Portrait of all the 'RHOA" Season 17 cast members

Reality TV News

Bravo Sets ‘RHOA’ Season 17 Premiere Date, Reveals Major Cast Shakeup

Pinky Cole and K. Michelle are joining the cast of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

by Megan Elliott

Published on February 24, 2026

2 min read

‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Season 17 premieres April 5

RHOA Season 17 premieres Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.

The new season of Real Housewives of Atlanta is “wilder than ever,” Bravo promises. “With fan favorites and new faces joining the mix, friendships are pushed to their limits. Atlanta is hotter, bolder and more unpredictable than ever and keeping it peachy is the ultimate challenge.”

Pinky Cole and K. Michelle join ‘RHOA’ cast

Two new Housewives will be joining the RHOA cast for season 17.

Pinky Cole is an award-winning restaurateur. She’s the founder and CEO of the restaurant empire Slutty Vegan and “one of the powerful entrepreneurs in America,” she declares in the trailer. As a Housewife, she’s determined to grow her circle of powerhouse bosses.

Also new to Bravo this season is platinum-selling country/R&B recording artist K. Michelle. She arrives with fresh energy as she prepares to plant new roots and shake things up with her bold opinions and unapologetic attitude.

“I’m on the biggest country music label,” she says. “And I don’t think people understand that pressure of being the only Black woman.”

Pinky and K. Michelle join returning Housewives Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell in the new season. Cynthia Bailey is back as a friend.

Brit Eady, Kenya Moore out at ‘RHOA’

Two RHOA Season 16 cast members won’t be back for the 2026 season.

Kenya Moore’s Housewife career was cut short after a controversial incident where she shared explicit photos of castmate Brit Eady at a public event. Bravo suspended her from filming midway through season 16. Unsurprisingly, she won’t return for season 17. But she’s hinted she’s interested in returning to the show in the future.

“Will I be part of the cast? As of now, no. That could change, I keep hearing a lot of different things. We have been in talks. But, as of this moment, it’s a no,” she said last summer (via ThatGrapeJuice.net).

Meanwhile, RHOA newcomer Brit has also decided not to return. She’s filed a $20 million lawsuit against Bravo and NBCUniversal related to the incident with Kenya.

OG cast member Shereé Whitfield is also not returning to RHOA. She was part of a major cast exodus ahead of season 16. At BravoCon last November, she confirmed that she’s turned down an offer to return for season 17.

“Money talks,” she said. “And it wasn’t speaking loudly enough.”