Our latest cover star JoAnna Garcia Swisher has starred in quite a long list of iconic TV shows. From Freaks and Geeks to Gossip Girls and Sweet Magnolias, Garcia Swisher has played many memorable characters, and shared the screen with some even more legendary actors.
So, with the Back-to-School Issue officially underway, we sat down with the actress to take a trip down memory lane to remember some of her impressive co-stars over the years.
First up was her role in Reba, the hit sitcom where she played Reba McEntire‘s daughter Cheyenne from 2001 to 2007. “This was some of the best years of my life,” Garcia Swisher says. “My first impression of Reba was I couldn’t believe that I’m standing in the same room as Reba McEntire.”
Once the starstruck passed, it seems McEntire became quite a mentor to Garcia Swisher. “Just being around her has taught me so much, that you can be a boss and a really successful woman,” she says. “I’m still learning from her and she’s still the queen. She’s just always bringing it.”
JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Steve Howey, Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman, Reba McEntire, Mitch Holleman, Scarlett Pomers in Reba.©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Another memorable moment in her filmography was playing Chace Crawford’s love interest Bree in Gossip Girl back in 2009.
“So when I first got asked to do Gossip Girl, I thought ‘Who doesn’t want to go spend the summer in New York City making out with Chace Crawford?’” Garcia Swisher jokes. “But plot twist, I ended up making out, well I did make out with Chase Crawford onscreen, but I made out with my husband because this is where I met Nick [Swisher].”
The pair have been married since 2010. “I met Nick probably a couple of days into coming to New York City to film Gossip Girl,” she says. Some things are just meant to be!
Luckily, making out with her soon-to-be husband and Crawford weren’t the only fond memories of her time on Gossip Girl.
“I love Blake [Lively], she’s a unicorn,” Garcia Swisher says of the show’s iconic Serena van der Woodsen. “She’s so beautiful it’s humbling, but also just so sweet and smart and really professional. I just have a ton of admiration for her. She’s just epic.”
Garcia Swisher also raved about her other co-star, Leighton Meester. “Leighton is one of the most kind and genuine people,” she says. “She’s also really funny, I just adore her.”
Gossip Girl, from left: James Naughton, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Chace Crawford, ‘Reversals of Fortune’, (Season 3, ep. 301, aired September 14, 2009). 2007- 2012.Giovanni Rufino / © The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection
Another favorite co-star of Garcia Swisher’s is Brittany Snow, who she acted with in Christmas with the Campbells. “So my dad delivered Brittany Snow so I’ve known Brittany for ever and ever and ever and ever,” she says. “She is one of my favorite humans on the planet also wildly beautiful, insanely intelligent, the most real of real girls. I love her like family.”
Alongside these two close friends, Justin Long caused quite an impression too. “Justin is like hold your hat ladies ’cause he’s the sweetest guy in the world,” Garcia Swisher says. “He actually had just fallen in love with his beautiful wife Kate [Bosworth] who was there so it was really fun to watch the two of them be so madly in love.”
Sweet Magnolias, from left: JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, ‘Beat Me at My Own Game’, (Season 1, ep. 308, aired Juy 20, 2023).©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lastly, but definitely not least, Garcia Swisher talked about her current show, Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias. “This is like my heart,” she says to a picture with her co-stars Brooke Elliot and Heather Headley.
“Sweet Magnolias was a very unexpected opportunity for me,” she says, adding that she jumped on the project “pretty much overnight.”
She then explained why her connection with her cast is unlike any other. After season one of the show wrapped, Garcia Swisher’s father sadly passed away. Then, months into the COVID-19 pandemic, her mom passed away just before season two began filming.
“These women and all the people in the Sweet Magnolias family have really saved me in so many ways,” she says, getting choked up. “I’m just so so so proud of this show.” Safe to say this one has a special place in her heart.
