EXCLUSIVE: Reba McEntire Enlists a Cute (and Chaotic) New Co-Star for Latest Episode of Her Hilarious Sitcom-Style Realtor.com Campaign
Award-winning country singer Reba McEntire is bringing a fresh dose of her comedic charm to the small screen—and this time, she’s teaming up with an adorable new co-star as she continues her mission to help every American find their dream home.
Having won over the hearts of homebuyers across the country with her debut campaign for Realtor.com® in May, the talented singer is back with another sitcom-style ad, enlisting the help of a fluffy friend to bring some joy to the house-hunting journey.
Enter Rhubarb, a spunky Boston terrier who stars alongside McEntire, 70, in “The One With the Zoomies,” the latest installment in the sitcom star’s Nearly HomeTM campaign, which highlights one of the many tools available to homebuyers (and their pets) on Realtor.com.
McEntire, who was raised on a farm and has made no secret of her love of animals over the years, knows better than many the importance of finding a dwelling that fits the needs of the buyer and their furry friends—particularly when it comes to securing a space that can accommodate even the most energetic of zoomies.
“The One With the Zoomies” stars one such couple, whose pet dog, played by Rhubarb, has outgrown their humble home and is desperate for a backyard around which she can zoom to her heart’s content—without driving her owners crazy in the process.
In the new episode, Rhubarb can be seen causing chaos as she runs wild around her home, leaping on and off the couch, and crashing into objects, prompting her owner to declare: “This place ain’t big enough for the three of us!”
Just as Rhubarb’s owners are reaching their breaking point, McEntire arrives to reveal how the duo can find a more suitable abode to fit their needs and their pet’s, telling the couple: “Looks like y’all got a case of the zoomies.”
She then urges the stressed-out pair to check out RealView® Maps on Realtor.com, a powerful tool that helps homebuyers compare properties by lot size—enabling them to see which dwellings offer the most space for their money, an essential asset for anyone hoping to expand their pet’s horizons.
Speaking to Realtor.com, Rhubarb’s real-life owner and trainer, Emily Allred, emphasized the importance for all pet owners of finding a home that can comfortably accommodate your favorite furry friend—whether you’re shopping for a property with ample backyard space or seeking a dream apartment in a densely populated city.
Allred, who owns seven dogs and three cats, explained that it’s important to take into consideration what each breed and animal might need, whether that’s a huge backyard, a cozy nook in which to nap, or—as in Rhubarb’s case—plenty of fresh fruit to play with.
“We have a garden with blueberries, and [Rhubarb] loves to try to eat the blueberries,” she revealed. “She also loves to pick up the figs as they fall, then run around with them. She doesn’t want to eat them; she just likes to run around with them. She thinks they’re like a natural toy!”
When Rhubarb isn’t busy fetching or feasting on fruit, Allred said, she has two other big passions in life: sleeping and greeting guests at the door.
“She loves meeting new people, so she loves when we have people over. She’s a big Walmart greeter, she loves to make new friends. There’s nothing that makes her sad,” Allred shared.
As for Rhubarb’s on-screen talents, her owner said she knew from the get-go that the pup was destined to be a star—despite the fact that the Boston terrier was born deaf.
“We ended up getting her because she was deaf, and so the home that wanted her backed out,” Allred revealed. “But it’s never gotten her down. It’s never been a problem. She has been one of the most delightful dogs I’ve ever trained.”
What’s more, Rhubarb’s disability has never prevented her from living life to the fullest—or from pursuing an on-screen career, which she’s kicking off in “The One With the Zoomies.”
“Most of the time when I tell people she’s deaf, they’re like, ‘Are you sure?'” Allred added. “She’s just a good dog.”
An in honor of all “good dogs,” Realtor.com is launching a new giveaway that will see one lucky pet owner winning a custom-built luxury dog house from renowned home builder Taylor Morrison.
However Rhubarb’s campaign debut is not the only new Nearly Home episode making its way onto screens this month. McEntire is also starring in a second spot, “The One With the Statement Wall,” in which she lends a helping hand to homebuyers seeking a property that is more conveniently located to “whatever is close to your heart.”
In this episode, our stressed-out house hunters are desperate to find a new dwelling that will provide them with access to their favorite places, from good schools to their go-to workout classes.
However, that quest has not proven easy, with the duo going to great lengths to locate this dream abode—even constructing a true-crime-style evidence map to locate the best area.
Thankfully, McEntire is once again on hand to provide them with a much simpler solution: RealCommute®, a tool that helps homebuyers filter commute times from potential properties to any location they choose, without the need for any in-depth detective work.
The latest installments in the Nearly Home series come two months after McEntire made her debut as the new face of Realtor.com, a role that she previously explained was a very natural fit.
Homebuying “is not only a serious subject, but it’s also something that is very near and dear to our heart,” she revealed to Realtor.com. “People are putting up their hard-earned money, their savings, and they want to find the right place.
“[Things like] the backyard, the front yard, the closeness of a school or a church of their choice, all of those things come into play. And if one is not there, it’s like a little piece missing from the puzzle of the pie.”
