NEW YORK (AP) – Reba McEntire Her latest return to network television finds herself behind the bar, filming a series that's a well-balanced cocktail of drama and comedy.

“The most important things in my life are love, hope, faith, happiness, energy, light. And that’s all that happens at this show,” says the country music legend.

NBC's “Happy's Place” – premiering Friday – shows McEntire's character Bobbie inheriting a Tennessee tavern from her recently deceased father and discovering he has a second family in the first episode.

Even more worrying is the fact that her father left ownership of the bar to both Bobbie and her newfound sister Isabella. Adding to the tension is that the two women are separated by ethnicity and a generation or two.

“I'm shocked. “I mean, I didn't think Daddy could ever do something like that because he always said family was the most important thing,” Bobbie says. To which Isabella replies, “Maybe that’s why he founded two of them.”

Belissa Escobedo, who plays Isabella, says the new series can be both sweet and sour as these two women learn to make peace and move forward.

“I think Bobbie reacts to this news very differently than Isabella and the audience is able to see it and understand both sides. I love that Isabella easily finds her way into Bobbie’s heart,” says Escobedo.

In the series, Bobbie finally looks at Isabella and realizes what she has done: “I looked at you like a person that was forced upon me. Instead, I should look at you like a sister that was given to me.”

Escobedo, whose films include, among others “Blue Beetle” “Hocus Pocus 2” and a regular on television series such as “The Baker and the Beauty,” says McEntire was a joy to work with.

“She is an angel. She's so sweet, so down to earth. She does everything with a smile and is ready to work but also ready to have fun.”

The new series comes from TV veteran Kevin Abbott with a long list of credits including producing “Reba,” “Last Man Standing,” “Roseanne” and “Golden Girls.”

The show has a welcome “Cheers” vibe, another NBC star set in a bar that offers easy reasons for new stories through guest stars and room for some strange regulars to develop, including a reunion with McEntire and Melissa Peterman, who starred together in “Reba,” and Rex Lin, a frequent collaborator.

One of the early production ideas was to cast McEntire as a teacher and Peterman as the principal. But Abbott Elementary came out on ABC, so that idea was scrapped. The next suggestion dealt with the idea of ​​a secret family, inspired by 23andI, the ancestry tracing company.

“A lot of people can relate to that – realizing you have a third cousin you didn’t know. I think that's what makes shows successful, when they're relatable. That’s what happens with books, songs, films: if you can identify with it, it will be more successful,” says McEntire.

In addition to Reba, Escobedo and Peterman, the cast also includes Pablo Castelblanco (“Alaska Daily”), Tokala Black Elk (“American Primeval,” “1883”) and Rex Linn (“Young Sheldon,” “Better Call Saul”). It's a multicultural ensemble – Castelblanco is from Colombia, Linn is of Sioux descent and Escobedo has Mexican roots.

“Having this diverse cast has been interesting for us on and off screen, because when we're not doing something – when they're rewriting, we're waiting on something, or we're in rehearsals – we're sitting there, visiting and chatting.” about each other and learn from each other. It was an education for all of us,” says McEntire.

McEntire hopes fans of “Reba” take a look. In six seasons, “Reba” performed more than decently for The WB — and later The CW — but faced competition at the awards shows from the likes of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace,” “Sex and …” include “The City”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Malcolm in the Middle”, “Ugly Betty” and “30 Rock”.

The indefatigable McEntire, who also films NBC's The Voice and oversees its clothing and footwear lines, teamed up with legendary songwriter Carole King to write the new show's theme song.

In a powerful scene in the new show, a framed child's drawing falls in the tavern and reveals that it was drawn by Isabella, evidence that her father cared about his secret child.

“I think the theme that we're really exploring and bringing comedy to it is grief and what comes from grief?” says Escobedo. “When one door closes, another opens – that’s one of those things that I don’t think is addressed enough.”