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.
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.
'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.
'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
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
31 Products With Before-And-After Photos That'll Inspire You To Get Your Life Together
The beloved Hard as Hoof nourishing cream made with beeswax and jojoba oil to condition brittle nails and cuticles (on your fingers AND toes!) and have them looking as shiny and fresh as they did before that gel manicure did its damage. It's designed to sink in quickly (a rare feat in the world of cuticle oils) and it also smells like coconuts. I probably should have led with the coconut part. 🥥 🤤 A powerful spray to break down stubborn mold and mildew stains almost instantly. Just leave it on for about 15 seconds, then wipe away to reveal what your shower is actually supposed to look like. A cult-favorite foot file that'll grind away at calluses and have your heels and toes looking silky smooth and ready to slip into your go-to sandals. There are many foot files out there, but more than 86,000 Amazon reviewers say this one works like a charm. The TikTok-famous Pink Stuff, which is basically the Alex Russo of cleaning products; it has tons of tricks up its sleeve. With the help of a little elbow grease, it'll completely revitalize your sink, bathtub, neglected stoves, and basically anything else that's in need of some scrubbing action. A pack of multipurpose dermaplaning razors you can use to shape your eyebrows and remove fine hairs. You can also use it to remove any stubborn peach fuzz so your foundation will glide on more seamlessly than ever. A jar of super moisturizing O'Keeffe's cream — it's basically a magic potion for brand new hands. Its blend of beeswax and glycerin will add hydration and help get your skin back to normal if increased hand-washing has wreaked havoc on your hands. A pack of cleaning erasers that only need water to remove stains — they're more affordable than name brands but if you catch my drift. These little melamine sponges can quickly lift away tough stains, grease, soap scum, and anything else that simply won't budge with your normal multipurpose cleaner. Promising review: "These babies have transformed and reformed my slobby life. My dog sitter thought I got a new sink and fridge. I have never had more fun cleaning in my life — wait, I have never had any fun cleaning. But these magical creatures make it so freaking satisfying. No toxic stuff. No fumes. Just heavenly cleanliness." —Jimmy Jim EreenoGet a pack of 20 from Amazon for $13.95. Maybelline's Dark Circles Treatment Concealer — it proves you don't have to keep spending a lot of money for high-end results. The lightweight formula is infused with Haloxyl, a peptide complex that's meant to reduce dark circles and tighten skin. Many reviewers say it's easy to blend with just your fingers, so you can ditch the brush if you want to! An all-purpose scrubber kit that'll magically transform your power drill into the ultimate cleaning tool you never knew you needed. The nylon bristles won't leave behind any scratches, so you can scrub away without worrying about ruining your tub, toilet, baseboards, or any other surface that needs an intense cleaning. A descaling solution to break down all of the limescale buildup inside your electric kettle or coffee maker, because yes, the interior also needs cleaning 😩. If your coffee just isn't hitting the spot like it used to, it's probably time to run a cleaning cycle. A L'Oréal repairing hair treatment, which takes just eight seconds — yes, eight seconds! — to repair damage and restore shine. Apply it after shampoo but before conditioner, and let the amino acids and "lamellar water technology" work their magic to smooth your hair without weighing it down. A pack of cleaning tablets that'll clean your dishwasher for you, because it's probably way dirtier than you imagine. These tablets will break down lime and mineral buildup in the main compartment, internal pumps, and the pump and valve — so your dishes will come out looking as sparkly as they do in all those dish soap commercials. A wildly popular anti-dandruff shampoo — it uses ketoconazole to help fight dandruff and relieve itchy scalps. Several of the 77,000 rave reviews mention seeing a reduction in scalp flakiness when consistently used at least twice a week. An all-natural oven scrub made with gritty pumice stone, so you can really go to town on that pizza that exploded and left a mess everywhere. It'll even clean all the hard-to-reach spots on the racks — because, yes, those need cleaning, too. A set of dividers so you can easily organize your sock drawer and keep it from becoming an endless black hole of mismatched pairs. They're also perfect for scarves, underwear, bras, and more, so planning your OOTD is about to become so much easier. A cruelty-free lengthening Essence mascara with a whopping 265,000 5-star ratings and some seriously impressive before and after photos. Oh, did I mention it's UNDER $5?! Some reviewers even compare it to expensive brands like Tarte 👀. Unlike other mascaras at similar price points, reviewers say this one doesn't easily clump or smudge throughout the day and is suitable for sensitive eyes. A pack of thin velvet hangers to basically double your closet space and provide a much better grip on your clothes. These hangers have more than 170,000 fans, with many reviewers saying they're perfect for tank tops, sweaters, slacks, and anything else that tends to easily slip off of plastic ones. A pack of oil-absorbing sheets that will tackle the shiniest of foreheads and have you looking instantly matte without ruining your makeup. These are a must on the days when you need to touch up in a hurry and forgot to bring your setting powder with you. A stainless-steel tongue cleaner so you can scrape away all the nastiness in your mouth that's been giving you a case of morning breath. It's gross and satisfying in equal measure. A jetted tub cleaner for anyone who desperately needs a relaxing bath, but the thought of scrubbing your grimy bathtub is simply too much to handle. It'll remove all the gunk trapped in the places you can't even see, so your tub will be the cleanest it's ever been. You'll barely have to lift a finger — just gently wipe away any leftover grime once it's done doing its job! A glass cleaner that'll remove any stubborn hard-water spots and have your shower doors looking so clean you might accidentally walk into them. It's designed to work in seconds; just apply with a damp cloth in circular motions and wipe away with a paper towel or cloth to reveal the shiny showroom-worthy shower doors of your dreams. A grout ink pen — it'll take the space between your tiles from grimy to shiny in a few simple swipes. This won't clean your grout, but it'll make it look brand-new. It's like a more productive version of an adult coloring book! A cleaning kit that'll make your ceramic cooktop look as shiny and flawless as the day you moved in. The kit comes with a bottle of cleaner, a cleaning pad, and a heavy-duty scraper that are all designed to break down burnt-on foods and tough stains. Or! A gas range cleaning spray — it takes just seconds to cut through grime and grease and eliminate any evidence that your roommates are total slobs. Now, I'm just projecting. Just spray it on and wipe away — or leave it on for 30 minutes if you're dealing with caked-on nastiness. A mold and mildew stain remover in a squeezable gel formula that can miraculously cling onto awkward vertical and inclined surfaces and fit in tight spaces. Just squeeze, walk away, then give it a quick rinse in the morning to reveal some jaw-dropping results. A tub of magical heavy-duty all-purpose cleaning wipes — they can remove everything from grease to tomato sauce stains almost instantly and with zero water required. They're also formulated with aloe and vitamin E, so they're gentle on your skin but still tough enough to remove all the gunk that's accumulated on your oven range hood. An argan oil hair mask to have your mane looking ridiculously glossy in just seven minutes. Yes, you read that right — seven 👏 minutes! The argan oil will provide a nice dose of vitamin E to your hair shaft, which is known to help prevent dryness and boost shine. A toilet wand with disposable cleaning heads (the cleaning solution is built-in — just activate with water!) that makes scrubbing the porcelain throne feel like less of a chore. The kit comes with six refill heads (and a handy dandy storage stand for the wand and refills) to get you started, so you can immediately say goodbye to that dirty toilet brush and get to scrubbing in about 30 seconds! A jewelry-cleaning stick so you can quickly and easily add some bling back to your rings and make them 🎵 shine bright like a diamond 🎵. You can use it on basically any of your accessories that need a good sprucing-up — just twist the pen to dispense some cleanser onto the brush, then gently swipe on your jewelry to let the microfine cleansers wipe away dirt and oil. A food container lid organizer because only finding circular lids when you just put your leftovers in a square container is the worst. This will keep them upright and organized, and the dividers make it easy to sort them by size and shape. The dividers are adjustable so you can customize your set depending on what size containers you have!Promising review: "I love, love, love this storage container. Sounds silly, but it changed my life. No longer do I have storage container Jenga! No more stuff falling out of the cabinet every time I open the cupboard. Now I can stack my lids in the organizer and my storage containers fit nicely on the shelf, and I have a lot of storage containers. I would definitely buy this again and again. Great product." —Laura it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four sizes). A broom for pet and human hair so you can rake up everything that your vacuum can't reach. You'll be so shook when you see all the hair and dust that's hiding out in your area rugs that you might just add to the over 78,000 5-star reviews. These products working their magic on you: The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Universal Signs Trivia Quiz — BuzzFeed Quizzes
Admit all gone on a date with someone super cute from class, only to find out their mom still does their laundry and the only thing they can 'cook' is Kraft Dinner. Turns out, adulting is kind of sexy. We all want to be someone who can take care of ourselves — and, ideally, find someone we don't have to literally parent. Because if you're still putting the noodles in before the water might just be a red flag. So if you're a grown-ass adult who's been doing laundry since age 10, or just trying to escape your helicopter parents, let's see how well you know these universal symbols. You know, the kind everyone should recognize…for the good of society. Let's go... Tell us how you did in the comments. Want a fun signage fact? (Words I truly never thought I'd say.) Even though signs and symbols can vary by country, region, or city, there's actually an international organization — the ISO — that helps standardize them. Because let's be real: It'd be wildly inconvenient (and unsafe!) if every country had a different symbol for 'stop' or 'flammable.' Staying alive should be a universal language — and honestly, I'm very on board with that. And for more fun quizzes and content, make sure you follow BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram!
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Gen Z is Ditching the Bars for…Cubicles?
Gen Z continues to discover old trends and claim them as their own. Now, the twentysomethings are ditching the apps and dating IRL. Which would seem like the obvious choice for most people, but not for these folks. Instead of hitting the bars after work, Gen Z is using office cubicles to find love. Although, after the whole Coldplay incident, this may not be the smartest choice. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Kennedy Now Available on YouTube: Follow on TikTok: Join Kennedy for Happy Hour on Fridays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
