Andy Cohen Reacts to Kandi Burruss Leaving 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' After 14 Seasons

“Incredible run, and you think about how much she not only went through on the show but brought to the show. When she came on, she was with AJ. He, between filming our first season and shooting the reunion, was killed. She lost him. Mama Joyce was disapproving of AJ in her first season. This was season two of Atlanta. It was Kandi‘s first season. She also, in those early seasons, did the music and wrote ‘Tardy for the Party,’ which has become, you know, canon,” he began.

“I mean, it’s just iconic to the moment. She fell in love with Todd. He was working for Truly Original when they were on their trip in Africa. She brought us Mama Joyce. She brought us Bolo, she brought us the dungeon, bedroom Kandi, Don Juan, the Old Lady Gang. I mean, it goes on and on. She was always very true to herself. She wanted to be the best. She has been one of my favorite people to work with in my whole time,” he continued.

“First, as an exec at Bravo, and then as an EP of The Housewives and just, you know, hosting Watch What Happens Live. I love how competitive she is. I love how thoughtful and smart she is. She is so strategic. She would call me anytime she had a thought about either the way the show was being marketed or not marketed or about the way that it was being scheduled or she had a lot of really smart opinions and thoughts and she always wanted to, she was always wanting to know more. ‘What’s your strategy here? What are you thinking?’ It was always a great dialogue, and then sometimes at the end of the conversation, she would say, ‘You know what? I’m glad I called. I totally get it now.’ Sometimes she would say, ‘Y’all are wrong,’ and you know, and a lot of times, by the way, she was right, so you know, there’s that. She always brought her authentic self to whatever she was doing and I’m excited also because she just came into the show with her own, obviously her own name and her career. I mean, she’s got a huge thing…she’s a Grammy-winning songwriter and performer.”

Andy went on to gush about her contributions.

“One of the reasons I love having her on the radio when she comes through town or anything. I mean, she wrote ‘Bills, Bills, Bills,’ ‘No Scrubs.’ The list goes on and on. She worked with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey. She’s in Mariah Carey‘s autobiography. I mean, she’s got a long history as a songwriter and performer, and now, you know, as a producer of Broadway shows and actress…I know that she’s going to continue being a success in everything she does.”

Listen to his full statement above, and find out who is the richest Housewife in all of Housewives history.