She’s a country queen on stage, but it turns out Reba McEntire is just as much of a legend when the spotlight dims.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher, who starred alongside Reba for six seasons on the sitcom Reba, isn’t shy about what it was like working with the icon. In a recent interview, she made it crystal clear that the real Reba might be even better than the one we see on TV. Calling the chance to work with her “a dream come true,” Garcia Swisher didn’t hold back about the impact Reba’s had on her life both on and off camera.

“You have this person that’s just such an icon, she’s the queen, and then she’s also like a mom to me,” she said. That’s not just your run-of-the-mill Hollywood soundbite either. From the early days of Reba learning the ropes of sitcom life to now, two decades later, Garcia Swisher says that bond is stronger than ever.

They talk all the time. They show up for each other. And when JoAnna lost both her parents, Reba stepped into that gap without hesitation. It wasn’t just about being a good coworker. It was about being a good human. Reba even stood beside her as a bridesmaid at her wedding, proving her loyalty runs deeper than showbiz.

“She’s just an exceptional person inside and out,” Garcia Swisher shared. “She doesn’t take herself too seriously. She’s all heart. I’m in awe of her.”

That kind of humility doesn’t come around often in a business known more for egos than authenticity. But Reba? She dove headfirst into comedy in 2001, even though it was a new world for her. She wasn’t just lending her name to a sitcom. She was in it. Fully. Heart and grit and all.

Garcia Swisher said watching Reba fearlessly take on something brand new after already conquering music was one of the most inspiring things she’s ever seen. And it’s that same fearlessness that still drives Reba to this day, whether she’s touring, mentoring on The Voice, or starring in NBC’s upcoming sitcom Happy’s Place.

The rest of the Reba cast has stuck close, too, including Melissa Peterman, who played the hilariously over-the-top Barbara Jean. The two recently cracked jokes about their “fake” friendship on the Emmys red carpet before melting into a genuine gush-fest about how excited they are to be working together again. “We’ve all been looking for another thing to work together ever since the Reba show was canceled,” Reba admitted. That reunion finally becomes real when Happy’s Place hits NBC this October.

But through all the glitz and goofiness, Garcia Swisher’s tribute stands tall. Reba wasn’t just a boss, or a superstar, or the lady with the best red hair in country music. She was someone who saw a young actress who’d just lost her parents and stepped in with steady love and quiet strength.

“I was so lucky to be a working actress on a television show that was beloved,” Garcia Swisher said. “But also, that I had real people that cared about me and made sure I was safe.”

And when someone like Reba McEntire makes you feel safe, you don’t forget it. You carry it with you. On the red carpet, on set, and every day after.