News

KFC dubs Reba McEntire as 1st female 'Colonel'

January 26, 2018

Reba McEntire is trading in her trademark red locks for the colonel's white curls to become the first woman to put on the Kentucky Fried Chicken string tie. Ads featuring the music superstar in the chicken superstar's garb begin Sunday and will promote KFC's new Smoky Mountain BBQ fried chicken, a news release said.

"With Reba's southern roots and entrepreneurial spirit, she truly embodies the values of the Colonel and the crowd-pleasing flavor of our Smoky Mountain BBQ," KFC U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Andrea Zahumensky, said in the release. "The pairing of a universally loved music legend like Reba with a universally appealing flavor like Smoky Mountain BBQ makes what I like to call 'Smoky Mountain Magic.'"

As the first female celebrity in the role, the grammy award-winning Queen of Country takes great pride in filling the white  suit. 

"I grew up with Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's part of my story, and I'm so excited to now be part of theirs," McEntire said. "I've held a lot of roles in my life — sort of like the Colonel himself — but this is certainly the most unique one yet."

The new barbecue offering, which launches nationwide on Jan. 29, is a blend of Memphis and Carolinas barbecue recipes, the release said. This is the brand's third southern-inspired flavor, followiung Nashville Hot Fried Chicken and Georgia Gold honey mustard BBQ.