Laughing with Melissa

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Melissa Peterman is an actress and comedian.

After graduating from Minnesota State University, Melissa went to work as a writer/performer at the improvisational comedy theater the Brave New Workshop.

Her film debut was as Hooker #2 in the movie "Fargo," as well as roles in "Recipe for Disaster," "How High," "Cook-Off!"

In 2001, Melissa started playing Barbra Jean on the long-running sitcom Reba, starring country singer Reba McEntire.

Other TV roles include Running With Scissors, Just Shoot Me!, The Pitts, Surviving Suburbia, World Cup Comedy Challenge, Trading Spaces, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Rita Rocks, and CMT Comedy Stage.

In summer of 2009, she became the new host of The Singing Bee on CMT.

In this 2009 interview with adorable SIDEWALKS host Rafael Siegel, Melissa talks about her up bringing, who is her favorite comedic legend, and being the second host of The Singing Bee, a Karaoke-style singing competition testing contestants' knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs.