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Reba McEntire's got a friend in Carole King: Duo teamed on 'Happy's Place' theme song

Bryan Alexander

USA TODAY

"The Voice" coach Reba McEntire's got a friend in Carole King.

When the country music icon needed a hand writing the theme song to her upcoming NBC sitcom "Happy's Place" (Oct. 18, Fridays at 8 EDT/PDT) McEntire reached out to the "You've Got a Friend" songwriting legend King, 82, for assistance.

"I emailed her and told her the situation," McEntire, 69, tells USA TODAY. "She said that she'd love to help out. I hadn't seen her in maybe four years, but we're friends."

The two met at the Los Angeles home of King's actress daughter, Sherry Kondor, and dove into their mutual happy place ― a productive songwriting session. "I had the beginning and a chorus but mainly the melody," says McEntire. "Then (King) came in and wrote the lyrics and added a melody. I said, 'Carole, I really love my melody and I love your lyrics.' So she said, 'Throw them together.'"

The result is "Happy's Place," co-written by Doug Sisemore, which will be released on all platforms Friday. McEntire sings the vocals solo on the song; a portion of the studio session can be heard here.

McEntire stars in the new sitcom as Bobbie, who inherits her father’s bar and discovers her new half-sister and business partner, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo).

Kevin Abbott, who executive produced the WB sitcom "Reba" and reunites (along with "Reba" co-star Melissa Peterman) with McEntire on "Happy's Place," loves the song collaboration.

"I loved Reba singing 'I'm a Survivor'; that theme song really represented 'Reba,'" says Abbott. "And now this new theme song is really going to represent 'Happy's Place.'"

McEntire had memorably covered King's classic “So Far Away” for a Season 2 episode of "Reba." McEntire and King then collaborated on the cover of “Everyday People” on the 2007 hit album “Reba Duets.”