Melissa Reeves Set to Make Christmas Return to Days of our Lives

The annual Horton Family Christmas appears to be getting one of its own back to hang an ornament in person this year, as Melissa Reeves is reportedly on her way back to Days of our Lives in December.

Melissa Reeves Back To DAYS

TVLine, citing Kelli Gustafson, manager of the JnJ Classic Days Instagram account as well as an inside DAYS source, announced that Reeves will return as fan-favorite Jennifer Horton Deveraux, a role she has played for most of the last three decades.

She last appeared on the show more than a year ago, as Reeves did not want to commute from her home in Tennessee to Los Angeles during the pandemic, and the part was recast temporarily with soap vet Cady McClain.

McClain started appearing last October and her rendition of the legacy character earned her a Daytime Emmy win for Best Guest Performance—the actress’s third Daytime Emmy (for three different roles) in her career. She left the show in March when Jennifer went to Boston to sort out mom Laura’s things (though she has made occasional phone calls), and McClain made it clear she would return if needed.

But with Reeves ready to return, it looks like when Jennifer does come back to Salem, we’ll be seeing a face many DAYS fans have watched grow up onscreen.

DAYS head writer Ron Carlivati always noted that Jennifer would come back—regardless of who was playing her—as the character is one of the show’s most important long-standing parts. And while fans enjoyed McClain’s performance, Reeves is so immersed with the part that it only made sense for her to come back.

However, it’s unclear if Melissa Reeves (and Jennifer) is returning just for a holiday celebration or if she is coming back on a full-time basis.  DAYS often brings back fan-favorites for Christmas and special occasions, so this could just be a short stint.

DAYS fans are obviously hoping for more and would love to see Jennifer reunited with her beloved Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford), who has been missing her a lot — as he tries to handle his newfound daughter Gwen (Emily O’Brien) all on his own.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.