Kandi Burruss: From Xscape Hitmaker to Reality Star, Broadway Actress and Entrepreneur
At 50, Kandi Burruss has become a cross‑industry force, weaving together a career that spans R&B, television, theater, and business. She first rose to national prominence as a founding member of the Atlanta‑based R&B group Xscape, whose 1993 debut Hummin’ Comin’ at ’Cha went platinum and produced the top‑ten hits “Just Kickin’ It” and “Understanding.” Subsequent releases—Off the Hook (1995) and Traces of My Lipstick (1998)—also earned platinum status, and the group’s catalog now totals more than 12 million U.S. sales.
Beyond performing, Burruss carved out a prolific songwriting career. She co‑wrote TLC’s “No Scrubs,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and secured two Grammy Awards in 2000—Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. Her pen has appeared on tracks for Destiny’s Child (“Bills, Bills, Bills”), Pink (“There You Go”), Ariana Grande (“Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”), and Ed Sheeran (“Shape of You”). In 2000 she became the first Black woman to win ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year award.
Burruss launched a solo career with the 2000 single “Don’t Think I’m Not,” which peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by the album Hey Kandi…. She returned to the studio a decade later for a second solo album. Her television presence began in 2009 with The Real Housewives of Atlanta, where she appeared from season two through season fifteen. The series’ popularity spawned six spin‑offs, including The Kandi Factory, Kandi’s Wedding, Kandi’s Ski Trip, and Kandi & The Gang.
The entertainer also found success on Broadway. She debuted as Mama Morton in Chicago in 2018 and later produced the revival of Othello, which starred Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Burruss returned to the stage in & Juliet, playing Angélique in a limited run, and has held recurring roles on The Chi, Reasonable Doubt, and Insecure. In 2020 she made history as the first woman to win The Masked Singer.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Burruss has built a portfolio of business ventures. She co‑owns the Old Lady Gang restaurant chain and founded the intimacy and wellness company Bedroom Kandi, while also operating Kandi Koated Entertainment. In 2025, her restaurant Blaze Steak & Seafood faced a lawsuit alleging unpaid rent exceeding $150,000, and in 2026 she publicly expressed regret over opening multiple businesses with her former husband, Todd Tucker, following a settlement with a landlord.
Today, Burruss remains active across music, television, theater, and hospitality. Her songwriting catalog continues to be sampled and licensed, and her entrepreneurial activities keep expanding. No public announcements indicate a pause in her projects, suggesting she will remain a dynamic presence in both the entertainment and business arenas.
