Why Kandi Burruss Still Supports ‘RHOA’ After Her Surprising 2024 Departure

Burruss spent 14 years on “RHOA” as a full-time cast member, and several of those seasons were spent at the center of the drama. However, she caught the Bravoverse off guard when she dropped the bombshell that she was leaving the show in 2024.

Burruss first joined “RHOA” as an official cast member in season 2, 2009. Since joining the series, Burruss has feuded with many of the program’s big-name stars, including NeNe Leakes, Kenya Moore, Marlo Hampton, Porsha Williams, and Phaedra Parks.

Despite no longer being in front of the cameras, Burruss remains a major advocate for the show and frequently cheers on longtime friends like Shamea Morton.

During an appearance on the “Question Everything” podcast, Burruss explained why she’s still a vocal supporter of the series despite walking away a few years ago.

“I think it’s important to continue to support the franchise even though I’m not there because I was there for 14 seasons, and I want them to be successful,” she said. “I want ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ to continue on another 15 years.”

For those unfamiliar, Burruss announced her departure from “RHOA” in 2024 while walking the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.

At the time, she told Variety that it was time for a break after a 15-year run. She also hinted that the network’s delay in finalizing the season 15 cast played a role in her decision to move on.

“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,” Burruss said.

Burruss also shared that she felt pushed to walk away from “RHOA” after those in her inner circle challenged her to think about her future.

“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,'” Burruss added.

Burruss didn’t let her departure from “RHOA” keep her down. According to The Blast, the Xscape singer revealed she was “more than excited” to leave the show behind her after years in the hot seat.

The constant cast friction wasn’t the only reason the mother of three left. In 2025, Burruss noted that stepping back from the series gave her the bandwidth she needed to focus on her growing business empire.

“I have big dreams, y’all,” she said. “Y’all know I want to win a Tony [Award].”

According to The Blast, Burruss dropped another major update in November 2025. Fresh off receiving the “Wifetime Achievement Award” at BravoCon, Burruss confirmed that she and Todd Tucker were ending their 11-year marriage.

“I’m stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family, and my own growth. I’m grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years, and I ask for privacy, grace, and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family,” she said.

To stay focused amidst the personal turmoil, the veteran TV star has poured her energy into her role as Angelique in the Broadway hit “& Juliet.”

While promoting her 2026 run in the musical, Burruss described the timing as “f-cking perfect” and spoke about the therapeutic power of returning to the stage.

“This show is so much fun that no matter what’s happening, it just takes you out of that space,” she said.

Burruss is no stranger to the Broadway stage, as she previously starred in “Chicago” as “Matron Mama Morton.”

“At first, I was a little nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Burruss said about her return. “I have not performed on Broadway in eight years, since Chicago. That’s a long time! And yeah, I toured with Xscape, and have done acting roles, but of course, I want to be on point, I want to be right! But I feel strong about it. I feel good. I feel ready to go.”