Meet Countess Luann of ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’

Countess Luann de Lesseps. Photo Credit: Mike Ruiz

Luann de Lesseps, better known as Countess Luann (“The Real Housewives of New York City”), chatted about her upcoming show at The Paramount in Huntington on Long Island.

On her experience in “The Real Housewives of New York,” she said, “It was great, actually. We had a great time, it was good drama and not crazy or dark. It was fun and light. Basically, it was what people want to see girls doing on vacation.”

The Paramount show

On Saturday, March 16, she will be performing her Countess Cabaret show at The Paramount in Huntington. It was directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and Brian Nash as her musical director.

“My director, Richard Jay-Alexander, has worked with Kristin Chenoweth and Barbra Streisand. He is amazing,” she said. “My director wants us to go to Broadway, so we are shooting high with this show.”

“I can’t wait to perform at The Paramount,” she said. “It is one of my favorite venues in the world. I just love that place, it is so much fun.”

“This is a brand new show,” she said. “It is unlike anything I have ever done before. It’s pop culture meets comedy meets cabaret. I call it ‘Marry, F, Kill’ because it’s all about the ones we marry, and the ones we want to get rid of. We are not killing anybody,” she said with a sweet laugh.

“I also have a new song and I just can’t wait for my fans to hear it. They can only hear it at my cabaret show at the moment,” she said. “I am working on the distribution of the song. I want to thank the fans for inspiring me to write this new song. First, it started as the name of the tour, and then, I wrote the song.”

“I always say the fans come in driving a Toyota, and they drive out in a Rolls-Royce because I put on a great show,” she exclaimed.

“This show will feel like me on my living room couch,” she admitted. “Sit down, grab a drink and let me entertain you because that’s what I do. I love my show, I love the new songs that I have in my show,

“Even before the Grammy Awards, I was covering Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’ so I am thrilled that she won the Grammy for that. I will be doing a lot of covers and my own music,” she said.

“There will be a lot of surprises,” she hinted. “It’s a great show. I’ve worked really hard on my cabaret. It’s my career now. This show is a party and so much fun. People are going to love it. I am excited.”

The digital age

On being a part of the digital age, she said, “Well, it’s interesting. The Internet has a mind of its own. I did a cameo for a fan called ‘Keep on serving’ and that thing went viral. I am trying to keep up with the times, and I am trying to have a good time with it.”

“I have a lot of fun on social media,” she said. “I love doing videos of my shows to get people excited about what to expect from my Cabaret.”

“In my show, I pick the music that I love that I want to sing, and then I back into the song and explain why I love the song. There is always a story to it. Then, I pick a dress from Jovani, so the fans can expect it to be a fashion show as well,” she elaborated.

Stage of her life

On the title of the current chapter of her life, she said, “I’m living my best life.” “The 50s decade of my life has really been the best,” she admitted. “I am grateful to have this career, and to be doing what I love.”

Advice for young and aspiring entertainers

For young and aspiring entertainers, she said, “Be cool, don’t be uncool. Also, life is a cabaret and you write your own story. If you don’t think you’re great, nobody else will.”

Lawrence and Gregory Zarian

She had great words about twins Lawrence Zarian and Gregory Zarian. “I love Gregory and Lawrence,” she exclaimed. “Lawrence is an old friend of mine. They are both so lovely. Also, I am so happy for Gregory because he recently got married. Now, we need to find Lawrence somebody.”

Superpower of choice

If she were to have any superpower, it would be to “fly like a bird and to be free.” “I would be able to go wherever I want to go and I would be free,” she said.

As her alternate career choice, she would love to have a “Late Night Talk Show with the Countess.” “I host, I sing, and I tell jokes… that’s what a talk show host does. I’m like the female version of Jimmy Fallon,” she said.