From “No Scrubs” to Real Power: How Kandi Burruss Won by Lifting Others

10:06Danielle:What's that? See, y 'all don't have that in Chicago. No, and I'm going in two weeks.

10:10Kandi Burruss:So please tell me. So the Beltline is like a walking path that they basically made all around the city. It's super cool because people are always walking, riding bikes. It's like restaurants alongside. So you like to people watch and talk and just be out amongst the people. You know, you just go to the Beltline and walk and eat, talk, laugh.

10:34Danielle:Thank you for that. I'm taking my mom for her birthday in a few weeks. Oh, cool. So thank you. I've always been curious what your final scene was like. On Real Housewives. Do you remember what it was? I don't even remember. Did you feel emotional?

10:47Kandi Burruss:No. Well, I mean, when I filmed my final scene, I hadn't decided if that was going to be my final scene or not.

10:56Danielle:Oh, that kind of helps.

10:57Kandi Burruss:Yeah. So basically, I knew that my contract was up. And so that allowed me to have the opportunity to decide if I was leaving or staying. because like normally every year because they have more options they can just pick up their option and make me have to go straight back to work so that particular year you know I knew that my contract was gonna be up so you know my team and they were all talking back and forth you know negotiating whether or not I was gonna leave or if I was gonna stay and I was just like I don't I don't know. Me and Todd actually had been talking about it. I was like, what if I just don't go back this year?

11:39Kandi Burruss:And we were just like going back and forth in our minds like, OK, what does that look like? You know, if I don't go back, you know, because obviously that's the cute little check I'm leaving. How I'm going to make up for that check. Right. And, you know, what else do I plan to do? And, you know, and I was just like, I really wanted to go after more of the dreams that I had. So I don't know if you remember my last season of the show. So they were kind of getting mad at me because I was always gone.

12:06Danielle:They meaning Bravo?

12:07Kandi Burruss:Well, the girls in production. So the girls felt like it wasn't fair. So I don't know if you know, I left that trip early. So they had a cash trip that was Portugal, wasn't it? I think it was Portugal. That was when Kenya fell and hurt herself. And I was only there a day. And I had to leave because I had some shows that I already booked with Escape. And I was like, it's not my fault, y 'all. Put y 'all on the trip. On a day, I already had a show. I'm not canceling my show. So I'll come hang out with y 'all. And they was like, you got to at least come for a day or two. And I'm like, okay, well, I'll come for a day.

12:42Kandi Burruss:But I'm flying all the way out there to be there for a day and turn around and coming back because I got a show. So and it was some other things, unless I had filmed with the shy, I believe. So I was gone a couple of days doing that. So I was always leaving them and coming back, leaving them and coming back. And, you know, sometimes the girls felt like it was unfair, you know, that I wasn't obligated in their mind to do everything that everybody else was doing. So people was having too much to say. And I get it. But at the same time, it's like I know I have dreams. I have goals. So in fairness, I'm like, it's not going to change.

13:21Kandi Burruss:So I was like, I really should just go ahead.

13:24Danielle:You felt it was time to go for it. Yeah. Because you did act a little bit early on. Was that like the taste that had always been on your heart since then?

13:33Kandi Burruss:It's been on my heart since I was in high school. I went to performing arts school for drama and musical theater. And I was in the Youth Onsumble of Atlanta. So it was like a dream since childhood that I wanted to be an actress.

13:45Danielle:Can we talk about the performing arts school, though, for a second? Because this is not any performing arts school. This is like an incubator for 90s stars.

13:53Kandi Burruss:Yeah, a lot of people don't know that. So that's where I met my group, Escape. Myself, Tamika, and Tasha, we all went there. Outkast went to school, so they were at school at the same time we were.

14:05Danielle:Andre and Big Boy. Both of them, yeah. And then T-Boz, too, right?

14:09Kandi Burruss:So Tri-Cities is actually three rival schools that they put together to make one school. As they were building the new building, I guess they had it in another building. And she went there, I guess, first, but before they moved to the new building. And that's when we went.

14:27Danielle:Knowing them in high school, does it make sense where everybody is now?

14:31Kandi Burruss:Yeah, well, I didn't know Tiana. Tiana's a little bit older than me. So I didn't know her when she went. But I remember when they were still trying to figure out their look. So they came to school and they had blonde hair. Everybody was like, what are they doing? But they were like, you know, trying out things. And also my friend, Kawan Prather, KP, they call him. He's like a big A &R producer, a Grammy winner as well. He went there at the same time. He's the one that like A &R Usher's albums. A &R, like some of the best albums that came out from that time, you know, that everybody's making music.

15:07Kandi Burruss:He was a part of those albums. Kenan from Saturday Night Live. He went to Tri-Cities. Wingo from Jagged Edge. He went to try. So he was my classmate. We got most talented together. And I actually was the one who took them to Jermaine. Like I was managing them when they first started. So I got them their deal.

15:24Danielle:You were managing them?

15:25Kandi Burruss:Yeah. So what happened was... But you were already a star. Well, yeah. Okay. So what had happened was when I went to high school and we got our record deal when I was in the 11th grade. So I went into my senior year with songs on the radio already. Okay. So I was an artist.

15:41Danielle:And you stayed in school? Yeah.

15:43Kandi Burruss:So basically in my senior year, I pretty much had all my credits. I only needed a couple more credits. So my teachers, they worked with me. So when I was out of town for shows, they would send my work with me. And then I would come back to school, take the test. So when I wasn't out of town, I went to school with everybody else. I was going to school just like all the regular everyday kids. But did you feel regular? I did. And then some of those teachers made sure I felt regular because some of them, you know, was kind of trying to be extra hard because I missed so many. Okay, my fitness teacher, she wanted to make me run miles for every day I missed school.

16:19Kandi Burruss:It was like, okay, you're doing the most. You know what I'm saying? Because I missed the day we did CPR, I had to get a fireman to come and do an individual class just so I could pass the CPR and get that certificate. But it was just like, okay, great. But the main class I needed was my history class and like English class. I think I finished everything else. They wouldn't let me do the half day, which I was mad about that. So I just did performing arts in the two class. And I think I had one semester of math.

16:55Danielle:You're a person who is a true multi-hyphenate. And why that look?

17:01Kandi Burruss:What you about to set me up for? What's the question?

17:03Danielle:Well, I don't know that a lot of people can actually do that well. They say they're multi-hyphenates. I think Tiana Taylor probably does it well.

17:11Kandi Burruss:She's great at it.

17:13Danielle:But I don't know that I can name someone off the top of my head that's like really doing it. And hearing your stories about high school, even though you were singing and in a group, you were thinking about business, managing your friends. You were like doing 12 different things at once.

17:27Kandi Burruss:Well, I started managing them the year after I graduated. So I started trying to write songs while I was still in high school. I was in the Youth Unsemble of Atlanta while I was in high school. So it was like a musical theater group, which some of the people I was in the musical theater group, they also went to Tri-City. They went on to be Tony-nominated people as well. Sakan, shout out to you, girl.

17:49Danielle:This was a crazy high school.

17:52Kandi Burruss:Yeah, when I look back at it. And then shout out to Kenan. He and I were talking about we want to do something that's inspired by our school. Like I haven't even named everybody. We have producers.

18:03Danielle:Can you do like the new fame?

18:05Kandi Burruss:We'll see. We'll figure it out.

18:07Danielle:Oh, my God. I want your version of fame. OK, so you've been an established name in the industry for so many years. And I have to imagine that switching gears in your 40s is a little daunting or no? I mean, switching gears as far as let me just say, because right now I'm in a transformation just simply because like everything has changed in the last two years.

18:30Kandi Burruss:you know to stop doing something that you were doing for 14 years that's a major change you know what I mean and then you know now I'm in the middle of a divorce that's an extreme major change so it's like right now yeah I'm like I'm in a new phase of life where everything is about to be

18:50Danielle:brand new are you walking into audition rooms like did you have to audition for Aunt Juliet

18:55Kandi Burruss:No, I did not have to audition for N. Juliet, which was awesome. But yeah, there were conversations between my team. A lot of times I send in my auditions for the, you know, films or television shows that I've been a part. It's like I have to send in my audition tapes. It's not like back in the day where you have to go face to face. Like now, because of what happened during the pandemic, people can send their tapes in or I do live auditions via Zoom.

19:21Danielle:How does it feel to like be auditioning for these people? Because in your 40s, like, you know yourself so well now. It's different than when you're 16 and trying to impress somebody.

19:31Kandi Burruss:Yeah. I still feel like I'm trying to impress. And when I'm going for a job. So I think it's important for us to go into every job like we're brand new. Meaning, like, with that same grind, with that same, I want this job, like, back in the day when we first started. because I think the problem with a lot of people is when they have made it, they start acting like they made it. That's the problem in how they walk in to show respect and show the desire for what they want, all the things. It's like you think people should just give it to you because of what you've already done. Nobody cares. I say this time and time again.

20:09Kandi Burruss:My cousin said to me when I was younger, she said, used to bees don't make no honey, so don't nobody care what you used to be. Like, I don't care what you did yesterday. I don't care what you did 10 years ago, five years ago or back in the day. I don't care. It's all about right now. So when I come into it, I'm coming into it with the same respect and grind of somebody who is brand new to this. all of the what I've accomplished is great or whatever, but it's like I'm still trying to accomplish more. I'm still trying to get to a goal. So, you know, I'm still competing against people who are younger than me, maybe more talented than me, maybe all the things.

20:51Kandi Burruss:But that means I have to want it that much more. I have to work that much harder. So, yeah.

20:57Danielle:I deeply honor that fire in you because I can't tell you how many people I've interviewed who simply feel a different way?

21:05Kandi Burruss:Listen, I know because I'm around those people. It's so funny. It's like we are in a time where things are constantly changing. Things are constantly different, constantly new. Like, listen, let me tell you, because I was on reality, it was very hard for me and still sometimes hard for me to break into, you know, TV and film. Even though growing up, I was already doing, you know, performing arts schools, performing ensembles and doing all the things. But because I started out in reality TV, a lot of people in film and television looked at me and was like, eh, she's a reality star. Even though before reality TV, I was already a successful artist.

21:46Kandi Burruss:Once you get that stamp on your name, it's like you got to do so much more to prove that, no, I'm not just getting it because I'm popular. No, I'm actually good at this. Like people who were in that lane already with Blue Lug and Lines.

21:59Danielle:You feel it?

22:01Kandi Burruss:What? I used to, not anymore. What changed? What changed is I started doing the work, getting the jobs. And you have to respect once a person does it and does it well, you have to be like, oh, okay. Now you're looking at me different. Now I'm getting a different invite or different acceptance from my peers who I'm glad to say they're my peers, but before they probably wouldn't have considered themselves.

22:25Danielle:Right. What job was the difference maker, do you think?

22:28Kandi Burruss:In TV, film, and scripted, I would definitely say The Chi for sure.

22:33Danielle:Okay.

22:33Kandi Burruss:It was a blessing to me to get the opportunity. So let me tell you, before The Chi, a couple years before it, there was another show that went on to be a very popular show. I actually, the director, the producer, and everybody had picked me for a role in the show. I had auditioned for it. They loved me for the role and all that. My agent was like, oh, you got it, blah, blah, blah. I was like, oh, wow. I was like, oh, I'm so excited. And it was on a big network, right? A respected network. Let me say that. It was a drama series. So I was like, oh, my God, I was so excited. So I was like, what happens now?

23:11Kandi Burruss:Like, oh, they were like, oh, you just have to be approved by the network. But, you know, they normally, whatever the director and the producers decide, they normally go with. So I was like, oh, OK, cool. So I told my friends I was excited. And then a day or two later, he comes back and says, the network didn't approve you. And I was like, what? Why? What happened? And he said they didn't want to look like they were stunt casting.

23:37Danielle:That had to hurt.

23:38Kandi Burruss:When I tell you I was devastated, I damn near cried. And he was like, no, it's going to be okay. He was like, you'll get another one. And in my mind, I was like, how? And so I'm watching when the show aired. I was like, damn, it was a good show too. And everybody liked the show. I loved the show. But I didn't let it get me down. I kept auditioning. And eventually I auditioned for a different role on The Chi that they wanted me before. But it called for me to be a recurring, which I would have had to give, I forgot what they call it, first something to that network. But I couldn't because - First right of refusal.

24:18Kandi Burruss:Not first right of refusal. So it was something basically like if that network needs you, whatever other project you're on, they already know that network has the first option, whatever to you or whatever. I wasn't able to give those rights to that network. So I was like, oh, here it is again. I'm not going to be able to. But then they had a different role, which was Rosalind. And they were like, well, she's not needed on set as often. Like we can use her for this role instead. And I was like, amazing. And it ended up, I really loved playing Rosalyn. Rosalyn was a dope character. You were great in it.

24:51Kandi Burruss:Thank you. So it ended up working out later. But my point is, it was a real thing that 10 years ago, being looked at as a reality star is like a gift and a curse. Because yeah, you have like a big fan base or whatever. But when it comes to certain networks, they don't care about all that. They just want to be looked at for great writing, great shows. they don't want to look like they blew up off of hype.

25:17Danielle:You know what I mean? Do you feel like reality TV held you back at all?

25:21Kandi Burruss:That's what I'm saying. It's a gift and a curse because in that particular situation, yeah, but I've had so many opportunities from being a part of the Bravo family. It expands your fan base in a way. So I just feel like it may have taken me longer in this lane, but it has opened so many other doors and other lanes.

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28:45Danielle:What kind of main character energy are you attracted to now? As far as these roles, like what are you looking for?

28:51Kandi Burruss:Oh, I thought we were talking about a relationship.

28:53Danielle:We could go there, but I was talking about your acting. Oh, okay.

28:58Kandi Burruss:We talking about acting. Okay.

28:59Danielle:That'd be a real left turn, Candy.

29:01Kandi Burruss:I was like, what are we talking about? Main character energy? Like what gets you excited now? I love a good drama. You know, I love, you know, something that takes you out of the box, you know, and a role that people wouldn't expect from me. So anytime it's like a show and they want somebody to play somebody who was a reality star, don't even call me because I don't want to play a character that you already know me to be. Like, no.

29:32Danielle:It's crazy to me that you've experienced this at all because I understand the like reality TV vibe and how networks who want the esteem maybe wouldn't go there. But to me, you're different. Like I look at you and I'm like, who would ever count you out? Like you will never allow anybody to count you out.

29:52Kandi Burruss:Well, thank you. But I think that's been shown over time, though. It's like 10 years ago, they may have still been doubt. People who have doubt, you know what I mean?

30:01Danielle:Maybe with other people. Like, I think it's crazy to count you out.

30:04Kandi Burruss:I think it's crazy, too.

30:06Danielle:I'm glad we're on the same page.

30:08Kandi Burruss:It is what it is. You know, you're not going to get everything you want all the time and everything isn't necessarily going to go the way you want.

30:15Danielle:So you're doing Ann Juliet now, which is a Broadway show. And I heard Denzel one time say that film is a director's medium and stage is an actor's medium. And in reality, I know it's real, but you still could cut. You could do something over. When you're on stage, there is no redo.

30:34Kandi Burruss:No redo. It's live every time. And you got to bring it every time. Like the audience is a different audience. Every show needs to feel that same feels that the first audience feel earlier in the day that they're going to feel that night. You never know who's writing that review. So you got to bring it every time.

30:53Danielle:Did you have to get over the reflex to redo?

30:56Kandi Burruss:It's very, I'm clear on the difference. Because as a kid, like I said, I was in the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta. It's a theater group, you know. So it's like, I know what it is. It's live. It's one time. You get it. You got to have it. But then, I mean, I guess it's similar and the same thing when you're performing as a music artist. You got that live audience. And you got to bring it every time.

31:19Danielle:You were used to that touring. Yeah. Can we talk about the multi-hyphenate word?

31:24Kandi Burruss:Okay. So I think some lanes people create and some lanes they're just driving in.

31:30Danielle:You seem like you are creating in every single lane. You're not really like a passenger along for the ride. Maybe a little bit on reality TV, but still you were like kind of a leader. Has it been more about expanding a singular dream for you or would you consider yourself an expert in pivoting?

31:49Kandi Burruss:I guess I would be an expert in pivoting. I think it's not in my mind that I'm trying to pivot. It's just something that I naturally do. Like my curiosity gets the best of me every time. I tell people, it's like, the funny thing is in every business or every part of the creative space that I've been in, I have done the talent and I've done the behind the scenes. So because I'm always curious to know, OK, well, how do you get to do this and how does that happen? And I like to have some control in my future. I don't want to have to be the one that you can cut and then I'm just stuck. Like, what am I going to do?

32:32Kandi Burruss:I want to be able to make the decisions for me. So, for instance, in music, I started out as the artist. And then I went behind the scenes being a writer, producer, all the things, learning how this works. You know, same thing with TV. I'm on TV as, you know, reality or whatever. And then I started being a producer, pitching shows, learning how that works. You know, then same thing with Broadway. I was on stage, did Chicago on Broadway. And then I'm like, well, I want to come back to Broadway. It doesn't have to be on stage. And I started learning how this works. I'm still learning. But, you know, it's a constant thing for me.

33:20Danielle:Well, was being the highest grossing black female producer on your bingo card?

33:25Kandi Burruss:No, and I didn't realize that was the highest grossing. Oh, okay. Well, that sounded good. I like that title.

33:33Danielle:I think you should run with that because Othello made that true.

33:37Kandi Burruss:Oh, wow. I guess you're right.

33:40Danielle:That's a feather in your cap, for real.

33:42Kandi Burruss:That's big. No, but, you know, when we broke records with Othello, that was, like, wild.

33:47Danielle:How'd you feel?

33:48Kandi Burruss:I felt amazing because it was after I made the decision to leave Housewives. It was funny because I felt like, and I hate to say this out loud, but well, for one, I saw the rumors that some people were trying to say like, oh, they let me go. They did not let me go, Chia. Okay. They definitely was trying to send me another contract. But with that being said, I think, not I think, I know there were some people that thought I was going to fall off.

34:16Danielle:But don't count you out. You should never.

34:19Kandi Burruss:and always know I'm working on my next move while I'm in my current move all the time. That is my rule of thumb. Work on your next move while you're in your current move because in order to constantly have something going on and have something popping, you gotta be working on what's happening tomorrow because what you worked on yesterday is what's popping today. What I did a couple months ago when I was rehearsing back in November, that's what I'm on stage doing right now. Okay, so when I come off stage, what's coming next? Well, I can tell you what's coming next. Joe Turner, what's coming on?

34:54Kandi Burruss:August Wilson, I'm producing on that. That started March 30th, the previews. The rehearsals start next week. Taraji P. Henson is doing her Broadway debut in the show. I can tell you what's happening next. You get what I'm saying? So for me, it's like, I'm not going to give you an opportunity to be like, yeah, child. I had that experience in my younger years, never going to do it again. What do you mean? What I mean by that is when my group, you know, we were all invested in the group. Like I just thought, oh, the group is, you know, never going to break up. You know what I mean? My group, we popped off.

35:31Kandi Burruss:Our first thing was a hit. Oh, it's all about my group. Until my group started falling apart. We couldn't get along and we were defeating ourselves. It wasn't that we never had a flop album. We never had a flop song or whatever. we couldn't get along therefore the group went on hiatus so I gotta figure out how I'm gonna pay my bills were you depressed after that I was stressed the fuck out at a young age mind you when I was 19 our second album was out and I had bought my first house and we were on tour and I found out one of my group members was gonna go solo and we were supposed to be in the middle of negotiating for our third album and we thought we was gonna get this big bonus oh we gonna make all this money off this because we had two hit albums now i'm like oh it's time for them to pay us big this time and then is confusion going and gave the label reasons not to give us the money that we thought we were gonna get and here i am like i just bought this house now i got a bill and i didn't have anybody that could afford to pay my bills you were paying other people's bills i mean And my point is, you're 19 years old.

36:44Kandi Burruss:How am I going to continue to afford this lifestyle? My group is not going to be doing another album. Or we are doing one, but this is going to be the last one for a while. So what am I going to do? So it put me in panic mode. And then that's when I was like, oh, yeah, we got to come up with another project, another something, and start writing songs. And that's how the No Scrubs situation came about. I was telling Tiny, I'm like, yo, Tiny, we need to try to get another project. Maybe we can do another album while the group is about to break up or whatever. And so, and in doing so, we wrote these songs for ourselves.

37:15Kandi Burruss:And No Scrubs was one of the songs we did for ourselves. And it got placed on somebody else. And that opened up the door for me to write for all these other artists.

37:21Danielle:That's crazy. That's how it happened. It came from stress.

37:26Kandi Burruss:Yeah. Trying to figure my life out in another way.

37:30Danielle:But that song is the gift that keeps on giving.

37:32Kandi Burruss:It definitely is the gift that keeps on giving in so many ways. Can you imagine if you were in a hit group, right? You got songs on the radio. I turn on the radio here and then I turn on the radio. Then my song is playing on both stations. As a youngster, we took those things for granted. And I used to be like, oh, it's on again. That's how we took it for granted. But then when the group broke up and those songs weren't really playing that much no more on the radio and I'm not really hearing us no more. and it's, oh, damn, they ain't really playing us. You know, they're not really checking for us right now.

38:08Kandi Burruss:That feeling to have had it and lose it is worse than never having had it at all.

38:14Danielle:You've had a taste.

38:16Kandi Burruss:Yes. The taste of the money, taste of, you know, the popularity, the status, the opportunity, and then that's falling apart. That's not a good feeling. You know what I mean? And you're at an age where you like trying to figure out life anyway. We were breaking up when I was 21. So 21, like, what am I going to do? You know what I'm saying? Once the third album came out, I knew we was on a hiatus. It was like, come on.

38:43Danielle:Right. Was it hard for you, though, when you were writing for all these artists and you had been on all these amazing stages?

38:50Kandi Burruss:That part was a blessing. So what I'm saying is, before the song started getting placed on the other artists, that was when I was trying to figure out what am I going to do. But once the song got placed and that was like a light at the end of the time, then I got another opportunity to write for this person and then this person, this person. And so then that showed me a whole nother thing. One, you don't have to be the person on stage to make all the money. I made more money as a songwriter than I did with three platinum albums with my group. You know what I mean? So that was one lesson. The other one, well, for me, being in a group helped me to be a team player.

39:30Kandi Burruss:I'm okay with you shining because this song I wrote this song you and the out there pushing the song we all winning so it didn't matter to me if I was the one on the stage doing it or if I was the one behind the scenes as long as you know I'm still a part of something great you know what I mean and I started getting respect from my peers in a way that I didn't just being in the group which taught me another lesson like okay so in the group we were important to deaf records we was important to columbia because we are directly assigned to them and we help make money for them but all those other labels when we see them at the music convention say they care it's like oh hey that's all those girls from escape whatever but after i started writing songs from all those people and i showed up at music industry events it was like all of a sudden presidents of a and from this label, that label, or the president of this label, and people that I didn't even think knew who I was.

40:29Kandi Burruss:All of a sudden it was like, Chandy, what's up? How you been? We need to, you know, have you come over and get with our group. Oh, you know me? Then I started saying, you know what? The president of all these companies want me to come to their house. I like it better over here.

40:48Danielle:That's such a good lesson.

40:49Kandi Burruss:It's a lesson in power. If you are the one that can make hits for everybody, you're important to everybody. If you can make the hit just for yourself, you know, you're important to your fans and the people that's directly that you're making money for.

41:03Danielle:It's the golden rule. Yeah.

41:05Kandi Burruss:Whoever has the gold rules. I was like, yeah, I need to know how to make things happen behind the scenes because now, you know, I'm a resource to everybody.

41:14Danielle:You've taken that and you've ran with it. You have restaurants. You have adult toys. You have candy coated beauty. You have a production company. You still write music. You're on Broadway. You're producing shows. Tell me about a time that you wanted to sit and not stand on business because you are standing all of the time.

41:35Kandi Burruss:Right now. Really?

41:37Danielle:I'm surprised to hear that.

41:38Kandi Burruss:Yeah, right now, like having all those different businesses has been a stressful situation. And, you know, now I'm getting divorced. It's kind of like doing things together is, you know, we're not on the same page. You know, I just want to go back to my creative space.

41:55Danielle:Oh, I like hearing that. You know, I want to be creative.

41:58Kandi Burruss:I want to stay a part of my creative projects. And especially I'm coming up on my big birthday. I don't want to be stressed. I want to enjoy life. to the fullest. I want to enjoy the perks and the money that I've made. And I want to create more things that bring me joy.

42:19Danielle:And that has to do with your creativity, because that's who you are.

42:22Kandi Burruss:Yes.

42:23Danielle:That's really cool.

42:32Danielle:Okay, you've got a lot going on and choosing the right probiotic might not be at the top of your to-do list. I get it. So let's make things simple. Garden of Life is the number one women's probiotic brand for a reason. It's specifically designed for women to support the immune system, vaginal health, and overall women's health. You can feel good knowing that this is the brand so many women trust for their gut health. Garden of Life transforms 16 diverse probiotic strains and 50 billion CFU to support digestive health and a flourishing gut flora. And if you're worried whether Garden of Life Women's One's Daily Probiotic is the real deal, don't, okay?

43:12Danielle:They are certified non-GMO and doctor-formulated for women's unique needs. To put it simply, this is an easy way to prioritize your gut health. Garden of Life Formulas for Feeling Alive, available on Amazon. Disclaimer, number one based on Circona 52-week multi-outlet unit sales ending 11-30-25. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

43:40Kandi Burruss:That ugly red couch you've had for a decade? It's been living with you way longer than you ever thought it would. Because let's face it, great quality furniture just feels out of reach. Or it used to. Until you found HomeSense. The days of overpaying for good taste are done. Now, you can fill your home with the standout pieces you've coveted but couldn't afford. And you can finally kick that sad sofa straight to the curb. Welcome to HomeSense, the home of no compromise. We spend so much time of our lives switched on. Scrolling, multitasking, reacting. Miraval Resorts is an invitation to unplug and be present.

44:21Kandi Burruss:For over 30 years, Miraval has been a global leader in mindfulness and well-being. helping people reconnect to what matters, body, mind, and spirit. Through meditation, yoga, time in nature, equine experiences, and moments designed for true presence, Miraval offers practical tools you can carry into everyday life. Miraval meets you where you are and supports wellness that actually lasts. Discover more by visiting miravalresorts.com. When your schedule sounds like this.

44:57Kandi Burruss:Are you kidding me? An oil change is the last thing you have time for. So drive into Take 5 and let our techs change your oil, check your tires, top off your fluids and have you back on the road pit stop fast. All while you stay in your car. No putting your entire schedule on hold. No upsells, no problem. So you can get back to your to-do list. Or not. Find your nearest shop at Take5.com. Take 5. The stay in your car 10-minute oil change.

45:25Danielle:How do you feel when people sample your songs?

45:28Kandi Burruss:Love it.

45:29Danielle:This is a rumor. I have no proof. But like on the internet or in life, like Lauryn Hill is notorious for being mad at Drake for nice for what? For sampling.

45:38Kandi Burruss:I don't want to say why because I'm sure she got some of that publishing off that song.

45:42Danielle:Right? I think she made all the money. I don't know that Drake made very much money off that song.

45:47Kandi Burruss:Big check.

45:48Danielle:So does it feel like when Ariana and Ed Sheeran are sampling No Scrubs, it's like, wow, my work has stood the test of time?

45:56Kandi Burruss:Yes. Especially when they send you the clearance. Well, OK, so if they send you a copy of the song or whatever before they put it out, then you get to negotiate what percentage of the song you want. If they put the song out without getting your clearance, which I don't know if that's what happened in her situation, then a lot of times those writers of the original song will take all the publishing.

46:23Danielle:Interesting. I didn't know that. Have you ever said no to somebody?

46:27Kandi Burruss:Yeah, I actually I have said no to somebody, but I don't think the song ever came out. But I had a situation years ago where they didn't ask for permission first. And we ended up with all that. I don't know if you remember back in the day. It was no scrubs and it was no pigeons. Yes. No pigeons went number one too. It did. But we got all the money from it. That's so funny. Because they didn't clear it before they put it out. They used all of our melody. They used the same concept, same lyric. I mean, if they would have got permission before, they probably would have been able to get at least a little bit of the publisher.

47:00Kandi Burruss:But they didn't ask.

47:02Danielle:I don't think they thought that was going to become the hit that it did.

47:05Kandi Burruss:I don't know if anybody thought that, but it did. And I'm thankful it gave me another number one and another check.

47:13Danielle:It was good. What makes a song timeless to you?

47:16Kandi Burruss:I personally feel like great hook and something that really relates. Like if people can really relate to it and it's like their theme for a part of their life.

47:27Danielle:I mean, I guess that's what No Scrubs did, right? Like men are continually being scrubs. Hey, you said it, I do.

47:35Kandi Burruss:Yeah, it's like when people can listen to a song and it reminds you of a part of your life or you can use it as your theme for what you're going through, that makes it timeless, in my opinion.

47:47Danielle:Do you think we're going to get some candy hits out of the transformation you're going through?

47:52Kandi Burruss:Yeah.

47:53Danielle:Really? I'm excited to hear that. I really want a solo album from you.

47:59Kandi Burruss:Oh, well, thank you. So I definitely think I should work on. Well, I do have some songs that I already have in my vault that I'm like, OK, I got to go in the studio.

48:10Danielle:So when we first met each other, your daughter Riley was there with you. And she's really been following in your footsteps a little bit with music and definitely reality TV. Were you nervous at all for her to enter the reality TV world? Yes. I would be so nervous.

48:26Kandi Burruss:Well, I'm nervous because it's a difference when, you know, I'm good at taking the heat. I'm good at, you know, people can say whatever about me and I can, okay. But you don't want that for your kid. Like, say for instance, sometimes people turn on certain reality stars where everybody hates them and is putting hate mail or hate tweets or whatever. She didn't have that experience on her first season. She got a lot of support from the fans. She also handled herself really well.

48:54Danielle:Well, thank you.

48:55Kandi Burruss:even though she did have some drama on the show, but she had a lot of support from the fans. I'm just hoping she don't be on there acting crazy on this new season.

49:03Danielle:The only moment that I was really curious about with you, and it could have been exaggerated for TV, was when she spent all that money on the table. That was not exaggerated. I know that you've been very successful, but I know how hard you work. And you must have been so mad.

49:18Kandi Burruss:Yeah. The one thing that I feel that I did not do a good job on is showing her how to respect money. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like I have spoiled her, okay?

49:32Danielle:Why?

49:32Kandi Burruss:I mean, I guess, you know, it's a double-edged sword being a working mom. And I see this in myself and some of my other friends who work a lot in their different fields. You know, you tend to overcompensate in other areas. I didn't get to pick you up from school. So, you know, my babysitter picked you up from school. But I was there for all the events and I did all of this and we're going to do it big for the holidays. We're going to do this and we're doing that. But, you know, if I miss anything little, it's like, okay, let me get her this. Let me do that. And, you know, you kids know how to play on you.

50:02Kandi Burruss:You know, like Riley is good at being like, well, my mental health is I need a two bedroom because how do I fall for this every time? I don't know. But, you know, she is smart. She's intelligent. She's very capable of a lot of things. I didn't go to college. When it came to filling out all the paperwork and doing it, she did all that stuff. You know what I mean?

50:27Danielle:By herself?

50:28Kandi Burruss:That's impressive. Yeah. Like, she handles her business. Yeah. But she will spend some money.

50:33Danielle:Well, now she's making it, so it's up to her. She's spending mine still.

50:37Kandi Burruss:I can't wait till we get to the point where she's just spending her money. Right now, she's still spending my money.

50:43Danielle:Well, you've described her as hard-headed in the past. Where does she get that from?

50:47Kandi Burruss:I guess me. I am stubborn. I am. But she's got me beat. No, I'm just kidding. See, I thought you were going to say your mother. Well, that too. She definitely reminds me a lot of my mom. They bump heads a lot. It's so funny. But they act alike. Very much so act alike.

51:03Danielle:Like they kind of have a calm presence, but you don't want to mess with them.

51:07Kandi Burruss:At all.

51:08Danielle:Can we talk about Mama Joyce? I saw this video a few days ago. I think you were coming out of a morning show and she was about to talk to TMZ. You looked like you got the hook and you came just in time.

51:21Kandi Burruss:Right. Right, because I feel like my mom, she's been real sweet lately. Please don't go asking her questions. It's going to get her riled up. Don't do it. Not today. Well, can I be honest with you?

51:33Danielle:What? I feel like there's a reason she's been sweet.

51:36Kandi Burruss:Probably. But she's trying to be supportive.

51:39Danielle:Okay. That's nice.

51:41Kandi Burruss:When I'm going through something, I don't really want to hear your opinion all day. Like, no, I can't deal with all that. Like I have to deal with my stuff internally. I'm one of those, you know, so she's been respecting it, trying at least. Every now and then she wants to go, what they said on the Internet? Did you? Don't tell me what these people on the Internet said. So she's been, you know, trying to let me deal with my situation without the extra.

52:13Danielle:It makes me feel like getting a handle on your mom is like the one thing you have not mastered.

52:18Kandi Burruss:Because it's like, and I don't know if it's a family thing, but like all of me and most of my cousins, our moms, they still run us. It's like, okay, mama. Okay. You know, like even when they ain't right, it's just the way we were raised.

52:35Danielle:Yeah. It's a respect thing too. It's kind of beautiful. What's something that she's told you that has aged well?

52:41Kandi Burruss:Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Remember Mad Day. What is that? Oh, I tell people this. Like, my mama always said when I was younger, she's like, remember Mad Day? Oh, that's cool. You know, you be thinking you're the best of friends with somebody or you think that you cool. But when that day that y 'all fall out, then either they all lying on you, telling all your business, doing, you know, like, it's that day. But you think, oh, this person got my back.

53:11Danielle:You probably had to really remember Mad Day while you were filming.

53:14Kandi Burruss:Oh, Housewives. Yes. A lot of mad days on that show.

53:19Danielle:A lot.

53:20Kandi Burruss:It happens every time. It's always that one. Always. Where you think, oh, no, we're tight. That's my girl, you know, blah, blah, blah. And then later on when y 'all fall out. It's not too many people that stay solid, for real, in the fallout.

53:35Danielle:You do, though. Like, even through this divorce publicly, you've been pretty. Oh, I'm trying. It's hard.

53:43Kandi Burruss:I am trying.

53:44Danielle:I know he's not making that easy for you. What is the most mama Joyce thing about you?

53:49Kandi Burruss:When I cut you off, I cut you off. My mom and I are very different, realistically. You know, the way we think and different things we like to do. But like my mom was a single mom. But she always made sure that me and my brother, we were good. We always, you know, had the best week. You know, always lived nicely. And, you know, people thought my mom had a lot of money. You know? And my friends used to be like, what does your mama do? I don't know, but she make it happy.

54:17Danielle:How'd she do it?

54:19Kandi Burruss:Oh, my mom is just, you know. She's resourceful.

54:22Danielle:Very resourceful. Is there something she's never wrong about?

54:25Kandi Burruss:I mean, a lot of times, you know, over time she's proven to be right about a lot of things. But, you know, we just have a different way to go about things.

54:35Danielle:Yeah. I'm the same with my mom. I love her so deep, but we are so different. So different. So you're a mom of three and you get to watch your kids interact all the time. I'm curious if their sibling dynamic reminds you of your own brother at all. Yes.

54:49Kandi Burruss:When I watch how Ace looks after Lays, it reminds me so much of my brother and I.

54:57Danielle:Is Riley named after him?

54:58Kandi Burruss:Riley is. My brother's name was Patrick Riley. We had different dads, so his last name was Riley. And I named Riley from his last name. Didn't want to do Patricia. It just didn't work. So I went with Riley. But Riley, even though she is a lot older than Ace and Blaze, she's a great big sister. She plays with them. She makes time to be with them when she comes in the city. She loves spending time with them. So it's really good. But Ace is a great big brother. Now, they bump heads all the time. Now, they're a little closer in age than me and my brother were. But those two, they will bump heads. But Blaze is like, Ace is my best friend, you know, which I think is so sweet.

55:42Kandi Burruss:But like Ace is, I don't know how he does it. But have you ever gone to like the gaming places and you know how you can get something out the machine with the claw or whatever? Or you're the best. Well, it doesn't matter where we go. Ace always wins something.

55:57Danielle:I feel like he's living into his name.

55:58Kandi Burruss:Yeah, Ace. Exactly. He always wins. I don't know how he does it. He's always coming out of there with something. He wins her something.

56:07Danielle:Really? And he shares? He gets it for her. That's so sweet. Every time. I love that.

56:13Kandi Burruss:Even when I can't win, he's winning.

56:15Danielle:That is so sweet. Yeah.

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57:04Danielle:They are certified non-GMO and doctor formulated for women's unique needs. To put it simply, this is an easy way to prioritize your gut health. Garden of Life, formulas for feeling alive. Available on Amazon. Disclaimer, number one based on Circona 52-week multi-outlet unit sales ending 11-30-25. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

57:33Kandi Burruss:That ugly red couch you've had for a decade? It's been living with you way longer than you ever thought it would. Because let's face it, great quality furniture just feels out of reach. Or it used to. Until you found HomeSense. The days of overpaying for good taste are done. Now, you can fill your home with the standout pieces you've coveted but couldn't afford. And you can finally kick that sad sofa straight to the curb. Welcome to HomeSense. the home of no compromise. We spend so much time of our lives switched on, scrolling, multitasking, reacting. Miraval Resorts is an invitation to unplug and be present.

58:13Kandi Burruss:For over 30 years, Miraval has been a global leader in mindfulness and well-being, helping people reconnect to what matters, body, mind, and spirit. Through meditation, yoga, time in nature, equine experiences, and moments designed for true presence, Miraval offers practical tools you can carry into everyday life. Miraval meets you where you are and supports wellness that actually lasts. Discover more by visiting miravalresorts.com. When your schedule sounds like this.

58:49Kandi Burruss:Are you kidding me? An oil change is the last thing you have time for. So drive Save into Take 5 and let our techs change your oil, check your tires, top off your fluids and have you back on the road pit stop fast. All while you stay in your car. No putting your entire schedule on hold. No upsells. No problem. So you can get back to your to do list or not. Find your nearest shop at Take 5 dot com. Take 5. The stay in your car. Ten minute oil change.

59:18Danielle:I want you to share, if you're willing, a little bit about your different motherhood journeys because you had Riley when you were younger. And I feel like I remember you saying that you had so many trials and tribulations getting pregnant.

59:30Kandi Burruss:With Ace. Well, Ace and Blades because they're both the benefits of IVF. Right. Well, with Riley, it wasn't hard at all. I got pregnant the first time I had sex with her dad. Well, the only time.

59:42Danielle:I know you find value in like tough stuff. And so that IVF journey was really tough.

59:49Kandi Burruss:Yeah. Todd and I were dating for two and a half years before we got married. It occurred to me that we never had any oops moment, no accidents, no nothing. And I was like, okay. And so I'm like thinking, it's gotta be him. You know, I didn't think it was me. I got a child, but he did too. But I was just like, I didn't think it was me, but we did the test or whatever. And I guess one of my tubes was blocked from that because I had multiple ibroid surgeries. So that proved to be an issue, you know, to get pregnant once we got married or whatever. So we decided to do IVF. And because I was 38, 39.

1:00:35Kandi Burruss:And so we decided to do that. And yeah, it worked for us.

1:00:39Danielle:Is there a life lesson that you didn't want your kids to have to learn? I'll give you an example. There's like a long line of eating stuff in my family. And I grew up with my mom doesn't even realize she did it and she'll hate listening to the podcast and hearing it. But at 24, 25, I said, this ends with me because I want kids. I'm not going to give this to my daughter. And I had to heal it. And I'm wondering if there's anything that you felt you were like, I'm not going to do this to my kids.

1:01:10Kandi Burruss:I guess, yeah, I'm trying not to be the type that really be spanking my kids like that. Because my mom, even though she say, you never really got whoopings, I'm like, where were you? Because I remember plenty.

1:01:20Danielle:And you don't ever forget those when you get them. Yeah.

1:01:22Kandi Burruss:So I try to allow my kids to at least say how they're feeling instead of doing that whole, like, don't talk back, don't say that. I mean, I don't allow them to disrespect me, but I still allow them to, you know, give their opinion or whatever. Riley thinks everything is a debate. Sometimes I'm like, maybe I shouldn't have did that.

1:01:47Danielle:Well, I think she might become a lawyer. She is. It's given.

1:01:50Kandi Burruss:I tell her every day she needs to be a lawyer. But like I said, in our family, it's a pretty known thing. Like the moms are, they kind of run things with an iron fist. At least they did when they were younger. So it's like as adults, we still kind of scared of them. But I noticed that all my first cousins, well, not all of us, but some of us, you try to lighten up on, you know, our kids. Well, no, because I'm close to my first cousins, their kids, and then their kids. You know what I mean? But I try not to be so harsh.

1:02:20Danielle:I feel like there are so many people that count on you. You just mentioned like your cousins. What's it been like to be the engine for so many people?

1:02:28Kandi Burruss:I look at it as a blessing. And the reason why I say that is because some people feel like, oh, you know, why they always got to ask me whatever. And it's like I was praying with one of my friends one time. We were saying our prayers together and she's like, God, please bless us to always be able to lend and not have to borrow. And I said, that's a word. Oh, my God, I keep saying that because, you know, yeah, for some people may feel like a burden that you are always the one people always come to. But it's really a blessing because if people can come to you and you can do for them or you can be the person that looks out for other people in your family, whether it's helping them through school or whatever they're going through, that means you're in a blessed position.

1:03:12Kandi Burruss:And one thing that I always used to pray from the time I was younger to even now is like, God, I promise if you give it to me, I promise I'm going to share it. And I make it a point to make sure I do that, whether it's financially or opportunity wise. I'm always trying to put on everybody in my circle. You know, it's like a thing for me, like because me and God got a pact. He continues to bless me. I'm going to continue to make sure I'm using whatever I have and whatever avenues I have to make sure I'm sharing it amongst the people. And of course, the people that's closest to me, I'm going to definitely make sure they're good.

1:03:50Kandi Burruss:But, you know, even when they're not asking, if I'm seeing that something needs to be done, I'm like, OK, what we need to do here? What? OK, we need to make sure. And like even my little cousins or, you know, the youngsters that's close to me, like, OK, you need to be. You trying to go to school? What do you need? It's a blessing to be able to do that.

1:04:08Danielle:I got chills when I heard you say that because it's true. And we saw on reality TV, sometimes people take advantage of that in you and you still stayed that course. You never let those moments derail you from continuing to share and call in.

1:04:25Kandi Burruss:I'm going to treat people how I want them to treat me. I'm not going to be a reflection of them. They're going to have to be a reflection of me. And if somebody mishandles that, then OK, you X yourself out of the equation. You get what I'm saying? But that's not going to determine how I'm going to treat the next person that I get to know or anybody that's, you know, around me. It's like, if you proved yourself to be worthy of a nice treatment or my giving spirit, then that's you. Then I just know how to handle you. I'm going to go into any situation being me. Like, you know what I'm saying?

1:05:03Danielle:Yes.

1:05:04Kandi Burruss:I'm not going to let you determine who I am.

1:05:06Danielle:I have to ask you this then. Are you more Michelle Obama, when they go low, we go high? Or are you Cardi B and taking it to hell?

1:05:14Kandi Burruss:I'm going to take it to the floor. I don't know if I'm going to quite go to hell. Cardi go away. She go, ah. You know, and I love that for her. Sometimes I'd be like, ooh, I need to take a page. Cardi book, like, ooh. Like, air you out. I be feeling like that. But then I'd be like, I feel like I'm going to do it in a way that still hurts. Because when I cut you off, you're going to feel it. Like, my thing is, if you hang out with somebody who's freely giving their resources, freely giving their friendship, freely giving their support, gonna be your cheerleader, gonna be this, gonna be that. And I mean, I'm like that with friends, family, relationship.

1:05:51Kandi Burruss:I'm like that. So you do me dirty, I'm cutting you off. And I don't talk about it. We ain't have to have a conversation. You ain't even gonna know why I cut you off. You just gonna know all of a sudden, damn, she don't show up for me no more. She don't post me no more. She don't call me no more. I can't call her for no favors no more. Oh, she got a project. I can't be a part of that no more. It's like, you're going to feel it when I cut you off.

1:06:15Danielle:It hurts.

1:06:16Kandi Burruss:It's going to hurt. I love that so much. It's going to hurt. So it may not be in the same way that she doesn't. Because, I mean, she's going to air you out.

1:06:26Danielle:Oh, yeah. She takes it to the floor.

1:06:28Kandi Burruss:She takes it to the floor, which I respect that. Some people need that.

1:06:31Danielle:I don't know how to do that. Like, I look at her and I'm like, maybe I should be more like that.

1:06:36Kandi Burruss:Sometimes I'll be feeling like, I need to air some people out.

1:06:40Danielle:but you could write a book airing people out i'm sure oh could i i could but overall for me

1:06:47Kandi Burruss:i'm just to cut you off and never deal with you again and it's hard as you see me continue to progress you can be like dang i could have been hanging out over there i could have been wearing

1:06:57Danielle:but this is what i chose well in that vein you recently said life is lifing right now when life is lifing for you you said work is the best kind of therapy you definitely threw yourself into work in so many ways. When you're going through loss, what version of you shows up? Is it the businesswoman? Is it the songwriter? Maybe there's like a demure side of you that only shows up with your family.

1:07:22Kandi Burruss:I don't know how to be demure. I don't know how to be the soft girl, y 'all. I hear y 'all talk about that online. I'll be like, where does she exist? It don't exist in me. I don't know. Me neither.

1:07:32Danielle:I have the dog in me.

1:07:33Kandi Burruss:Yes. When I'm going through something, I go harder, you know, because I don't want to feel things. I don't want to feel sad. I don't want to feel like hurt by the situation. And the best way to do that is stay focused on this next project. Stay focused on this. Oh, this new check about to come. Now I'm feeling better.

1:07:51Danielle:I mean, a check makes everybody feel better.

1:07:53Kandi Burruss:Yeah, because it's like I don't have time to just sit around and wallow and be sad.

1:07:58Danielle:Can I ask you a hard question? And if it's in your business, you let me know. Okay. What does it feel like to be stepping back into single motherhood?

1:08:06Kandi Burruss:I think it's still going to be different because, you know, Todd is still going to be very involved in their lives or whatever. So I didn't really have that first time around. Like, it was very few places that Riley could go spend the night. She barely stayed at anybody else's house but her own. It was like one or two friends that I might let her go over there. But she wasn't a kid that was able to just be at other places. And my mom is not one of them grandmas that you could just, well, not that you could, I mean, you could, but she's just not going to do it. Riley never stayed at her grandma's house for weeks or months.

1:08:46Kandi Burruss:You know how some people go to grandma's for the summer. Yeah, like for the summer. No, I never experienced that. So my child was always at home. and because Todd and I have been together this whole time our kids have always been at home they never went anywhere so I say that to say now that he and I are separating and you know he's gonna be in his own house and I'm gonna be here now I gotta get used to oh they're gonna go over there for me we gonna do on you there and come over here and that's gonna be interesting I've never experienced that. So literally, you mean sometimes I'm going to come home and they're going to be at his house instead of my house?

1:09:28Kandi Burruss:I don't even know what that feels like. Never experienced that.

1:09:32Danielle:Does that make you feel like maybe you'll have time for your other projects or is it sad, like I want my babies at home?

1:09:38Kandi Burruss:I don't know yet because I've never experienced it. So what I have decided it is that I'm going to allow it to be a time for me to better schedule my life. Meaning, okay, if we plan on splitting the time, then I'm going to plan my podcasting days, my this, my that, my that. Everything is going to be done on the week that they at his house. When the week they come back to my house, I'm going to make sure that I'm there to do all the things, pick you up. We're going to kick it. We're going to have fun. We're going to have the best of the best time. And then when you go over there, I'm going to go back to work.

1:10:19Kandi Burruss:And then we're going to do it like that. I was like, it might be a good thing because the thing about it is they got two parents that truly love them and want to spend the most time. So we're going to make the best of it. I'm going to plan my work schedule around the days that he goes to their house.

1:10:35Danielle:I love that you're like making it something positive for you. That's very cool. I'm very you.

1:10:39Kandi Burruss:It's no other way to think about it because here's the thing. It's pros and cons in both situations, right? When you are a single mom and you're doing it all yourself and the other parent is not involved, it's a pro and a con. Now, I know some friends who the other parent was involved and they'd be arguing about, oh, no, he's mad because I want to take him here. I want to take him there. Well, I didn't have those issues. I could do whatever I wanted with Riley. You know, we had the most fun. But then the other slip of that coin was she didn't really have her dad. present in her life and then you know kids have those issues that come from that you know what I mean but in this situation their dad is gonna be in their life but then it's like okay now I'm gonna have to ask him well how do you feel about this how do you feel I didn't have to do that with Riley so this is a new experience for me can I ask you what made you emotional because it's a very emotional thing with Riley that, you know, she grew up with her dad, not really involved.

1:11:39Kandi Burruss:Even though now they are, you know, cool and they're talking now, but she's still trying to heal. You know what I mean? So that was an emotional thing. The thought of my kids having to split time is emotional. That's the most emotional part of this whole situation, really.

1:11:57Danielle:I'm sorry you're in pain, Candy. I know it's okay, but you put a lot on your shoulders and you make it look easy, but you're the one that has to be with you at night and it's not easy.

1:12:07Kandi Burruss:No, it's not. But like I said, I'm going to find the positives in the situation.

1:12:15Danielle:So you're wrapping up your play and Juliet. And if people don't know, it's all about if Juliet had lived her life on her terms instead of dying because of a man. How is that a better story to you?

1:12:26Kandi Burruss:How? Yes. It's a great story to her because it's like she's seeing the positives of taking ownership of her life and not letting it be about a relationship and excitement of what's to come, the new things. She has so much to look forward to in her future. And I can really relate to that because it's like everything is about to be brand new. My friend said to me the other day, I was trying to figure out where to go for my birthday for like a group trip with friends or whatever. And I was like, this place could be really fun. But I've been there before I went with Todd. She was like, it's going to be brand new because you're going to go with your friends this time.

1:13:04Kandi Burruss:It's going to be a whole new different experience. And I'm like, yeah, like he and I, we did a lot of fun things, you know, a lot of fun things, had a lot of fun, whatever. But I can do all those things again. And it's going to be a completely different experience this time around.

1:13:18Danielle:I had a boyfriend one time who I had just started dating and we went to a restaurant and he was like, have you ever been here before? And I kind of looked at him and I was like, I was here with my ex-boyfriend. I didn't want to lie. And he looked at me and he said, I want to go every single place you've ever been with him and make new memories with you. And I was like,

1:13:37Kandi Burruss:that sounds fun.

1:13:39Danielle:I love that. So I want to talk about your birthday because I've heard women call it the fuck it fifties.

1:13:45Kandi Burruss:I never heard him say that, but I like it.

1:13:48Danielle:What is a fuck you are no longer going to give in your fifties?

1:13:52Kandi Burruss:I don't know. You know, I don't really give a fuck anyway. I don't like an open book. I just send shit out in public that people are like, girl, you're not supposed to say that. I'm probably going to be a little bit wilder in my 50s. As you should be. You've earned it. I love that candy. I mean, I'm a woman with a sex toy line. You can imagine it. It's going to be wild.

1:14:11Danielle:I love that for you. Okay, I want to play who's saying that because it's not every day. I get an incredible singer-songwriter in this chair. So you have a few notable memes you're known for, but one of my favorites, can you guess? It's the iconic Who Said That. Who said that?

1:14:27Kandi Burruss:Thank you. So instead of... And I say that without even thinking sometimes. Like, I'll be talking to my friends and they'll be saying, you know, Concepcion said it. I'm like, who said that? And they'll be like, you did it again. And I'm like, I'm not trying to do that seriously.

1:14:40Danielle:Okay, before you leave me, a few rapid fire questions, but candy coated edition.

1:14:48Danielle:If you could redo one reality moment, which one would it be? I wouldn't redo none of them because my thing is if you change anything,

1:14:57Kandi Burruss:then that changes the future of what would to come.

1:15:00Danielle:When's the last time you said the lies, the lies?

1:15:03Kandi Burruss:People be lying all the time. So I'm like, the lies. I use that one a lot, especially when I know somebody lying. I'm like, oh, the lies, the lies.

1:15:12Danielle:You clock it too. You keep it to yourself, but you clock it.

1:15:14Kandi Burruss:Yeah, I be like, oh, why these people be lying like that?

1:15:17Danielle:What's your current song on repeat?

1:15:19Kandi Burruss:See, I've been listening to the songs that I wrote. So, yeah, I'm listening to a private playlist that y 'all don't even know about yet. So I don't know what song. I mean, for a while, Folded was Kalani. I like her.

1:15:32Danielle:Is that an Usher sample? I couldn't figure it out.

1:15:35Kandi Burruss:Oh, no, that's a good question.

1:15:37Danielle:Will you get back to me on that?

1:15:38Kandi Burruss:Yeah.

1:15:39Danielle:Hot take candy choice. Hot take. What do you mean? What's your candy of choice? If you're at the movies.

1:15:43Kandi Burruss:Oh, I don't eat candy. The only candy that I even like is Kit Kat.

1:15:48Danielle:If you wrote a part two, no scrub right now, what would it be called?

1:15:52Kandi Burruss:A part two to no scrubs would be...

1:15:56Danielle:It's hard. I'll give you a different one. Who's the last scrub you dealt with?

1:15:59Kandi Burruss:Oh, wow. That's funny. I know people would love to try to call Todd a scrub, but I'm not going to call him a scrub. I would have to go back prior to marriage. But now I don't want to put nobody on blast and say any names. So yeah, I can't do that.

1:16:13Danielle:So you're one of those people whose face says everything. like it has subtitles, what is a facial expression you wish you could control?

1:16:21Kandi Burruss:Oh, I can't control my facial expression. That's one thing. My face talks before I do. It's like if I'm thinking it, my face is saying it and I don't even know it.

1:16:29Danielle:What's the most worldwide thing about you?

1:16:31Kandi Burruss:That's a hard question. Music, I would say. Music is world, like world music. Once you write songs that's popular to the world, that's worldwide. That's why when, what's the name, was talking shit to me that day, Marlo. I was like, I don't know what made me say, bitch, I'm worldwide. I don't even know. It just came out. It was so good. Because in my mind, well, obviously, our show, Housewives, is played in lots of places around the world. That's for sure. But musically, whether it's hits that I've sung myself or hits that I've written for other people, it's worldwide.

1:17:07Danielle:It is.

1:17:07Kandi Burruss:Say what you want. So I would say music.

1:17:09Danielle:What is a book you've read, something that you feel like everybody should read?

1:17:12Kandi Burruss:Oh, okay. Well, financially, I think everybody should read The Millionaire Next Door.

1:17:18Danielle:I haven't read that. Thank you.

1:17:19Kandi Burruss:Yeah, I love that book. I read that when I was a teenager and it made me realize like, you know, I always have to show off your money. It's like most millionaires live below their means and you don't even realize they're a millionaire. So I really lived with that for a long time. You know, I had like a couple million in the bank from my 20s. You know what I'm saying? I had a nice house, but it wasn't like a house that a normal family couldn't afford. You know what I mean? Or, you know, I had a decent car, but I wasn't trying to jump to buy a Bugatti or nothing. You know what I'm saying?

1:17:54Danielle:Maybe in your 50s. Fuck it, 50s.

1:17:57Kandi Burruss:Fuck it. Fuck it. You might be right.

1:18:00Danielle:You and your Bugatti, fuck it. Fuck it. I love it. That's a good point. Pick whichever card calls to you.

1:18:07Kandi Burruss:It's cute. Oh, you got your own game?

1:18:10Danielle:Yeah.

1:18:10Kandi Burruss:Okay. I like it.

1:18:12Danielle:They don't call me the queen of questions for nothing.

1:18:14Kandi Burruss:I'll just pick any questions? Yeah. All right. What was your aim, screen name, online, username, or first email?

1:18:24Danielle:I really want to know the answer to this.

1:18:26Kandi Burruss:Care to taste. So, obviously, it was a little sexually implied. I don't know why I chose that as my email address. But yeah.

1:18:38Danielle:I so appreciate your honesty. I so appreciate you. You're really special. Thank you. I wish you all good things in this next chapter. Thank you, friend.

1:18:46Kandi Burruss:I really appreciate it.

1:18:52Danielle:Okay, you know what time it is. Today's a good day to have a good day. I'll see you next week.

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