Sonic Drive-In has tapped Reba McEntire to promote the quick-service chain as a date-night option in the runup to Valentine’s Day in the latest celebrity partnership with restaurants.
The country singer and actor is highlighting her favorite meal at the 3,500-unit chain, which is a cheeseburger “with everything on it” — at Sonic that means American cheese, crinkle cut pickles, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes — and potato tots. That’s being paired with a new Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake and being marketed as Reba’s Sweetheart Meal. The new shake is made with strawberries and chocolate flakes spun with vanilla soft serve and garnished with chocolate whipped topping, more chocolate flakes, and a cherry.
The meal is available from Feb. 12 through March 3 at a median price of $10.39.
"My boyfriend Rex and I have known each other since 1991,” McEntire said in a release announcing the marketing campaign. “After getting reacquainted in 2020 at a dinner, he found out I love tots! That started my nickname, ‘Tater Tot.’ My little sister, Susie, gave Rex the name ‘Sugar Tot.’ So now, we’re The Tots! Sugar and Tater.”
“We both love tots, especially at SONIC!” she added. “They are our absolute favorite. We even spent our most memorable Valentine’s Day dinner at SONIC and will do the same this year. We encourage others to make special Valentine’s memories at SONIC this year too! Just like Sugar and Tater.”
Sonic’s vice president of culinary and menu innovation, Mackenzie Gibson, said in the release that McEntire had often expressed appreciation for the chain, which is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Inspire Brands.
"February is the month to celebrate love, and there’s no better way to do that than with the exclusive Reba’s Sweetheart Meal and the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake," Gibson said. "Reba McEntire is a national icon who has regularly shared her love for our craveable menu over the years, and we’ve partnered with her this month to give guests an exclusive, Reba’s date night experience."
This is the latest in an array of recent celebrity promotions for chains, including one in with McDonald’s and DJ and artist Kerwin Frost and another with Dunkin’ and Martha Stewart, both in November, and a collaboration with Taco Bell and Paris Hilton in June.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]