Catch Kandi of Xscape on 7/30/09@10pm in Real Housewives of Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — Why would an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and single mother want to tack reality TV star onto her long list of accomplishments? Kandi Burruss says she is happy to join the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast. Kandi Burruss says she is happy to join the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast. For Kandi Burruss, the newest member of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, the answer is simple: “I was a fan last year. I love the show.” The second season of Bravo’s hit show is set to premier on Thursday with Burruss replacing cast member DeShawn Snow. Burruss is well-known in the music industry as a former member of the platinum-selling R&B girl group Xscape and co-writer of such hits as Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” and TLC’s “No Scrubs,” for which she won a Grammy. The Atlanta native almost ended up on another reality show with former group mate and writing partner Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, who is the fiancée of rapper T.I. and now stars on BET’s “Tiny & Toya” alongside Antonia “Toya” Carter, the ex-wife of Lil’ Wayne. The deal for that show didn’t work out and Burruss said she was more than happy to sign on with Bravo’s wildly successful southern edition of the “Housewives” franchise, which chronicles the lives of a group of affluent African-American women in the ATL. Don’t Miss Summer TV shows not so hot for critics, bloggers Burruss was already friendly with cast mate Lisa Wu Hartwell, whom she met through their mutual friend Cottle. Read More…