Melissa Peterman

Melissa Peterman is an American actress and comedian who is best known for her role as Barbra Jean in the television comedy series "Reba." Peterman stars as Bonnie Wheeler in the ABC Family series "Baby Daddy," and as host of ABC Family's "Dancing Fools," ABCs "Bet On Your Baby" and CMT's "The Singing Bee."

In 1996, Peterman made her film debut as "Hooker #2" in the Oscar-winning Coen brothers' movie "Fargo." In 2001, Peterman was cast as Barbra Jean Booker-Hart in Reba opposite country music singer Reba McEntire and television veteran Christopher Rich. The show was the most-watched comedy on The WB in its debut season. In 2007, the show ended its run after six seasons. Episodes continue to air in syndication on multiple networks.

During this time, Peterman also returned to film with "Recipe for Disaster" alongside Lesley Ann Warren and John Larroquette. She also made appearances in "How High" and the unreleased independent film "Cook-Off." Peterman remained loyal to her comic roots, too, as the host of 15 Minutes of Fem, a comedy showcase for women presented at the Egyptian Theatre. On television, she appeared in the Oxygen sketch comedy show Running with Scissors and guest-starred on Just Shoot Me! and The Pitts. She also portrayed an unstable guidance counselor, Mrs. Splitz, on "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide."

During her summer hiatus from Reba, Peterman hosted The Sound of Music Sing-a-Long, reprising her hosting gig the previous summer's The Wizard of Oz Sing-a-Long, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Peterman also made appearances on the World Cup Comedy Challenge television series, as well as on the celebrity edition of Trading Spaces, with her Reba co-star Christopher Rich.

In 2009, she landed the hosting gig for "The Singing Bee." The show had been cancelled by NBC, and CMT expressed interested in reviving the competition. The show has gone on for over four seasons. Also in 2009, Peterman appeared in Rita Rocks on Lifetime, and in Surviving Suburbia on ABC. In February 2010, Big Machine Records announced that they signed Peterman to a recording contract, and she was to release her debut comedy album that year. Her debut comedy special, Melissa Peterman: Am I The Only One?, premiered March 12, 2010 on CMT. The special was taped before an audience in Nashville, Tennessee. Also that year, Peterman hosted the CMT Music Awards red carpet.