on family, and the idea that a home is whatever you make it. The sentiment feels apt for McEntire, who recently partnered with Realtor.com on their "Nearly Home" campaign to encourage homebuyers to approach the task with optimism.
Reba McEntire. (Realtor.com)
'It makes me feel good,' McEntire said of her involvement in the campaign. 'I want to be a part of the team who is bringing joy into people's lives by finding them the right home for them and their family.'
For McEntire, her chosen family, home and dream project have miraculously converged.
'I've got it right now with Happy's Place,' she said. 'I couldn't have asked for a better cast, a better crew, writing team, showrunners, producers, everybody in that whole organization. … Everybody was so joyful to work with. They came to work with a smile.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Grandma, 87, Says 'Life Is Too Short to Play It Safe,' So She and Granddaughter Get Matching Tattoos (Exclusive)
Abby Griffin described getting inked as an "incredibly special multi-generational experience"NEED TO KNOW Abby Griffin shared a viral video on TikTok of her getting matching hummingbird tattoos with her grandma Elaine Jaecks "As she's gotten older, I started feeling like this would be a beautiful way to commemorate her," she tells PEOPLE exclusively The video of the "special moment" has gained over 1.3 million views on the platformA woman went viral on TikTok for getting matching tattoos with her grandma. Abby Griffin, owner of Wren and Rose Photography, shared a video on TikTok of her getting matching hummingbird tattoos with her grandma Elaine Jaecks. The video of the "special moment" has gained over 1.3 million views on the platform. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE about their shared ink, the granddaughter, 31, says they've "joked about it for years." "She's always had this fun, bold and spunky streak that keeps everyone on their toes," Griffin says of her 87-year-old grandma. "As she's gotten older, I started feeling like this would be a beautiful way to commemorate her, her fire, her boldness and her commitment to always being unapologetically herself." The pair planned the outing a few weeks in advance and "made a whole day of it," even bringing along Griffin's aunt to also get the matching tattoo. The video shows Jaecks getting tattooed at Silver Lining Tattoo in Geneva, Ill. While getting inked, Jaecks flashes the camera a thumbs-up. She is then shown checking out her new arm tattoo in a mirror with a pleased expression on her face. "This is your sign to get a matching tattoo with your grandma," the text on the video reads. In the caption, Griffin sweetly wrote, "I have the coolest grandma in the world. Such a special moment getting to get a matching tattoo with her. She's my heart & soul." On the big day, Griffin recalls her and her grandma feeling "a little nervous at first." However, those feelings were outweighed by their excitement and sentimental emotions. "My sister couldn't be there that day, but she's planning to get the same hummingbird soon so she can be part of it too. What started as a simple idea turned into this incredibly special multi-generational experience, something we'll all remember forever," she says. "There was such a beautiful energy in the room, lots of giggles and having fun, but there were also these sweet quiet moments where we all kind of sat in the weight of how special it was," the granddaughter adds. Their tattoo artist, Pedro, brought the experience to the next level. "He was so kind, patient and genuinely invested in making it a memorable experience for all of us, especially for my grandma," Griffin shares, adding that the two exchanged stories about their lives at one point. "He told us my grandma was the oldest client he's ever tattooed, and you could tell it really meant something to him. He treated her with such care and respect," she added. As for their choice of tattoo, Griffin says, "My grandma has always loved gardening and being outside; she lights up when she sees hummingbirds zipping around her backyard. But beyond just being her favorite, the hummingbird felt symbolic for her." She adds that, like her grandma, the birds are "known for their boldness, resilience and fierce independence." The hummingbird tattoo was Jaecks' second tattoo, according to her granddaughter, who says she was "an absolute rock star" during the process. "She didn't even flinch and afterward just shrugged and said, 'That wasn't bad at all!' " The two, Griffin says, have always had a special bond. "She helped raise me, and I truly feel like so much of who I am is because of her," she shares. "She's spunky, strong, wildly supportive, a total badass woman who's never been afraid to speak her mind or live life on her own terms." The Chicago-based photographer adds that her grandma's "whole outlook is about living boldly and staying true to who you are." "She's never tried to be anyone but herself, and she encourages everyone around her to do the same. To her, life is too short to play it safe or follow the crowd, you've got to do the things that light you up, whether that's gardening, going on an adventure, or getting a tattoo at 87," she says. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. With two tattoos down, Jaecks is ready for more. "She's already talking about getting her next tattoo! She's always up for an adventure, but with her, even the simplest moments turn into something unforgettable," Griffin says. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
People Are Teaching Dogs To Talk Using These Buttons
Unless you live off the grid, chances are, you've seen videos of pet owners 'talking' with their animals using speech buttons on Instagram or TikTok. (@hunger4words, anyone?) The videos are adorable and nothing short of impressive. Typically, a person asks their dog a question and the dog responds by pressing a button that vocalizes a pre-recorded word or phrase. It's not telepathy, and no, you don't need a degree in speech pathology to talk to Fido. In fact, teaching a pet to use speech buttons is easier than it looks. Several reviewers speak to actually having the experience Dr. Learn describes with their pets — using a doggone good speech button set deal on Amazon for under $30! Before you write off speech buttons as too time-consuming or complicated, here's how they work: While Bunny can string together complex sentences using multiple buttons, that level of communication comes from building a strong foundation over time. Here's how to get started using the speech buttons at home. But brace yourself: It'll take time! Just remember to set boundaries, gently. These buttons can be a net positive for deeper bonds. Speech buttons can deepen the bond between pets and people by creating a two-way channel for communication. 'This gives them a tool to participate more directly,' Dr. Learn notes. If you're interested in starting a conversation with your pet, check out this basic set we found on Amazon that many reviewers say actually does help them communicate with their pets. Try having a conversation with your dog and grab some of these speech buttons on Amazon. If you're hesitant about trying some for yourself, check out these promising reviews. Get the 8-piece set from Amazon for $29.98.
Business of Fashion
4 hours ago
- Business of Fashion
How to Build a Male Influencer Brand
When Ethan Glenn sold his first hat in the summer of 2021, he harboured no dreams of being an entrepreneur. At the time Glenn was a marketing manager at an advertising studio moonlighting as an influencer with his Instagram page Every Other Thursday, where he shared the images that inspired his style, such as old and Ralph Lauren ads. Though he had hit 10,000 followers, it was still a passion project above all else. But after posting himself wearing a hat with an 'Every Other Thursday' logo on it on Instagram and TikTok, he got an influx of interest and decided to make a batch of 20 to sell at $44 each. Those sold out, so he made another 80, then an additional 500 — all sold. Before Glenn knew it, he had a real business on his hands. 'At the beginning, it was just merch for the mood board, but when I realised how much was selling and how much product I could actually move, I realised that I could kind of make anything,' Glenn said. 'I took a look around my daily life and I said, 'Okay, what do I use every day that, if I branded it as my own, would be an easy sell.' By 2022, the company was selling leather cardholders and a hoodie and generating $250,000 in annual sales. Today, its product line includes wool cashmere knits, cotton chore shirts, four-pocket denim and of course, the original $44 hats. Its revenue is slated to reach $3 million this year, Glenn said. Ethan Glenn was a marketing manager at an advertising studio before founding his clothing label Every Other Thursday. (Every Other Thursday) For years, female fashion influencers have been parlaying their followings into legitimate brands, from Tina Chen Craig's U Beauty to Paige Lorenze's Dairy Boy. But historically, men, who typically have smaller audiences online, didn't want or weren't able to make the same jump — until now. Every Other Thursday is part of a vanguard of fashion labels founded by male influencers, including mega names like Noah Beck, who founded the underwear line Iphis and has nearly 8 million followers on Instagram, and Daniel Simmons, who runs his namesake menswear label and has 1.1 million followers, as well as more micro creators such as Jack Henderson, who co-founded the menswear label About Blank and has 117,000 Instagram followers. It's an expected progression of the category for its most entrepreneurial-minded men to create brands that sell everything from hoodies and intimates to wide leg trousers and relaxed dress shirts. Since the pandemic, the male influencer sector has exploded as more men look for lifestyle content from attractive, charismatic figures: In 2025, the total number of people who followed male influencers more than doubled to 2.9 billion from 2020, according to data from influencer advertising agency Fohr. 'It's pretty natural that similar things that had happened with female influencers were going to happen with males — that they would build followings, they would want to leverage that into maybe starting a brand and they'd be able to build those brands on the strength of their community,' said James Nord, Fohr's founder. But as the graveyard of influencer brands has shown, it takes more than a high follower count to build a business that lasts. To move beyond their relatively niche audiences and compete with established and emerging menswear giants like Todd Snyder and Aimé Leon Dore, this cohort of influencer-led menswear brands are expanding their product offerings, collaborating with giants in their categories and opening pop-up shops around the world. 'A lot of these brand owners and creators understand that in order to stand out, they have to do something that actually provides quality,' said Drew Joiner, who publishes video essays about the fashion industry to his 360,000 YouTube subscribers. 'There is an element of going that extra mile to learn how to become, not just an internet brand, but a brand that could be sold on Fifth Avenue.' Dancing Before You DJ From creators like Ashton Hall going viral last year for his exhaustive 4 am morning routine to 'Menswear Guy' Derek Guy, who breaks down men's tailoring on X, male influencers are seeing a jump in followers as men take greater interest in their appearance and look for guidance. Male fashion influencers like Glenn and Simmons offer honest reviews of brands from the grungy menswear line Our Legacy to the pattern-heavy luxury label Dries Van Noten, plus shopping tips and outfit inspiration. As they've started their own labels, they're increasingly mixing their own products into their content. It's a common tactic in modern brand building: where consumers organically discover goods through social media influencers they deem authentic — but it's particularly important when talking to men who may need more help in defining their style than their female counterparts. 'The average male video watcher is looking for quick answers … What is the one minute explanation of why this trend is happening,' said Jake Woolf, who posts styling and shopping videos to his 234,000 TikTok followers. 'From there it's a natural parlay into saying 'you trust my expertise and my taste when it comes to curating this lifestyle, now I'm going to parlay that into saying like I'm actually going to be the creator.' Male influencer founders are also connecting with consumers by documenting what it's like to build their brands from the ground up — many of them have chosen not to raise venture capital to fund inventory and marketing to avoid being forced to grow too quickly. Marcus Milione, who bootstrapped his activewear label Minted, often posts behind-the-scenes content about the brand on his YouTube page, including new product drops, and occasional delays, and the brand's weekly run clubs. Marcus Milione posts behind-the-scenes content content about his activewear label Minted on his YouTube page. (Minted) 'You have to participate in the communities that you are hoping to sell to,' Nord said. 'We call it dancing before you DJ. You've got to participate in these communities before you seek to be a leader in them.' Growing Up For these influencer-led menswear brands to become lasting names they have to attract consumers beyond their followers. 'Every creator that wants to have a breakout hit brand needs to make that brand bigger than themselves and bigger than their community,' Nord said. 'Even the biggest creator is going to have to figure out how to get people interested in their product agnostic of the person who is making it.' To do that, these labels are leaning into traditional brand strategies. Every Other Thursday and Minted's ad campaigns, for instance, rarely feature their founders, making the products the focal point. They're also investing in physical retail experiences where customers can discover them without knowing the recognisable face who started it all. In June, Every Other Thursday, for instance, hosted a 30-day pop-up in New York's SoHo next door to rising DTC labels like French womenswear brand Sézane, jewellery maker Gorjana and Americana-inspired basics label Buck Mason. In addition to doubling its overall monthly revenue, 50 percent of the people who purchased at the store were new customers, Glenn said. The brand is planning to open a six-month pop-up in 2026 as it seeks to surpass $5 million in annual sales next year, he added. Some startups are getting cosigns from established companies through brand collaborations. Last November, Minted teamed up with running brand Saucony on a pair of $180 deep-blue, thick-soled running sneakers that has since sold out on Minted's website. 'For them to give us a platform to collaborate on, not only introduces us to their entire ecosystem, but also cements the fact that we make performance stuff,' said Milione, who noted that the Saucony tie-up not only exposes them to new customers but also 'adds to legitimacy of the [Minted] brand' — crucial in athletic apparel. Minted's sales doubled in 2024, Milione said, aided in part by the collaboration's success. In a crowded but small menswear market, these influencer-led labels have to make consumers feel like their products are as worthy as any of the household names in the sector, Joiner said. 'In order for an audience who is mostly male-dominated to support someone from a business standpoint, they want to be able to competitively say that the products that they're buying from a Daniel Simmons or from an Ethan Glenn actually compare to what Ralph Lauren or what Todd Snider is making,' he added. 'I chose Daniel Simmons, not only because I like Daniel Simmons' content, but because the clothes are actually good.'
