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K. Michelle, the latest face to join the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over two decades. While she now shares the spotlight with Bravo’s reality stars, don’t expect her to hit the recording studio with fellow TV personalities like Scheana Shay or Erika Jayne anytime soon.
Originally from Memphis, K. Michelle honed her musical talents at Florida A&M University, where she studied music. She rose to fame in the R&B scene with her 2009 debut single “Fakin’ It,” featuring hip-hop legend Missy Elliott. After establishing herself in R&B for over ten years, K. Michelle announced a bold venture into country music in 2023. Her first country single, “Jack Daniel’s,” dropped last summer as the lead track from her forthcoming album, Puddin’, and she’s preparing to reveal its cover art soon.
As the sole African American artist signed to her country label, K. Michelle is determined to carve a space for Black artists in the country music landscape. “I have a lot on my back,” she shared with DECIDER. “I want this project to represent African Americans in country music. It’s also about paying homage to the music I grew up with. I was raised on The Judds. I want this album to be a masterpiece that reflects my love for and natural affinity with this style of music.”
K. Michelle’s entry into the country genre seems to have struck a chord with fans. In 2023, she collaborated with Jelly Roll and the Fisk Jubilee Singers on a cover of “Love Can Build a Bridge” for a tribute album to The Judds. Their live rendition at the Country Music Association Awards garnered a standing ovation. She has also been invited to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2025 CMA Fest and to pay tribute to Rissi Palmer with a cover of “Seed” at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Honors, an event featured on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
It certainly seems that K. Michelle’s transition into the country music scene has been widely embraced by music fans. In 2023, she recorded a cover of “Love Can Build a Bridge” featuring Jelly Roll and Fisk Jubilee Singers for The Judds tribute album. Her live performance of the song with Jelly Roll at the Country Music Association Awards earned a standing ovation. She was also invited to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 2025 CMA fest, and to honor Rissi Palmer with a cover of “Seed” at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Honors, which was shown in The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
While K. Michelle has been successfully expanding her sound over the last few years, she has no plans to cross those wires with her new gig in the Bravo universe. As fans know, there are plenty of Bravolebs who dabble in music. Aside from Jayne and Shay, The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga, The Real Housewives of New York City alum Luann de Lesseps, The Real Housewives of Miami star Adriana de Moura and The Real Housewives of Potomac alum Candiace Dillard Bassett have released their own songs. Even some of K. Michelle’s RHOA co-stars, like Drew Sidora and Shamea Morton, are known for their singing talents.
Still, K. Michelle has no desire to hop on a track with anyone whose fame stemmed from Bravo.
“No, I’m not a dabbler,” she said when asked if there was anyone from the network she’d like to collaborate with. “I’m super successful, I don’t need to dabble with any of them. There’s nobody I want to dabble with. I don’t really dabble with my gift.”
Shade aside, K. Michelle said she has “respect” for Kandi Burruss, former RHOA star, BravoCon’s 2025 Wifetime Achievement Award recipient, and founding member of the girl group, Xscape.
“I know of Kandi. We do have a lot of the same friends,” she said. “We just had a show on Sunday, me and Xscape. We’re R&B singers, so we happen to get to see each other often.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.