K. Michelle, one of the newest additions to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has been in the music scene for over 20 years
— and while she is now a part of the Bravo universe, it doesn’t mean she’ll be booking a studio session with Scheana Shay or Erika Jayne in the near future … or possibly ever.
The Memphis-born singer—who studied music at Florida A&M University (FAMU)—made her name in the R&B genre with the 2009 release of her debut hit single “Fakin’ It” featuring Missy Elliott. After more than a decade in the R&B music space, K. Michelle announced her transition to the country music genre in 2023. She released “Jack Daniel’s,” the lead single off her upcoming country album, Puddin’, last summer, and she’s now gearing up to unveil the album cover.
With this new album, K. Michelle—who is currently the only African American signed to her country label—aims to represent Black artists in the country music genre.
“I have a lot on my back,” she told DECIDER. “I want to make sure that this project is representation of African Americans in country music. I also want to make sure that it is my honor and respect to the music that I grew up in. I grew up on The Judds. I want to make sure that this album is a masterpiece, and that it shows my love and the type of music that I naturally have always been singing.”
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.
