As single people across the world have learned in 2020, dating is tricky during a global pandemic. Still, many have managed to find happy relationships -- and one of them is Reba McEntire.
The country superstar revealed her news in an episode of her podcast, "Living & Learning with Reba McEntire," alongside her co-host Melissa Peterman and that installment’s special guest, Kristin Chenoweth.
“I am [dating someone],” McEntire said. “A very, very sweetheart of guy, Rex Linn. And we’ve been talking during the pandemic. We had dinner with Rex, was it in January? ... And then February on it was the COVID pandemic and we were talking, texting, FaceTime. And that’s a really good way to get to know people.”
MORE: Reba McEntire returns to host 2020 CMA Awards with Darius RuckerIn fact, it seems McEntire, 65, is finding the upside of socially distanced dating: She’s been able to get to know her new love interest through a long period of just talk.
“Discussions about our past, our family, funny stories, him being an actor, me being an actress. And he’s very into my music. I’m very into his career,” she explained. “It’s just great getting to talk to somebody who I find very interesting, very funny, very smart and is interested in me, too.”
MORE: Reba McEntire and family have private memorial service for mom JacquelineSo, just who is McEntire's new boyfriend? A 63-year-old Texas native whose family relocated to Oklahoma when he was young, Linn is an actor known for playing the role of Frank Tripp in the TV series "CSI: Miami." He's also appeared in films including as "Cheaper By the Dozen" and "A Million Ways to Die in the West," as well as TV shows such as "Young Sheldon," "Waco," "Better Call Saul" and "Nashville."
Early on this year, Linn shared a snapshot to social media of the dinner date that McEntire mentioned as the start of their relationship.
McEntire and split from her husband of 26 years, Narvel Blackstock, in 2015.
"Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other," their statement at the time read. "They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time."