or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS
Article continues below advertisement
OK LogoEXCLUSIVE

'RHOA' Newcomer Kelli Ferrell Says Season 16 Will 'Surprise' Fans: 'So Many Things Happen You Probably Won't Expect'

Photo of Kelli Ferrell.
Source: @whoiskelli/Instagram

Kelli Ferrell is a cookbook author, celebrity chef, TV personality and restauranteur.

Feb. 28 2025, Published 5:02 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email
Article continues below advertisement

Kelli Ferrell is pumped to make her debut on Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta!

While exclusively speaking with OK! about the season — which releases on Sunday, March 9 — the cookbook author, celebrity chef, TV personality, restauranteur and reality TV newbie gushed about her time on the show and hinted at the upcoming episodes’ twists and turns.

Article continues below advertisement
rhoa newcomer kelli ferrel season  surprise wont expect
Source: @whoiskelli/Instagram

Kelli Ferrell admitted joining the 'RHOA' cast with fellow newcomers Brit Eady and Angela Oakley was 'certainly' easier.

Article continues below advertisement

When asked if she was nervous about watching herself back on TV, Ferrell — who joined the cast alongside fellow newcomers Brit Eady and Angela Oakley — said she couldn’t be more “excited.”

“I can't wait. I think it's gonna be a really, really great season. I think the fans will definitely be surprised. There were so many things you probably won't expect,” she dished.

Article continues below advertisement

Ferrell admitted that although she isn’t nervous, she is “maybe” anxious for the show to playback.

“I think you just get to see my reality. You just get to see the things that I’ve been going through, including a lot of good times, maybe a few bad, but you'll get to see what real life looks like,” she explained.

Article continues below advertisement
rhoa newcomer kelli ferrel season  surprise wont expect
Source: @whoiskelli/Instagram

Kelli Ferrell owns iconic Atlanta restaurant Nana’s Chicken & Waffles.

Article continues below advertisement

Ferrell — who is a mother to her four daughters, Chloe, Chance, Chasiti and Chelsi — noted this is not the first occasion she’s been tapped to join the iconic reality program.

“So this is my third time for interviewing with Housewives, so I'm super excited. I think this was like the perfect timing for me,” she shared, adding that she’s been a fan of RHOA, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Real Housewives of Potomac for years.

MORE ON:
RHOA

Want OK! each day? Sign up here!

Article continues below advertisement

The owner of Atlanta restaurant Nana’s Chicken & Waffles also expressed her gratitude for entering the group alongside Eady and Oakley, as it made integrating into the group of ladies “easier.”

“I'm a girl's girl. So you can kind of put me in any group and I'm gonna either get along or voice an opinion. But it was fairly easy and I think this was like the most perfect mix of ladies,” she said of finding her footing with the longtime cast members, such as Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore.

Article continues below advertisement
Source: Bravo
Article continues below advertisement

As for who Ferrell clicked with most throughout filming, she gushed, “I love the girls. Each of us have our own relationship.”

“You know Shamea is definitely my girl. Love her so much,” she said of Shamea Morton.

“Love me some, Cynthia. We have a great time together. Phaedra has been absolutely amazing. She's super sweet,” Ferrell added of Cynthia Bailey and Phaedra Parks.

Article continues below advertisement
rhoa newcomer kelli ferrel season  surprise wont expect
Source: @whoiskelli/Instagram

Kelli Ferrell is a mother to daughters Chloe, Chance, Chasiti and Chelsi.

Now that she’s gearing up for the premiere, Ferrell said she’s not worried about what any of potential haters may say.

“I'm not really nervous about that. I'm not gonna be a fan favorite with everyone,” she stated of potential internet backlash. “I went into the season being my authentic self, showing my truth and speaking how I feel. I was trying to handle conflict as I typically would.”

“I think it's so important to be proud what you put out there and like how you deal with conflict and everything like that,” she concluded.

More From OK! Magazine

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2025 OK!™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. OK! is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.