Home / Arts and Entertainment / SNL Veteran Kenan Thompson's Reba McEntire Impersonation Delights Country Icon
SNL Veteran Kenan Thompson's Reba McEntire Impersonation Delights Country Icon
26 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Kenan Thompson, longest-running SNL cast member, impersonated Reba McEntire in a popular digital short
- McEntire loved the impersonation and even appeared with Thompson at the Country Music Awards
- Thompson's original pitch for a Reba sketch was rejected, but The Lonely Island turned it into a hit
Kenan Thompson, the longest-running cast member of Saturday Night Live, is a comedic legend. In 2009, he attempted to pitch a sketch featuring his impersonation of country music star Reba McEntire, but the idea was initially rejected. However, the creative team at The Lonely Island saw potential in Thompson's out-of-the-box vision and turned it into a wildly successful digital short.
The origin of this iconic sketch is equally fascinating. After seeing a specific advertisement that inspired him, Thompson casually practiced his Reba McEntire impression, eventually fleshing out a parody commercial for Fiddle Faddle popcorn with a friend. Though his original pitch didn't make the cut, it paved the way for the now-infamous "Two Worlds Collide" digital short featuring Andy Samberg and Thompson as the country superstar.
Surprisingly, Reba McEntire herself was delighted by the impersonation. In 2010, Thompson even accompanied the Grammy-winning artist to present at the Country Music Awards, and she enthusiastically showed him around, clearly enjoying the joke. The collaboration between the SNL veteran and the country icon has become the stuff of legend, and fans can only hope for a future revival of this comedic pairing.
