In a heartwarming nod to the twists of fate that define show business, Reba McEntire and Nick Jonas have come full circle in the most delightful way imaginable. Over two decades after sharing the bright lights of Broadway in the 2001 revival of Annie Get Your Gun, the country legend and pop sensation recreated a cherished throwback photo from their theater days—only this time, it’s not a stage door snapshot, but a behind-the-scenes moment on the set of The Voice Season 28. Jonas, 33, has officially stepped in as McEntire’s Battle Rounds advisor, bringing his star power and vocal expertise to Team Reba. The duo’s joyful reunion, shared via an exclusive Instagram carousel on Tuesday, has fans swooning over the serendipity, with comments flooding in about “timeless chemistry” and “the mentor-mentee glow-up we didn’t know we needed.” As the Battles kick off this week, this full-circle moment isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a reminder of how paths in entertainment can loop back, stronger and sweeter than before.
The recreated photo, posted by McEntire with the caption “From Broadway bows to Battle Rounds—full circle with my favorite ‘Annie’ sharpshooter! 🎯❤️ #TeamReba #VoiceS28,” captures the pair in mirrored poses to their 2001 original. Back then, a fresh-faced 9-year-old Jonas—cast as little Jake in the Tony-winning production—stood beside a radiant 46-year-old McEntire, both beaming in cowboy hats and fringe jackets, arms slung around each other outside the Marquis Theatre. Fast-forward 24 years: the new shot, snapped during a rehearsal break at Universal Studios Hollywood last Friday, shows McEntire, 70, in her signature red blazer and boots, with Jonas, now a chiseled global icon, donning a sleek black tee and jeans. The backdrop? The Voice‘s iconic red chairs, empty and waiting for the Battles to ignite. “Nick was my little co-star then—now he’s my secret weapon,” McEntire wrote. “Life’s funny like that. Can’t wait to make more memories!”
Their Broadway bond dates back to the spring of 2001, when director Graciela Daniele assembled a dream cast for the gender-swapped revival of Irving Berlin’s classic. McEntire, already a country supernova with 50 million albums sold and a shelf of ACM awards, took on the role of Annie Oakley with her trademark firecracker charisma—rifle in hand, belting “I Got the Sun in the Morning” like it was her own backyard hoedown. Jonas, a child actor discovered through commercials and Disney Channel gigs, landed the pint-sized part of Jake, Annie’s mischievous nephew, after a grueling audition that had producers in stitches. “He was this tiny bundle of energy—singing, dancing, cracking jokes like a pro,” McEntire recalled in a People interview this week. “I’d scoop him up after scenes, sneak him extra candy from my dressing room. Little did I know he’d grow up to be a Jonas Brother!”
The production ran for 1,007 performances, a smash hit that grossed $240 million and snagged five Tonys, including Best Revival. Offstage, McEntire and young Jonas formed an aunt-nephew-like rapport—her sharing stories of her rodeo roots in Oklahoma, him regaling her with tales from his family’s Pennsylvania basement band practices. That throwback photo, snapped by a stagehand after a matinee, became a treasured memento: McEntire’s arm around Jonas’s shoulders, both flashing peace signs, the marquee glowing behind them. “It was pure joy,” Jonas said during the Instagram Live reveal. “Reba made Broadway feel like home—taught me poise under pressure, how to own a room without yelling. Recreating it on The Voice? Feels like destiny looping back.”
Fast-forward to 2025, and destiny’s script reads like fan fiction come true. The Voice Season 28, which premiered on September 22 with a revamped panel of Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, Michael Bublé, and McEntire, has been a ratings juggernaut—up 15% from last season, thanks to self-paired Battles and advisor all-stars. McEntire, returning for her sixth season as coach, handpicked Jonas as her Battle advisor after a “full-circle” brainstorm over barbecue at her Nashville ranch in July. “Nick’s got that golden voice—versatile, vulnerable, with edge,” she explained. “From Annie sharpshooter to Jonas Brother to solo sensation, he’s lived every note. Our artists need that wisdom.” Jonas, whose coaching stints on Seasons 18 and 20 (2019-2022) yielded winners like Ali Caldwell and Team battles with Kelly Clarkson, jumped at the chance. “Reba’s the queen of reinvention—country to Broadway to The Voice. Advising her? It’s paying forward what she gave me at 9.”
Their reunion hit the ground running during Battle rehearsals last week. Jonas arrived at the Universal lot in a low-key Tesla, greeting McEntire with a bear hug that had crew members cooing. Over coffee in the green room, they pored over Team Reba’s roster: 12 diverse talents, from a 22-year-old Nashville songwriter with a voice like honeyed gravel to a 28-year-old Atlanta R&B phenom blending gospel runs with hip-hop swagger. “Nick’s eye for detail is surgical,” McEntire gushed. “He’ll say, ‘Lean into that rasp on the bridge—make it ache like Reba in ‘Fancy.”” Jonas, drawing from his Jonas Brothers’ harmony boot camps and solo tours (The Album, 2024’s introspective hit machine), focused on vulnerability: “These kids have the pipes; now they need the story. Reba’s masterclass in that—turn pain into power.”
The recreated photo shoot, timed for a mid-rehearsal break, was pure serendipity. Props master pulled archival costumes from storage—a fringed vest for McEntire, a mini-cowboy hat for Jonas—while photographer Norman Jean Roy (of Vogue fame) framed it against the red chairs. “We nailed the pose on take three—Nick’s got that kid energy still,” McEntire laughed in a post-shoot IG Story. The image, a split-frame diptych of old and new, exploded online: 5 million likes in hours, fans flooding comments with “Full circle tears!” and “From Broadway kids to Voice bosses—iconic duo!” Memes proliferated: the photo captioned “When your little co-star grows up to be your advisor—plot twist!” Celebrities piled on: Garth Brooks (“Reba’s got the best backup ever!”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“My hubs and his first crush—adorable!”).
This pairing elevates Season 28’s Battles, premiering October 20 with self-selected duets that amp the stakes. McEntire’s team, a powerhouse 12 including Blind Audition standouts like soulful teen Leyton Robinson and fiddling firecracker Shan Scott, benefits from Jonas’ pop polish. “Nick’s got that crossover magic—Jonas Brothers harmonies meet Broadway belts,” said executive producer Lee Metzger. Early rehearsals teased gems: Jonas coaching a battle on “Shallow” with Lady Gaga-inspired runs, McEntire layering country twang. “We’re blending worlds—Reba’s heartland soul with Nick’s global gloss,” Jonas shared. His advisory role, spanning Battles through Knockouts, includes guest spots: a Jonas Brothers hologram for a pop-country mashup?
McEntire and Jonas’ history is a masterclass in mentorship’s long game. From Annie‘s curtain calls—where a 9-year-old Nick learned stage fright from Reba’s steady hand—to Jonas’ 2019 Voice debut, their paths have paralleled. “She was my first real star—taught me grace under fire,” Jonas said on the Live. McEntire, with 75 million records and a shelf of Grammys, sees echoes: “Nick was a spark then; now he’s a supernova. Advising him advise me? Full circle poetry.” Their Broadway tenure, amid post-9/11 theater’s resilience, forged unbreakable ties—Jonas attending her 2019 Walk of Fame ceremony, McEntire cheering his 2021 SNL host gig.
Fans adore the nostalgia. #RebaNickFullCircle hit 8 million posts, blending throwback edits with Voice predictions: “Team Reba wins it all—Jonas magic!” tweeted @VoiceVibesOnly, a 32-year-old Atlanta fan. The photo’s viral pull—recreated with modern flair, Reba’s red hair flaming brighter, Nick’s smile wiser—taps Voice‘s emotional core. As Battles loom, this duo promises fireworks: McEntire’s sage twang guiding, Jonas’ pop precision polishing.
In Voice‘s red-chair saga, where dreams pivot on turns, Reba and Nick’s circle isn’t closure—it’s crescendo. From Broadway bows to Battle crowns, their reunion reminds: paths loop, but legends endure. As Season 28 revs up, fans lean in—not just for voices, but for stories that sing across time.
