Kandi Burruss

Kandi Lenice Burruss is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Born on May 17, 1976, she first gained public attention in 1992 as a member of the multi-platinum R&B group Xscape. Burruss is also recognized for her prolific songwriting career, co-writing major international hit singles, and for her long-standing role on the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Burruss was born in College Park, Georgia, to the Reverend Titus Burruss Jr. and Joyce Jones. She attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia, graduating in 1994. Burruss had an older brother, Patrick Riley, who passed away in 1991. She made her television debut at age 15 on the BET series Teen Summit.

While in high school, Burruss formed Xscape alongside LaTocha Scott, Tamika Scott, and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. After performing on Teen Summit in 1992, the group signed with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. Xscape released three platinum-selling studio albums: Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha in 1993, Off the Hook in 1995, and Traces of My Lipstick in 1998, launching several top-ten singles before the members pursued separate paths.

Following Xscape's hiatus, Burruss transitioned into music production and songwriting. In 1999, she co-wrote major hits including "No Scrubs" by TLC, "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child, and "There You Go" by Pink. She released her debut solo album, Hey Kandi..., in 2000, featuring the top 40 Billboard Hot 100 single "Don't Think I'm Not," followed by her second solo album, Kandi Koated, in 2010. She later earned co-writing credits on Ed Sheeran's 2017 single "Shape of You."

Burruss joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta in its second season in 2009, becoming one of the franchise's longest-serving cast members before departing in 2024. Her success on the show spawned several Bravo spin-off series, including The Kandi Factory, Kandi's Wedding, Kandi's Ski Trip, Xscape: Still Kickin' It, and Kandi & the Gang. Burruss also won the third season of The Masked Singer, becoming its first female champion, and finished fifth on Celebrity Big Brother.

In addition to music and reality television, Burruss expanded into acting, business, and Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in Chicago in 2018 and joined the production team for Broadway's Othello in 2025. She earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Play for her production work on the 2022 revival of The Piano Lesson. Her other ventures include founding the brand Bedroom Kandi, hosting the show Kandi Koated Nights, and acting in the drama series The Chi.

Burruss has received several significant awards, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2000 for "No Scrubs." In the same year, she became the first African-American woman named ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year. Burruss has a daughter from a previous relationship and two children with Todd Tucker, whom she married in 2014 before their divorce was finalized in 2026.