Reba McEntire reveals why the Happy’s Place set feels like ‘home,’ offering fans a heartfelt glimpse behind the scenes. ML

Happy’s Place is so back!

Friday, Nov. 7 marks the premiere of the feel-good NBC show starring Reba McEntire, Rex Linn, Belissa Escobedo and Melissa Peterman.

Speaking with PEOPLE for a cover story in October, the country music icon shared what she loves most about returning to the Happy’s Place set.

“It’s natural. Anytime I get to step on that set, I feel like home. It’s my happy place,” McEntire, 70, tells PEOPLE.

She also loves getting to share the experience with Linn, who she got engaged to in December of last year.

“Driving to work with Rex and doing the show, the rehearsals, drive home, talk about it, rehearse together. That’s what’s really special for me. I’ve not had that before,” the “I’m a Survivor” singer says.

While they’re on set, the pair make the most of their time together.

“We go into my dressing room and we eat lunch or we’ll have dinner together. Also on the set, we’ll belly up to the bar and have our breakfast,” McEntires says of Linn, who she began dating in 2020.

Adding, “He’s so funny. Whatever I have, he’ll have. So if I have my oatmeal, he’ll have oatmeal.

Something to look forward to on season 2 is McEntire’s reunion with JoAanna Garcia Swisher, who played her onscreen daughter on Reba.

“We are a tight-knit family, an acting team, and we have so much fun together,” she says of the Happy’s Place cast.

She’s also real-life friends with Peterman, who also starred on the 2000s TV show. Peterman tells PEOPLE, they both realized how special it is to reunite on screen. “This doesn’t happen very often,” she says. “We make sure we soak up every single second of it, and to really cherish them.”

McEntire returns this season as Bobbie, who’s navigating the ups and downs of her personal life, while running her late father’s tavern.

“In season 2, Happy’s Place reopens its doors, and a long-buried secret comes to light that will test loyalties and shake things up inside the tavern,” the official logline reads. “Through it all, Bobbie must remind everyone that family isn’t what you’re born into, but it’s the people that stand beside you, even in the workplace.”

Teasing the show’s premiere, the “Consider Me Gone” singer says it’s full of surprises.

“Where you think it’s going, it’s not. So stay tuned,” she says.

Happy’s Place season 2 premieres Friday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and will stream the next day on Peacock.