You probably know her from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Or maybe you still have "No Scrubs" on your 90s throwback playlist. Honestly, it’s hard to exist in pop culture without bumping into Kandi Burruss. But 2026 has been a wild ride for her. While some reality stars fade into the background after they hand in their "peach," Kandi just keeps pivoting. It’s kinda her thing.
Right now, she's actually killing it on Broadway. Since December 2025, she’s been starring as Angélique in the hit musical & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. She’s signed on through March 8, 2026. If you haven’t seen the show, it basically flips the script on Shakespeare, and Kandi playing the nurse? It’s perfect. She’s called it her "therapy."
Why therapy? Well, life at home has been… messy.
The Todd Tucker Divorce Drama
Everyone saw this coming, yet nobody wanted it to happen. After 11 years of marriage, Kandi Burruss filed for divorce from Todd Tucker. It hasn't been the "amicable split" fans hoped for. By January 2026, the legal filings started getting loud.
Kandi basically alleged that Todd hasn't been pulling his weight with the kids, Blaze and Ace. We’re talking child support and actual parenting time. In court documents, she was pretty blunt, saying Todd’s "Daddy Daycare" social media posts were basically a façade.
Ouch.
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And then there's the money. She claimed he wasn't contributing to the mortgage or the kids' expenses while he was out vacationing across the globe. Todd, for his part, has been fighting to keep the divorce records public and trying to challenge their prenuptial agreement. It’s a far cry from the couple we watched build an empire together on Bravo.
Writing the Soundtrack of Our Lives
Before the reality TV cameras, Kandi was a pen-and-paper genius. People forget how deep her catalog goes. She didn't just write "No Scrubs" for TLC; she also wrote:
- Destiny’s Child: "Bills, Bills, Bills" (which is ironic now, right?)
- Pink: "There You Go" (Pink's debut!)
- Ed Sheeran: "Shape of You" (She has a credit because of the "No Scrubs" rhythm).
- Ariana Grande: "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored."
She was the first African-American woman to win the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award back in 2000. That’s legendary status. Most people don’t realize that those royalty checks are exactly why she never "needed" the Housewives paycheck. She was already wealthy when she joined the cast in Season 2.
The Business Empire: Not Everything is a Hit
Kandi is a serial entrepreneur. She’s got her hands in everything. Some of it is massive, like Bedroom Kandi. That sex toy line won AVN awards and has thousands of consultants making money. It’s a powerhouse.
But 2025 was a tough year for her restaurant ventures. Blaze Steak & Seafood in Atlanta hit a major wall. Landlords sued for over $200k in unpaid rent and repairs. It eventually closed down, following the flagship Old Lady Gang location closing its doors earlier.
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The internet has been pretty brutal about it. People say she spread herself too thin. Maybe. But in the world of business, if you aren't failing occasionally, you aren't trying enough things. She still has TAGS Boutique and Kandi Koated Cosmetics, so she’s far from broke. Her estimated net worth still sits comfortably around $30 million.
Why She Left RHOA After 14 Years
Kandi’s departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta in early 2024 felt like the end of an era. She was the longest-running housewife in history.
Why did she quit?
Honestly, she felt like the show was spinning its wheels. Bravo was taking too long to decide on the Season 16 cast, and Kandi doesn't like to wait. She had Broadway producing deals on the table—like The Wiz and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric The Entertainer).
She recently told Tamron Hall that the break gave her the space to focus on being a "real" performer again, rather than just a reality star. It’s a pivot that seems to be paying off, even if her personal life is in the middle of a storm.
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What’s Next for the Kandi Burruss Brand?
If you're looking for lessons from Kandi's career, it’s all about diversification. She doesn't have one stream of income; she has ten. When the restaurants struggled, the Broadway acting gig picked up. When the marriage hit the rocks, she threw her energy into producing.
What you can learn from the Kandi Burruss playbook:
- Protect your intellectual property: Those 90s songwriting credits are still paying her mortgage in 2026.
- Know when to walk away: Leaving a high-paying TV gig is scary, but staying too long can kill your brand.
- The "Pivot" is a skill: Moving from girl group singer to songwriter to reality star to Broadway actress requires a thick skin.
Keep an eye on the Joe Turner’s Come and Gone production later this year. Kandi is gunning for more Tony Awards, and with her track record, it's probably a safe bet. She might be dealing with a messy divorce, but Kandi Burruss has never been one to let a crisis stop her coin.
If you want to support her latest work, check out the dates for & Juliet in NYC before her run ends this March. It’s easily some of the best work she’s done in years.
Practical Next Steps:
- Check Broadway Listings: If you're in New York, Kandi is at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre through March 8, 2026.
- Review Your Own Portfolios: Follow Kandi’s lead—never rely on a single source of income.
- Listen to "The Burruss Banter": Her podcast is where she's been dropping the most candid details about the divorce and her business shifts.