“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was once the top-rated series on Bravo — and Cynthia Bailey wants to help bring the show back to its glory days.
The 57-year-old, who announced her return to the reality show in a “friend of” the cast role last week, unpacks her return to the franchise in an exclusive interview with Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast.
“I feel like the show has been just OK for the past couple of years. No shade, but it just has. And it has not thrived the way ‘Atlanta’ has always thrived,” says Bailey.
“We were No. 1 for so long. And to watch it not be No. 1 was really hard, even sitting on the sidelines. It really, really was,” Bailey elaborates. “So I think some new blood was needed and from what I can tell, these ladies seem like they really have it going on and I’m so excited to meet them.”
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“I’ve always been open to the idea of popping in and out as a friend. I did it last season. My fans loved it, I loved it,” she says of her frequent “RHOA” Season 15 cameos.
“Bravo was able to work around my schedule just letting me get in where I fit in.”
For Season 16 — which features a retooled cast with series veterans, plus several newbies — the network requested more of Bailey’s presence.
“So when it came up again this season, I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll just do what I did last season. I’ll just pop in when I’m in Atlanta,’” she explains.
“And they made it known to me that they were interested in me being a full-time friend, being a friend in a more official capacity this time.”
The multi-hyphenate’s first taste of fame came in the ‘90s as an in-demand model whose peers included such pioneering black catwalk queens as Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Beverly Johnson and Iman.
Her second act came in 2010 when she signed on to “RHOA,” maintaining a full-time position on the Bravo hit for 11 consecutive seasons. She stepped down as a peach-holder after filming 2021’s Season 13 and subsequently launched an acting career.
“We went back and forth trying to work it out. You guys know that my focus and my priority is still my acting career. I just booked my first lead!” raves the bicoastal star, who lives between Atlanta and Los Angeles.
“But we were able to work it out with [‘RHOA’]. I signed everything and I couldn’t be back more excited to join the girls.”
The “RHOA” Season 16 cast features returning stars Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore and Drew Sidora. Longtime “friend of” the cast Shamea Morton is picking up a peach for the first time as a full-timer, while Brittany Eady, Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley will be making their debuts as “Housewives.”
The cast shakeup — which includes the departures of Kandi Burruss, Marlo Hampton, Sanya Richards-Ross and Shereé Whitfield — comes after Season 15’s ratings slumped, causing fans to call for changes.
As for Whitfield’s absence from the forthcoming installment, the CB VIOR designer says she was “disappointed” by the news.
“I think she definitely adds a certain level of, ‘Who gon’ check me, boo?’ to the show that nobody else brings,” she says, referencing Whitfield’s iconic one-liner from Season 2.
“Like, Shereé will get in there and she’s done the whole bone collector thing. She’s going to ask those hard questions for sure. So I think she definitely will be missed by her fans 100 percent.”
However, Bailey is thrilled that Sidora, 39, is back for another round of unscripted drama.
“I was not surprised that Drew was returning,” she says of the singer, whose split from now-estranged husband Ralph Pittman was covered during the final stretch of Season 15.
“I feel like Drew has a lot of story and I felt like she carried a lot of last season, so I think it makes sense to bring her back.”
Bailey also thinks Morton, 42, moving into a full-time “Housewife” role makes sense.
“Let me just say, Shamea is a good time 100 percent. She has been around the group for years. So I’m excited to see her in a peach-holder capacity,” she says. “She has such amazing story, everything that’s happening in her family, her daughter in particular.”
Morton’s infant daughter, Shiloh, underwent surgery in 2023 for choanal atresia, a congenital condition involving a narrowing of the rear of one’s nasal cavity that makes breathing difficult.
“I think her fans that have children that have had any serious health issues will definitely resonate with Shamea’s story for sure,” Bailey adds. “She’s one of the strongest people that I know.”
As Morton moves into a more involved role, the Cynthia Bailey Wine Cellar founder is looking forward to watching conflict and catfights play out during filming — without feeling the pressure of having to start any herself.
“I’ve been on both sides now, both sides of the track: peach-holder and a friend. When you actually get that peach in your hand, it’s a different ballgame,” she tells “Virtual Reali-Tea.”
“Listen, [let me] be very clear. I am the only official friend this season. I will definitely help this show move along but the peach-holders will definitely be doing all the heavy lifting. They will be doing the heavy lifting. That is above my pay grade!”
Production for “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Season 16 has started, though Bravo has yet to announce a premiere date.
