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really lucky to be married to him, raise kids with him, and do life with him. He's a good guy," JoAnna tells me, noting that their relationship is built on friendship and mutual admiration. On the subject of husbands, I mention the photo of Steve Howey (who played her TV husband on Reba from 2001-2007) and her that appeared on her Instagram last fall captioned: My first hubs #vanandcheyenneforever. "Oh my gosh, love Steve Howey," she gushes. JoAnna and her Reba cast mates remain very close to this day, and even participated in her wedding years after the show ended. Chris Rich (her TV dad) married the Swishers, while Reba McEntire (her TV mom) and Melissa Peterman (her TV stepmom) stood by JoAnna's side as bridesmaids. "Reba's always checking in, making sure I'm OK. I'm going to see Chris Rich next week. He and his wife are very good cooks. They feed me and give me good food and wine and it just makes me feel like home." Growing up with a strong role model like Reba has certainly influenced who JoAnna is today. "To see a woman like Reba, who is so accomplished, so successful be so loving and so kind. She taught me that you can be a strong, assertive women, but could be loving, elegant, graceful, and kind. She's been through a lot in her life and is still finding the silver lining. Sort of what I was saying about the girls." Every day she meets people who love and watch Reba and it fills her with pride. "There's not an episode I don't remember. Very safe and loving, special time in my life. I look forward to having that again, that sense of family and a show that lasts that long and can still make people smile," says JoAnna, who does watch the reruns when they're on. Since Reba, JoAnna has starred in a few TV series that showed promise but didn't make it passed the one year mark: Privileged, Better with You, Animal Practice, The Astronaut Wives Club. On the latter, she played real-life astronaut's wife, Betty Grissom, and regards it as one of the best experiences of her career. "I was just so proud to be able to do that. Those kinda jobs for me are what keeps me doing this." JoAnna recently appeared in a few episodes of FOX's Pitch as a journalist/Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character's ex-wife. Shooting began for her just five weeks after giving birth to Sailor –making this a very vulnerable time in her life, so she was elated that everyone was so loving and welcoming when she came onboard. "Mark-Paul, does it get any dreamier than him? Literally, women stop me and say, 'What was it like to kiss him?' And I was like, 'It's everything you ever dreamed of,'" she giggles. "Poor Nick, right? He's like, 'He's a good guy. I'll let it slide.' Nick really liked him, so that was a good thing." As I get to know JoAnna, I get to know Nick through JoAnna's eyes and the stories he is weaved into. Even though I only witnessed a brief interaction between the two, their complementary love was palpable. The other day, a girlfriend of mine and I were flipping through channels on the TV. Reba was on. Since we're both fans of the show, I put it on and my friend says, "I imagine JoAnna to be like Cheyenne: bubbly, funny, fun." Ohmygosh! JoAnna is very much like her! I tell her. Which my friend is happy to hear since we've all met stars who fall short when compared to their lovable characters on screen. JoAnna's positive energy is so refreshing that I compliment her on it. Of course, she returns the flattery, as this is her endearing nature, and I adore her even more for it. After an hour, I have asked every question I want to. And though she mentions that she could talk all day, I wrap up the interview. While primping for our photo, I point out that I knew I had something in my teeth –a tea leaf speck. "Do you have anything in your teeth? I swear to God I didn't see it," she assures me. "I would've told you, by the way. And if there was anything in your nose, I would've told you, too." Now that's the kind of people I want in my life. Thanks, Jo. JoAnna waves Nick over. He's finishing up at a table across the room. "How's it going over here, guys?" he asks. "Nick, if there's one word to describe me, what would you use?" JoAnna asks. "Interesting," he instantly responds. JoAnna and I repeat the adjective. "Why interesting?" I ask. "I've never met anybody like her before," he replies. "I was like, 'Loyal. Loving.' C'mon, interesting?" JoAnna jokingly nudges. Nick laughs. "Amazing! Amazing! Epic!" "OK, I'll take epic. Can we use epic?" JoAnna laughs. ML