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KFC has unveiled the first ever woman to play Colonel Sanders.

US country singer Reba McEntire is the first female to play the chain’s founder in its 90 year history.

Ms McEntire, famed for her singer-songwriting and TV and film acting roles, donned a white wig and facial hair for the adverts which will air in the US next week.

Clad in the Colonel’s trademark white suit and black tie – with an added country twist – she sings: “I'm Colonel Sanders, the same as always.

“I'm definitely not a woman."

The singer, who will appear in the adverts until the end of April, told the Associated Press: "I got a big kick out of it."

When approached about the role the self-confessed fried chicken fan said: “Holy smokes! KFC has been a part of my life forever."

Ms McEntire will also play herself as an audience member watching the Colonel sing in the commercial.

It will promote the new Smoky Mountain BBQ – a burger filled with KFC’s famous secret recipe fried poultry doused in BBQ sauce.

Colonel Harland Sanders, who died 36 years ago, first started selling fried chicken from a single restaurant in 1930.

KFC, now owned by Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands Inc., resurrected the Colonel for its ads in 2015 after a nearly 20 year absence, hiring Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta and other famous men for the role.

The latest campaign was overseen by KFC's new chief marketing officer, Andrea Zahumensky.

"I think this is going to be our most-loved Colonel yet," she said.