Andy Cohen called Kandi Burruss 'one of the greats' as he reflected on her impact following her announcement she is quitting The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Burruss, 47, announced her departure from the show after 14 seasons during a red carpet interview at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Cohen, 55, reflected on her legacy on his show, Radio Andy, recalling how viewers got to know Burruss over the years, her contributions to the show, and how a letter she wrote to Bravo during the racial reckoning of 2020 made waves within the network.
'Incredible run, and you think about how much she not only went through on the show but brought to the show. When she came on, she was with AJ. He, between filming our first season and shooting the reunion, was killed,' Cohen said
'She lost him. Mama Joyce was disapproving of AJ in her first season. This was season two of Atlanta. It was Kandi‘s first season. She also, in those early seasons, did the music and wrote Tardy for the Party, which has become, you know, canon.
Andy Cohen called Kandi Burruss 'one of the greats' as he reflected on her impact following her shock announcement she is quitting The Real Housewives of Atlanta
'I mean, it’s just iconic to the moment. She fell in love with Todd. He was working for Truly Original when they were on their trip in Africa. She brought us Mama Joyce. She brought us Bolo, she brought us the dungeon, bedroom Kandi, Don Juan, the Old Lady Gang. I mean, it goes on and on.
'She was always very true to herself. She wanted to be the best. She has been one of my favorite people to work with in my whole time first, as an exec at Bravo, and then as an EP of The Housewives and just, you know, hosting Watch What Happens Live.
'I love how competitive she is. I love how thoughtful and smart she is. She is so strategic. She would call me anytime. She had a thought about either the way the show was being marketed or not marketed or about the way that it was being scheduled or she had a lot of really smart opinions and thoughts and she always wanted to, she was always wanting to know more. "What’s your strategy here? What are you thinking?"
'It was always a great dialogue, and then sometimes at the end of the conversation, she would say, "You know what? I’m glad I called. I totally get it now." Sometimes she would say, "Y’all are wrong," and you know, and a lot of times by the way, she was right. So you know, there’s that. She always brought her authentic self to whatever she was doing and I’m excited also because she just came into the show with her own, obviously her own name and her career. I mean, she’s got a huge thing... She’s a Grammy-winning songwriter and performer.
'One of the reasons I love having her on the radio when she comes through town or anything. I mean, she wrote Bills, Bills, Bills, No Scrubs. The list goes on and on. She worked with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey. She’s in Mariah Carey‘s autobiography. I mean, she’s got a long history as a songwriter and performer, and now, you know, as a producer of Broadway shows and actress… I know that she’s going to continue being a success in everything she does.'
He also described how a letter she wrote to Bravo during the racial reckoning of 2020 made waves within the network.
'During the summer of 2020, which was a reckoning for all of us on many levels, she wrote such a thoughtful letter to all of us at Bravo and truly original with some really valid and true thoughts about the way that we could be conducting business differently that might be just more inclusive, more positive, more meaningful, and it led to a great conversation between she and the network, and I believe the network then took it seriously enough that they basically made them all action items and said, "Well we need to do all of this now." That's a partner. That's someone who's like, "We are in this together, we have a long history, this is what I'm seeing that's going on, this is how it could be better."'
Andy also said: 'She is one of the greats and I want everyone to know it. So thank you Kandi for your service.'
Cohen also shared a post in honor of Burruss following her announcement on Instagram
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He shared memories with Burruss in the post
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'What can I say about @kandi !? One of the greats! A superstar! What a run! #Worldwide #RHOA,' he captioned the post
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Burruss pictured with other fellow stars of the Housewives franchise
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Kandi Burruss shares her excitement over her Emmy nomination
Andy shared similar sentiments in a post he shared to Instagram following her announcement. Posting snaps of them together, he captioned the share: 'What can I say about @kandi !? One of the greats! A superstar! What a run! #Worldwide #RHOA.'
Kandi announced that she's leaving The Real Housewives Of Atlanta on Sunday during a red carpet interview at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
The reality star talked about her decision with Variety's On the Carpet while attending the star-studded 66th Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena.
'I'm not really keeping up right now,' Kandi said when asked about the Bravo reality show.
'I'm not keeping up. I already said it, so I'll tell you. I decided I'm not coming back this year. It's been 14 seasons, and they allowed us to sit around for a little too long, but during that time I had started working on a lot of other things, and I got some nice big projects coming soon, so I'm super excited about those things,' Kandi added.
'But it's not just that,' she continued. 'It's just like, after you really have time to think, and a friend of mine was like, 'Why do you keep doing it?' And I was like, ''Well, I think because I've just been doing it for so long, it feels weird to think not to do it?'' So I was just like, ''You know what? I'm going to take a break, I'm going to take a moment… I'm not coming back this year''.'
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Burruss announced that she's leaving The Real Housewives Of Atlanta on Sunday during a red carpet interview at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Season 15 of RHOA concluded in September 2023 and Bravo afterward made it clear the cast would be changed.
Bravo has yet to announce the new cast, but it is believed that a few cast members will return unlike the complete cast overhaul prior to season 14 of The Real Housewives Of New York City.
Kandi previously vented her frustration over Bravo taking its time with its casting decisions.
'They still haven't told everybody who they're bringing back. Yeah, they're over here — they're being real — [they're] trippin'!',' she exclaimed during an Amazon Live segment.
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The 47-year-old reality star shown in a promo for season 15 of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, talked about her decision with Variety's On the Carpet while attending the 66th Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena
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The Georgia native is shown in 2009 when she joined RHOA during season two of the Bravo show
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'But it's not just that,' Kandi said on the carpet at the Grammys. 'It's just like, after you really have time to think, and a friend of mine was like, 'Why do you keep doing it?' And I was like, ''Well, I think because I've just been doing it for so long, it feels weird to think not to do it?'' So I was just like, ''You know what? I'm going to take a break, I'm going to take a moment… I'm not coming back this year'''
Singer and songwriter Kandi joined RHOA in 2009 during the second season of the Bravo show and viewers over the years have seen her meet and marry her husband Todd Tucker while also getting to meet their two children.
Kandi and Todd also starred in the spin-off series Kandi's Wedding.
The Georgia native first gained prominence in 1992 as a member of the R&B female vocal group Xscape.
Kandi has parlayed the fame she's gained on the Bravo show by creating several successful Atlanta restaurants and the sex toy company Bedroom Kandi.
