Andy Cohen Said Bravo ‘Couldn’t’ Celebrate 20 Years of ‘Housewives’ Without NeNe Leakes

Nearly six years after she left the network, NeNe Leakes will be back on Bravo. Leakes, who left The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2020 and filed a lawsuit against Bravo in 2022, will appear on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip this year. Andy Cohen said it would be nearly impossible to celebrate the iconic franchise without Leakes.

Andy Cohen is happy to see NeNe Leakes back on Bravo

After a period of speculation, Leakes confirmed that she would appear on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. The show will celebrate 20 years of the Housewives franchise by sending stars on a cross-country road trip.

“I’m happy, overjoyed, to say that I will be returning to Bravo,” Leakes said in an emotional Instagram video. “I almost can’t even believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. I’m so happy. I’m just so happy.”

She thanked Cohen and other executives for pushing to get her on the show. Cohen himself said he is excited to see Leakes’ return to the network. He didn’t think they could possibly celebrate the milestone anniversary without the iconic Housewife. 

“Couldn’t celebrate 20 years without you,” he wrote in a comment on Leakes’ video. 

He also spoke about her return on Radio Andy.

“She’s gonna be making an appearance. When we go to Atlanta, she’s gonna be there,” he said, adding, “People are really happy about it. Listen, we are going to be celebrating 20 years of Housewives, and it would be hard … to without her. And so I’m happy about it.”

The show will premiere in 2026.