In commercials that will start airing next week, the 'Turn On the Radio' hitmaker slips into the Colonel's famous white suit and black tie.
- Jan 26, 2018
AceShowbiz - KFC has revealed its new Colonel Sanders, with a gender twist. Country music singer Reba McEntire has been tapped to play the founder of the fried chicken chain in new commercials for the fast food restaurant chain, becoming the first female celebrity to play the iconic role.
The Queen of Country will be featured in commercials that will air starting January 28. She will don the Colonel's famous white suit and black tie with a country touch. McEntire tells the Associated Press her outfit has fringe on the back and a glittery shine, giving the getup "a little bit of the country music flair."
In an ad to promote KFC's new Smoky Mountain BBQ flavor, McEntire is seen wearing white wig, fake facial hair and Sanders' classic glasses while singing onstage. "Absolutely nothing's changed," she sings. "Oh, please ignore any likeness to famous country singers. I'm definitely not a woman. Oh wait there's one thing that's new about me, it's my Smoky Mountain BBQ."
McEntire, dressed as herself, is also featured as one of the guests at the restaurant. McEntire's Sanders throws a sparkly cowgirl hat to a table across the room which lands on the other McEntire. She continues singing, "Back to my chicken, smoky and crispy, tender and amazing too. I swear I'm not a famous woman."
Previously, Sanders was played by male comedians like Darrell Hammond, Norm MacDonald, Rob Riggle and Jim Gaffigan. McEntire says of her reaction when she was first approached for the role in December, "I said, 'Holy smokes!' KFC has been a part of my life forever."
She shares about playing the Colonel, "I thought the transformation was really funny. I got a big kick out of it." The 62-year-old star will appear in the ads until April.
