A 16th season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is on the way!
While a release date has yet to be revealed, the Bravo reality series picked cameras back up over the summer to film the upcoming season.
So far, this season has seen PLENTY of drama on and off camera, with one cast member starting the season and leaving midway through filming.
After the cast was initially revealed and filming began, there was some major drama between a new housewife and a returning housewife, leading to one of them exiting the show. Now, another former RHOA star has stepped in to re-join the series, several years after leaving!
Kenya Moore – NO LONGER RETURNING
Kenya Moore confirmed in April 2024 that she will be back for the next season.
“I may be Gone With the Wind Fabulous, but I’m not Going anywhere! 🍑 #sweet16 #RHOA #kenyamoore #kenya #teamtwirl #muva #longeststandingpeach,” she captioned a video on Instagram.
Kenya joined the show in season five and starred until season 10. She was a guest for season 11 and returned as a full-time cast member for the next four seasons. We’ll have to wait to see if she’s returning!
On June 14, 2024, it was reported that Kenya was suspended from filming indefinitely while Bravo reviews an alleged incident with another cast member that happened while filming.
As of June 25, 2024, Kenya will now NOT be returning to filming for the remainder of the season following her suspension.
Find out what Kenya has said about the rumors surrounding her exit and the event the caused her to leave the show.
Phaedra Parks – RETURNING MID-SEASON
Phaedra Parks has stepped up to take the place left open by Kenya Moore‘s exit.
“You called. I answered 🍑#RHOA #S16,” she announced on her Instagram in late July.
Previously, Phaedra was a main cast member for seasons 3-9.
Phaedra is currently competing on the 33rd season of Dancing With the Stars, and she recently revealed another former RHOA housewife she wants to return to the show.
Porsha Williams – RETURNING
Porsha Williams has confirmed that she will return for season 16. She also signed an overall deal with NBCUniversal!
She joined the cast in season five for two seasons, went down to a “friend of” in season seven, before returning as a full time cast member in seasons 8-13. She then left the show once again for two seasons, before making her return in the upcoming 16th season.
If you missed it, it was recently revealed that Porsha filed for divorce from husband Simon Goubadia after just 15 months of marriage.
Drew Sidora – RETURNING
Drew Sidora was rumored to be returning, and she has now been confirmed!
Drew joined the show as a main cast member in season 13.
Cynthia Bailey – RETURNING
Cynthia is making her RHOA comeback!
She joined the show as a main cast member from seasons 3-13 before leaving for one season. Cynthia then returned as a guest in season 15 and will return as a friend of in the upcoming 16th season.
Shamea Morton – PROMOTED
Shamea Morton was rumored to return for the upcoming 16th season, and now she has been confirmed, but this time as a full time housewife!
She has appeared on the show across several seasons. Shamea first joined as a guest in seasons 5-7, then was a “friend of” in season eight, followed by a return as a guest for seasons 9-13 and season 15.
Kandi Burruss – LEAVING
Kandi Burruss has announced she is leaving the show for the new season.
The singer joined the cast in season two and has remained on a main cast member ever since, until now. While she is not returning for season 16 as she focuses on other projects, she hasn’t ruled out ever returning to the show in the future
Marlo Hampton is NOT returning for season 16.
“My contract with Real Housewives of Atlanta ended when season 15 wrapped,” Marlo shared with People. “This break from RHOA is a fresh start, allowing me the space to participate in new creative entertainment projects focused on my future, and not reliving my past.”
Marlo joined the cast in season four as a “friend of,” and returned as a guest in seasons six, eight and nine. She was a friend of for seasons 10-13, before joining as a main cast member for seasons 14 and 15.
Sanya Richards-Ross – LEAVING
Sanya Richards-Ross has been confirmed to exit the series after two seasons, following rumors she wasn’t going to return. Executive producer Andy Cohen confirmed she wouldn’t be back on the March 14th episode of his Sirius XM radio show Andy Cohen Live.
Sanya joined the show as a main cast member for seasons 14 and 15.
In December 2023, Sanya gave birth to her second child with husband Aaron Ross.
Sheree Whitfield – LEAVING
Sheree Whitfield‘s return status is up in the air and she was rumored to be returning as a friend of, however, she was left off of the cast list that was announced.
She is an original cast member for the first four seasons. She then returned as a friend of in season eight, before returning full time for seasons nine and ten. She then left again and returned as a guest in season 13, followed by a full-time return the next two seasons.
Courtney Rhodes – NOT RETURNING
Courtney Rhodes was a friend of in season 15, but it looks like she won’t be returning as she was not on the announced cast list.
Monyetta Shaw – POSSIBLY RETURNING
Monyetta Shaw was a friend of for the past two seasons. While she has not been included on any official cast lists, Monyetta is rumored to be returning as a guest in the new season.
Angela Oakley – JOINING
Angela Reed was rumored to join the cast in season 16, and she has been confirmed. It is unknown if she will hold a peach or will be a friend of.
She is married to former NBA player Charles Oakley.
Brittany Eady – JOINING
Brittany Eady, an insurance expert, was rumored to join the cast in season 16, and she has been confirmed. It is unknown if she will hold a peach or will be a friend of.
Kelli Ferrell – JOINING
Kelli, who is a cookbook author and restaurant owner, has joined the cast of the show. It is unknown if she will hold a peach or will be a friend of.
Nene Leakes – RUMORED TO RETURN
Nene Leakes was rumored to potentially return for season 16, however, TMZ reported mid-February that she is not returning. They reported that she is not in talks and producers have not reached out to her. When the cast was announced, she was not included, confirming she’s not coming back.
Nene was an original cast member, before leaving after season seven. She appeared as a guest in season eight, and returned full time for seasons 10-12.
Akilah Coleman – RUMORED TO JOIN
Akilah Coleman was rumored to be joining the cast of RHOA for season 16, but was not included in the announced cast list.
She is married to NFL player Tevin Coleman, who last played for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 season.
