E! Confirms New Series Featuring ‘RHONY’ Originals Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin, and More
UPDATE — 2/3/26, 11:45 a.m. ET: The iconic Real Housewives of New York City are officially making their return to television.
E! announced on Tuesday, February 3, that they have approved a new docuseries featuring Luann de Lesseps, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon, and Sonja Morgan as they reconnect their previously NYC-centered friend group in Palm Beach, Florida.
The series, comprising 10 episodes and tentatively titled The Golden Life, is set to begin filming this spring in South Florida.
According to the press release for the show, “United by years of shared experiences, conflicts, and camaraderie, this beloved group of New Yorkers is embarking on a new adventure together in the Sunshine State. In this vibrant ‘golden’ phase of life, the longstanding friends flourish in the Palm Beach area with stunning second homes and a lively social life. With their trademark humor and endless antics, the series will depict the group as they tackle dating, family, and career milestones. While the sun shines brightly in Florida, past tensions may resurface as they reconnect after years of ups and downs.”
“We are excited to bring reality TV legends to E! for a reunion that fans have eagerly anticipated,” said Val Boreland, the president of entertainment at Versant, on Tuesday. “The dynamic within this group has always been lively, and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds in this new seaside chapter.”
The former Housewives reinforced the announcement with a video posted on Instagram.
“We’re back, darlings,” Luann, 60, stated in the clip, with Jill, 62, chiming in, “The OGs of New York City are back.”
Original story:
The original cast of The Real Housewives of New York City is set to grab their apples once more — with an exciting new angle.
A source has informed Us Weekly that Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, and Ramona Singer have inked a deal with E! and are expecting their new show to debut by the year’s end.
Us has reached out to E! for further comments.
RHONY debuted on Bravo in 2008 as the second installment in the Real Housewives franchise, following The Real Housewives of Orange County. Season 1 featured de Lesseps, Singer, Zarin, Alex McCord, and Bethenny Frankel. Ramona, now 69, has been the longest-serving New York City Housewife, appearing in all 13 seasons before the series was rebooted in 2023. (Luann, 60, was also part of the first 13 seasons but appeared as a “friend” in season 6.)
Additional prominent RHONY cast members throughout the years include Bensimon, Morgan, Carole Radziwill, Dorinda Medley, and Tinsley Mortimer.
Following RHONY’s tumultuous 13th season, producer Andy Cohen confirmed in 2022 that the network was considering “rebooting and recasting” the show.
“We’re at a pivotal moment for RHONY,” Andy, 57, told Variety at the time. “We’ve dedicated considerable time to determining the best path forward. The strategy we’ve developed, I believe, will truly delight fans.”
The series made its return in 2023 with an entirely new cast, featuring Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, and Brynn Whitfield in season 14. Bravo subsequently renewed RHONY for a 15th season, introducing Rebecca Minkoff and Racquel Chevremont into the fold.
While speculation about the franchise’s future abounds — Brynn, 40, announced her departure last year following a significant dispute with Ubah, 42 — Us Weekly confirmed that RHONY has not been cut from Bravo’s lineup.
“Nothing has been finalized,” a network spokesperson stated to Us in May 2025. “The show hasn’t been canceled.”
As inquiries continued, Andy provided a major update on the series’ status at BravoCon in November 2025.
“We have a cast for The Real Housewives of New York City,” he announced during an “Ask Andy” panel. “We will begin filming in the upcoming months. We’re very excited about that. More details to follow.”
Although Andy didn’t disclose any names, he dismissed rumors at the fan event that a hybrid cast of returning original members and newcomers would be in play.
No official cast details have been released for season 16; however, along with Brynn, fans won’t see more of Jenna, 57, who confirmed her exit last fall.
“The rumors are true. Here’s the backstory,” the designer posted on Instagram. “I was delighted to be invited to join season 16 of RHONY ‘as a friend of’ — understanding that my personal life wasn’t really available for filming, we agreed that made sense. After considering it thoroughly, I’ve come to the tough decision not to return to the show.”
Jenna expressed her affection for her castmates but noted, “I would be the oldest and the only openly gay woman on the show, and I feel like this is an opportunity for a new dynamic to emerge. … THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! — it’s incredibly meaningful. I’ll be watching and critiquing from the sidelines with love and fashion judgement.”
