Allan Bregg/Splash NewsBloop! NeNe Leakes is back.
Yes, just four months after The Real Housewives of Atlanta star announced she was leaving the show, E! News has exclusively learned she will make a surprise return for the eighth season.
RHOA is currently filming season eight's trip to Jamaica, and NeNe will make an appearance—unannounced—much to the surprise of her unsuspecting co-stars, according to sources close to production. (That's right: The ladies have no idea she's coming. The drama!) NeNe will be making an undetermined number of appearances in the new season.
NeNe's return to RHOA isn't for lack of other projects because girl is busy. Not only is she set to appear alongside living legend Betty White as a panelist in ABC's upcoming revival of the classic game show To Tell the Truth, but it was just announced that she's also making a return to Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago next month. She'll hold court as Matron "Mama" Morton in the celeb-friendly production beginning Nov. 23. All that and she's been making appearances on E!'s Fashion Police.
When RHOA returns for season eight, NeNe won't be the only familiar face returning to the ATL. Her former OG cast member Shereé Whitfield will also recur, alongside newcomer Shamea Morton. Oh, and did we fail to mention that Kim Fields has joined the main cast? Because TOOTIE! Kim will star alongside returning players Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore, Kandi Burruss, Phaedra Parks, and Porsha Williams.
Are you looking forward to NeNe's return?
The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)