The couple first met while filming Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991 – then their friendship blossomed into a romance during the pandemic

After decades of charming us with her roles as spunky, resilient divorcees, Reba McEntire is switching things up on her latest project, Happy Place. Best known for her country hits and for her early 2000s sitcom Reba, McEntire is taking on a whole new kind of character this time around.

Reba McEntire’s Happy Place features Rex Linn, her real-life partner, as her romantic interest. Photo: @rexlinn13/Instagram

Happy Place isn’t just another rerun of Reba or Malibu Country – this time, McEntire’s character isn’t a divorcee. Her character, Bobbie, has a love interest, and here’s the fun part: he’s played by none other than McEntire’s current real-life partner, Rex Linn.

McEntire and Linn’s relationship goes back to 1991, but sparks didn’t fly until 2020. Before finding love with Linn, the country superstar had been married twice – first to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987, and then to her manager Narvel Blackstock from 1989 to 2015.

Reba McEntire was twice married before her connection with Rex Linn blossomed into a romance. Photo: @rexlinn13/Instagram

It wasn’t until after her mother’s death and a deep connection during quarantine that the lovebirds turned their long-time friendship into something more. Since then, the couple has been inseparable.

From how he met Reba to his love of dogs, here’s everything you need to know about Rex Linn.

They have known each other for decades

Reba McEntire and Rex Linn first met on a Kenny Rogers film set. Photo: @rexlinn13/Instagram

As reported by People, the couple’s love story took off during the pandemic after they reconnected in the wake of Reba’s mother dying. However, the couple first crossed paths while filming Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991, Reba shared on an episode of Watch What Happens Live in 2020.

“We kept in contact over the years; we both know the same people,” she said. “So it was just like good friends getting back together and having dinner.” Then their bond deepened as they began texting, calling and getting to know each other.

He’s also an actor

Rex Linn has appeared in over 35 films and television serials. Photo: @rexlinn13/Instagram

Chances are Linn is a familiar face for those into cinema – he’s been in more than 35 films. The 67-year-old actor has racked up roles in hits including CSI: Miami, Django Unchained and Tin Cup. He’s also shared the screen with Reba in The Hammer and Big Sky, according to his IMDb profile.

Before acting, Linn worked in a bank

Rex Linn opted for a career in acting after the bank he worked for went bust. Photo: @rexlinn13/Instagram

As reported by Country Rebel, in a 1988 chat with The Oklahoman, Linn opened up about his early dreams of becoming an actor. “I didn’t have the courage or the opportunity to try acting then,” Linn shared, saying that he turned to banking instead.

He quickly climbed the corporate ladder, but when the bank he worked for collapsed in 1982, Linn finally took the plunge.

He’s very invested in the dog show scene

Rex Linn, Reba McEntire’s current beau, is passionate about dogs. Photo: @reba/Instagram

In a 2016 cover story with Oklahoma Online, the 67-year-old actor discussed his passion for dogs. Back in the 1980s, Linn adopted a mastiff he named Emmy Lou, who went on to be a champion show dog. However, Linn eventually grew weary of the drama that came with the dog show scene and decided to step back, letting a handler take over. A few years later he adopted another dog, a French bulldog named Riddler, who also strutted his stuff in the show ring.