The Surprising Link Shanola Hampton Shares With Reba McEntire

Observant fans can spot a young Shanola Hampton in this popular comedy.

What do TV’s toughest missing persons advocate and the Queen of Country have in common?

It turns out, Found’s Shanola Hampton and The Voice Coach Reba McEntire have a surprising past link and it’s giving us something to cheer about.

One of Hampton’s first acting roles was a guest-starring role on McEntire’s hit comedy Reba, where she played an overly enthusiastic high school drill team member intent on spreading school spirit.

“Time for the Wildcat cheer,” a fresh-faced Hampton exclaimed in the episode.

What role did Shanola Hampton play on Reba?

Listed on IMDB as her second acting credit ever, Hampton took on the role of “Marci” in 2001, appearing in a Season 1 episode titled “The Steaks Are High” as a friend of Cheyenne’s(JoAnna Garcia), Reba’s daughter on the show.

The guest appearance also brought Hampton together with her future TV-husband, Steve Howey (she’s married in real life to Daren Dukes). Howey played Van Montgomery, the high school football-star-turned-teenage-husband to Cheyenne, on Reba during its five-season run from 2001 to 2007.

Shanola Hampton smiles on the red carpet while wearing a light blue dress

Shanola Hampton attends The Art Of Elysium’s 11th Annual Celebration on January 6, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Photo: Getty Images

While Howey and Hampton only shared a few scenes together during her brief time on Reba, just a few years after the comedy ended, they became the couple to root for on the dysfunctional family drama Shameless as the Gallaghers’ married neighbors Kevin Ball and Veronica Fisher.

Hampton later called Howey her “best friend on the show” and her “ride-or-die.”

“Way after this show is over we’ll be on a rocking chair going, ‘Remember when we were on that show, Shameless?’ Hampton told Cosmopolitan in 2018. “I would work with him for the rest of my life.”

Reba McEntire during The Voice "The Playoffs Part 3"

Reba McEntire during The Voice “The Playoffs Part 3” Episode 2419. Photo: Tyler Golden/NBC

Who does Shanola Hampton play on Found?

These days, Hampton has taken on the powerful role of Gabi Mosely on the hit NBC crime drama Found.

As a former kidnapping victim herself, Gabi has devoted her career to tracking down other endangered and missing people, but she’s hiding a dark secret herself. Gabi has found her former kidnapper Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and is holding him captive in her basement.

There’s no word yet on whether Howey will ever guest star on the show, but we can dream!

When did Reba McEntire join The Voice?

As for McEntire, she made her debut last season as a Coach on The Voice, where she brought her four decades of experience as the reigning Queen of Country of the voice competition. Two of the members of Team Reba, Ruby Leigh and Jacquie Roar, were named as top five finalists.

Huntley took home the first place honors during Season 24 of The Voice.  

To watch Hampton in action, tune in to Found on NBC Tuesdays at 10/9c or available streaming on Peacock.