Luann de Lesseps admittedly had her concerns about joining The Golden Life.
“Well, at first I said no,” Luann, 61, exclusively shares in Us’ annual Reality Stars of the Year issue, which features the Golden Life cast on the cover, citing scheduling conflicts that initially kept her from signing onto the new series. “I just wanted to be back with the OGs, with my girls, and to go on vacation in Palm Beach? I’m in.”
TV viewers were first introduced to Luann on the inaugural season of The Real Housewives of New York City in 2008, in which she starred until her exit in 2021’s season 13. Nearly five years later, Luann joined forces with other former RHONY OGs Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley and Kelly Bensimon for a Palm Beach-set spinoff.
“I hope that we’re inspirational. At this age, we’re still fabulous and still working, which is really great,” Luann teases of the new E! series, also telling Us that her boyfriend, Michael Riemerschmid, will join her on screen. “The ladies love Michael, so they’re very supportive of it.”
Luann, who posited that she was the “only one [who] really has a boyfriend” on Golden Life, gushed that it was seamless welcoming Michael into the reality TV fold.
“Michael is very comfortable with who he is, so he’s great on the show — even in the most challenging situations,” she says of her boyfriend of three years, adding that her beau has brought her peace and confidence. “I’m busier than I’ve ever been in my life, and it’s about staying focused and about staying grounded. That helps with my confidence, so I do yoga, meditation, and I have a guy in my life now, so he helps a lot.”
In addition to showing off her enduring bond with Michael, the Golden Life gave Luann the chance to reconnect with her former Bravo colleagues.
“There was really a lapse in seeing Sonja because she actually moved to Florida, so she doesn’t live in New York anymore. I hadn’t seen her in a while,” Luann acknowledges. “I was really happy to spend all that quality time with Sonja. She’s my girl.”
In addition to her bond with Sonja, 62, Luann notes how Dorinda, 61, was her Golden Life “ride or die.”
“Her and I have gotten very close. We both are in New York. You know, Ramona and Sonja are in Florida most of the time,” she says. “Dorinda and I have our morning coffees, I send her a coffee emoji … [and[ we talk all the time, and we’re super close these days.”
Ahead of the highly anticipated Golden Life, Luann remains hopeful the new episodes show a new side of herself.
“I think that people see me living my life and I’m comfortable with my life; I’m happy, I’m in a relationship. My kids are doing great, [and] I have a new home in the Hamptons,” she says, addressing fan perceptions. “I think what people don’t understand about me is that I work really hard. The cabaret keeps me very busy. There’s a lot of work that goes into cabaret. It’s not as easy as it looks because I recreate my show all the time, learning new music all the time.”
Amid her RHONY tenure, Luann embarked on a cabaret career in 2017 and now headlines her own concerts across the globe — which she hinted will even be featured on Golden Life.
“I would have never dreamt that I’d be touring with [a] cabaret career, totally separate from the show,” Luann tells Us. “Literally, cabaret did save my life in so many ways. You’ve seen me fall, you see me get back up and rise, and so, I’m really proud of that.”
The Golden Life premieres on E! Tuesday, October 20, at 10 p.m. ET with a special 90-minute episode. The series will continue to air on E! Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
For more from Luann and the Golden Life cast, pick up Us‘ Reality Stars of the Year issue, out this week.
