Luann de Lesseps – or the Countess Luann, as fans of “The Real Housewives of New York” might know her – never thought cabaret would become her main gig.
De Lesseps started doing cabaret almost seven years ago, and on Dec. 2 and 3, she is bringing her show, “A Very Countess Christmas,” to City Winery in Atlanta. The show promises plenty of music, mischief, laughter, and holiday cheer.
Since leaving “The Real Housewives of New York, de Lesseps has stayed busy. She has a new single out called “Marry F Kill,” and recently wrapped up filming a new Bravo dating show, “Love Hotel.” Ahead of the show, Rough Draft Atlanta talked with de Lesseps about the show, her thoughts on the new cast of “The Real Housewives of New York,” and her new Christmas song featuring friend and “Housewives” cast mate Sonja Morgan.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You’ve been doing a cabaret show since 2018. Did you still think you would be doing this six years later? Can you talk about how the show and your performance style has evolved over the years?
Luann de Lesseps: You know, when I first started … it was because a friend of mine said, listen – you love to sing for your friends, you love to tell jokes, and you love to entertain. So you should be doing cabaret. I started, really, with variety in mind. I grew up on Carol Burnett, so she’s always been my inspiration. I love variety shows. I loved the “Cher” show. So it started, really, as a variety show, and it had a lot of huge stars in it. I had Rachel Dratch from “Saturday Night Live.” I’ve had Bridget Everett [from “Somebody Somewhere”], who’s a big star now. Lance Bass has been in my show. I’ve had amazing talent in my show. Then, you know, as I progressed I just realized that really, the people just came to see me [laughs]. So it morphed into Countess Cabaret, and then many iterations after that.
But to answer your question, no. I did not expect it to become what it has become. The proof is in my shows that are selling out everywhere. Because I put on a great show. Most people don’t realize that, because with the “Housewives” you don’t really see all that, because of music rights, etc. So they’re always showing the drama around my cabaret, but they’re never showing what I really do. So when people come, they’re like – oh my god! This is a great show.
I work really hard at it. My director is Richard Jay-Alexander, who has directed Kristin Chenoweth, Barbra Streisand, to name a few. I get to work with such icons, but it’s really my music that I love and pick. It’s like a big sing-along. People are engaged, people are having a great time, because they’re immersed into the show. I play games with them – we’re going to play Marry, F, Kill, that’s for sure. I just wrote a new holiday song, called, “Sonja Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” which is hysterical. So I take Christmas and I kind of turn it on its head and I make it my own.
That’s what cabaret is about. You know, people often wonder, what is cabaret? It’s the personal stories that lend to the music. And a lot of music you guys know, because I’ve been singing it on the show, and I even have my own Christmas songs besides the ones that I cover and “What Do I Want for Christmas?”, written by Bruce Roberts, who wrote for Whitney Houston and all the biggies. I love that song.
I take you on a pop culture journey, cabaret, comedy, and fashion show. Because I’ll be wearing Jovani!
Of course, I wouldn’t expect anything less. It’s funny you mention the thing about music rights. I didn’t even think about that, but of course that would cut out some of the musical bits.
De Lesseps: Totally. The only thing you got to see a part of was maybe “Money Can’t Buy You Class.” And you know I’m gonna be singing “Money!”
I hope so.
De Lessep: Of course, of course! I often say, people drive in in a Toyota and they drive out in a Rolls Royce. We put on a great show. People are immersed. The audience is just amazing, because they know a part of who I am, but then they get to see another side of who I am, which is the cabaret performer. I just love it, and people can see that. You love something or you don’t, you know? And I just enjoy myself. I love the fans. I love going out and playing Europe, as well. I did a number of shows over in Europe, and I’m going back in February because they were so successful. I’m thrilled that the show has gotten to where it is, and I’ve grown so much vocally and creatively in terms of putting together the show and writing the comedy. I’ve been writing new notes for the shows coming up – I had to include Andy Cohen in there somewhere, so that’s what I did.
I love the creative part, and I just enjoy it. I really do. People are like, aren’t you tired of touring? I’m like, no! I love it. And I travel with six boys – I’ve got my three gay boys and my three straight boys, and the band. It’s like the Brady Bunch. We have the best time on the road.
You mentioned working with Richard Jay-Alexander, and also Brian Nash. As you said, they’ve worked with a ton of famous names – what has that collaboration aspect been like for you? What is that relationship like?
De Lesseps: Well, it really goes like this. I really pick the music that I love, and then we work together on – you know, maybe I do a cover, and then they’ll help me in personalizing what that cover is for me. Because sometimes they see things that I don’t, you know what I mean? For example, I sing “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” Tina Turner, right? And my director goes, at the very end Luann – you do your pose, and you point up to the sky, and you say, “TINA!” He’s a director, right? He creates those magical moments you see that I wouldn’t necessarily think of.
But really, what I sing is really mine. For example, I [told] them I want to sing, for the holidays, “Lay Down Sally,” from Eric Clapton. They were like, what? What does that have to do with the holidays? Well now it’s, “Lay Down Santa.” You know, I like to take Christmas music, turn it on its head.
Do you have a favorite moment from the show? Can you tease anything?
De Lesseps: I can’t wait for the fans to see the video package I put together for “Sonja Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” I die of laughter every time I look at it. It’s all the clips from all the holiday parties we’ve had on “Housewives,” and it is hysterical. I can’t wait for the fans to see that and hear this new song. And guess what? I’m gonna have the words on the screen, so they’re gonna sing along with me. It’s a big party. It’s a sing along. It’s a great time. People are going to have the best time of the show.
And everyone should know that melody.
De Lesseps: Of course! Who doesn’t know [singing], “Sonja got run over by a reindeer, coming back from Blue Stone Christmas Eve. You can say there’s no such thing as Santa, but as for me and all the OGs, we believe.” There’s a tease for you! [laughs]
I want to talk about “Marry F Kill” just a little bit. Where did the idea for the song come from and how did you come up with the music video?
De Lesseps: Every show I was doing for my cabaret, I was doing Q&A with the audience. Every single Q&A, I got a, “Countess – Marry, F, Kill?” Now, I didn’t even know what Marry, F, Kill was until I started doing cabaret, because, believe it or not, we never played it on “Housewives.” Which is so weird to me, that we never played it on the show, because a lot of girls love to play Marry, F, Kill. So anyway, show after show, I would be playing Marry, F, Kill with the fans. I was like, wait a second – this is my next song. Actually, the game is F, Marry, Kill. But what I did was took it, because it sounds better lyrically, and made it Marry, F, Kill. So the creative was really my fans, that’s how I came up with the idea.
You’ve got a new “Housewives” dating show spin-off in the works. Can you talk a little bit about that?
De Lesseps: I can’t say too much. It’s the first dating show for Bravo. It’s out there – I go with a couple of Housewives, and we go to a “Love Hotel.” We already filmed it. It’s coming out in 2025 next spring. I’m excited for the fans to see me dating [laughs]. You know, because I’m always in trouble with a boy on the show. I had a great time shooting that show, and I think the fans are really gonna love it.
Do you have any thoughts on the new New York Housewives? I haven’t been keeping up too much, but a lot of my friends have, and I think the one thing they’ve pointed out is that it seems like the OGs had a lot of history – there were actual friendships and relationships there – and that’s kind of missing from this one.
De Lesseps: I agree. I think that our show was so successful because it was real. It was real friendships. We know where all the skeletons are buried about each other, do you know what I mean? There’s a long history there, and I think that makes a big difference when it comes to these “Housewives” franchises. [The new cast are] all lovely, and they’re all successful in their own right, but you know, it’s not the same thing. They’re not us. It was a time in our lives, and you know, we just had a lot going on, independently of each other, while knowing each other at the same time.
Listen, I only wish them the best. I’ve got so many other projects coming up with cabaret, “Love Hotel” coming out, I’m in talks with other projects. But we’ll see! You never know what’s gonna happen, right? Watch what happens, like Andy says.