Luann de Lesseps' Cabaret Show Debut Featured So Many Surprise Guests (UPDATED)
The Real Housewives of New York City singer's performance was a glamorous and intimate affair.
UPDATE (March 9, 2018, 1:46 P.M.): The second performance of #CountessandFriends on March 8 proved to be even more star-studded than the premiere. The Real Housewives of New York City squad was sitting front and center, decked out in bedazzled jumpsuits and wrap dresses (we’ll get to that later) to cheer the Countess on. Lu got by with a little help from her friend Rachel Dratch who was the first guest of the night to sing onstage with the Housewife. Broadway baby Laura Benanti wowed with a pop medley about love that “her mother taught her.” The set included the “Thong Song” and Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies” which Ramona Singer stood up and danced along to. Plus, comedian Bridget Everett had the audiences in stitches with a song about her breasts – and even showed off her nipple before motor-boating Sonja Morgan. But that wasn’t all of Sonja the audience got to see…oh no.
Sonja joined Luann de Lesseps for the iconic hit “Money Can’t Buy You Class” but it wasn’t just Sonja’s talent as a backup singer on display – the Housewife had a wardrobe malfunction heard ‘round Manhattan. Daily Dish Podcast host Rachael Roberts who was in attendance noted, “As Sonja walked to the stage, she was already fussing with the back of her dress, so I was worried that something might be afoot.” -Additional reporting by Rachael Roberts
PHOTO: Erik McIntyre/ Rachael Roberts
PHOTO: Erik McIntyre/ Rachael Roberts
PHOTO: Erik McIntyre/ Rachael Roberts
The original story continues below.
Luann de Lesseps has found her voice again, thanks to a little help from her friends.
The Real Housewives of New York City singer debuted her nightclub act, #CountessAndFriends, at Feinstein's/54 Below in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Luann performed such classics as "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Almost Like Being in Love," and "L.O.V.E." to a sold-out crowd.
The evening also included performances from the best and brightest of show biz, including Murray Hill, Broadway stars Lesli Margherita and Tony Yazbek, and RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 contestant Alexis Michelle. None other than Sonja Morgan joined Luann for a one-of-a-kind rendition of her hit "Money Can't Buy You Class," including a new Hamilton-inspired rap solo in the song, which you can view in the above video.
Luann and Sonja perform "Money Can't Buy You Class" at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City on Tuesday, February 27.
The RHONY ladies looked fabulous, even if Sonja almost had a wardrobe malfunction.
Don't Luann and Sonja look too cute on stage together?
In addition to Sonja, many of Luann's other famous friends were in attendance for the performance, including her ex-boyfriend Jacques Azoulay, RHONY alum Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Carson Kressley, Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, and Michelle Collins.
Though the evening included plenty of joyous moments, Luann also got real about the past six months in which she announced her divorce from Tom D'Agostino, got arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, and checked herself into an alcohol treatment facility. “Not drinking is exhausting. Getting up at six and going to my meetings and to yoga and then filming Housewives. I’m dead by ten o’ clock; I’m wiped out, I’m exhausted. And usually, I’m just starting at the Regency at that time,” Luann joked during the performance, as reported by PEOPLE.
"Elegance is learned," and Luann could teach a class on it.
Luann looked ultra-glam in every one of her looks during the night.
Luann held her own performing with Broadway star Tony Yazbeck.
Luann later joked more about her treatment during a costume change. “My dress is from my latest collection it’s called the ‘I lost ten pounds from rehab collection,’” she said, according to PEOPLE.
Luann also read entries from her journal, or the "Countess Diaries" as she called it, during the show. She detailed much of her life before RHONY, including the day she met Jill Zarin and stories about her former lovers.
Luann's diary is as glitzy and glamorous as she is.
The RHONY mom shared her excitement about the performance during an interview with The New York Times prior to the big night. “To know that the show was totally sold out and people are still trying to get tickets is a really great feeling,” she said. “That I get to come back and have something creative to sink my teeth into has been really helpful for me, because it’s been a rocky road, the past two years.”
Luann also revealed that she plans to put the finishing touches on a new single called "Make It Part of the Dance" following the cabaret, which she will perform again at Feinstein's/54 Below on March 8. “The important thing is to not take yourself so damn seriously,” she told The New York Times. “I always think, ‘I can survive this if I keep on moving.’”
— Additional reporting by Emily Exton
Check out another musical moment with Luann, below.
