The Real Housewives of New Jersey could look very different next season! E! News has learned Traci Lynn Barber—wife to veteran footballer Tiki Barber—is poised to join the Bravo reality show for its upcoming season.
"Yes, the rumor is true. Traci is down the road with the production company. She and Tiki moved to NJ a few years ago," a source tells E! News. "They are next door neighbors with Snooki."
The future of Real Housewives of New Jersey has been up in the air since Teresa Giudice surrendered for her 15-month prison sentence in January. Teresa was the only original cast member left on the series in the recently wrapped sixth season. Bravo has yet to officially announce what is happening with the popular series.
"When producers approached Traci, they told her they were revamping the show," a source says. "Their goal is to include more well-known names and make New Jersey look more glamorous, like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
Traci isn't the only new face being courted for the show. Hala Kerik, wife of former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik—and good friend to Caroline Manzo—and Amber Sabathia, wife of Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, have been approached. A source tells E! News Amber and CC ultimately decided they didn't want to open their lives to reality cameras.
"Potential new cast members are being told the show will take an entirely different direction," a source tells us. "The focus isn't going to be on Teresa and her family's legal troubles. It's time for a fresh start. More fun and more glam."
But that doesn't mean the cast from last season—or previous years—are out. "It's still early in the process," the source says. "They're meeting with a lot of women and trying to determine what ensemble will work best for the show."
Last season, twins Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano joined Melissa Gorga, Teresa and returning star Dina Manzo as regular cast members. Amber Marchese was also added to the cast and veterans Jacqueline Laurita and Kathy Wakile appeared as "friends" in supporting roles. Caroline left after the fifth season for her own series, Manzo'd With Children.
"Although Traci isn't officially locked down yet, it looks like it's going to happen," a second source told us.
In November, Bravo's Andy Cohen said no decisions about the show had been made. "We have not made any plans relating to the future of the Jersey Housewives," he said on Tuesday, Nov. 11. "The final reunion is airing tonight, and we'll go back and meet and talk and re-evaluate soon."
During the reunion, Cohen asked Teresa about her future with the show. "Do you think this is it for you?" Cohen asked here.
"Yeah, I think so," Teresa said. "You're gonna make me cry, Andy. This is probably gonna be my last reunion."
There's no production start date for Real Housewives of New Jersey season seven yet. The New York Daily News first reported Traci Lynn Barber's potential involvement with the series.
—Reporting by Beth Sobol
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)