NASHVILLE, TN (January 26, 2018) – Kentucky Fried Chicken announced today that it has selected the first ever globally-known music superstar to play the role of Colonel Harland Sanders. Beginning January 28, ads featuring multiple Grammy-Award winning entertainer Reba McEntire will air on television and computer screens nationwide to promote KFC’s new Smoky Mountain BBQ fried chicken.
“With Reba’s southern roots and entrepreneurial spirit, she truly embodies the values of the Colonel and the crowd-pleasing flavor of our Smoky Mountain BBQ,” said Andrea Zahumensky, CMO, KFC U.S. “The pairing of a universally loved music legend like Reba with a universally appealing flavor like Smoky Mountain BBQ makes what I like to call ‘Smoky Mountain Magic.’”
An iconic performer through and through, McEntire is the first female celebrity to play the role in KFC’s rotating Colonel advertising campaign. The multi-faceted “Queen of Country” is a lover of fried chicken and has plenty of Southern charm, making her the perfect fit to promote Smoky Mountain BBQ and KFC’s authentic southern-inspired flavors.
“I grew up with Kentucky Fried Chicken. It’s part of my story, and I’m so excited to now be part of theirs,” said McEntire. “I’ve held a lot of roles in my life – sort of like the Colonel himself – but this is certainly the most unique one yet.”
KFC’s Smoky Mountain BBQ fried chicken blends barbeque recipes from Memphis and the Carolinas, creating a BBQ flavor that everyone can agree on. It launches in participating U.S. restaurants on January 29.
As KFC’s third southern-inspired flavor, Smoky Mountain BBQ joins spicy and smoky Nashville Hot Fried Chicken, and sweet and tangy Georgia Gold honey mustard BBQ in KFC’s Taste of the South menu line up.
For more information, please visit: http://www.kfc.new-media-release.com/reba_mcentire/.
ABOUT REBA MCENTIRE: Multi-media entertainment mogul and mom, Reba McEntire has become a household name through a successful career that spans across music, television, film, theater and retail. She capped off 2017 with the newly-packaged My Kind of Christmas – featuring collaborations with Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, Lauren Daigle, Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood – and a ratings-high hosting spot for CMA Country Christmas special. Reba also marked her thirteenth summit as SING IT NOW: SONGS OF FAITH & HOPE topped both the Billboard Country and Christian/Gospel charts, bolstering her successful record of 35 No. 1 singles and over 56 million albums sold worldwide. The double-disc collection, released jointly on Nash Icon Records / Capitol Christian Music Group, earned Reba her first GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year and current GRAMMY Awards nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member has won 15 American Music Awards, 14 ACM Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 6 CMA Awards and 2 Grammy Awards, in addition to other philanthropic and leadership honors. In 2005, Reba partnered with Dillard’s to launch her own lifestyle brand, and she separately launched the REBA by Justin™ collection at select retailers nationwide. The Oklahoma native is an acclaimed actress with 11 movie credits to her name, a lead role on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun and starred in the six-season television sitcom Reba.
ABOUT KFC: KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain. KFC specializes in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™, Kentucky Grilled Chicken® and Extra Crispy™ Tenders, Hot Wings™, Go Cups, KFC Famous Bowls®, Pot Pies, freshly hand prepared chicken sandwiches, biscuits and homestyle side items. There are over 21,000 KFC outlets in almost 130 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM). For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kfc), Twitter (www.twitter.com/kfc) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/KFC)
