You know and love her from The Real Housewives of New York City, now is your chance to see Countess Luann de Lesseps live! Currently touring the United States on her A Very Countess Christmas Tour, de Lesseps joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos to talk about the show and her love for the LGBTQ community.
“Oh my God. I love the holiday shows,” de Lesseps starts by saying. Following her iconic Marry F Kill tour, she was thrilled to get to travel the country, meet fans, and celebrate the holiday season. “The Christmas show, you see, I kind of take Christmas music and turn it on its head,” she explains.
She shares an example of instead of singing Eric Clapton’s Lay Down Sally, for the show, she changed it to Lay Down Santa. She says that, “I love the creative part of the show, I write all my music.”
She describes what fans can expect, “It’s really cabaret, meets comedy, meets pop culture, meets a fashion show… it’s my show and put on a great show!”
She reflects on the journey this show has taken her on, “I can’t believe it’s been seven years. I started at 54 Below, just a small show in New York.” She says that her director Richard Jay-Alexander came up to her after that first show and said, “Countess, I didn’t expect much from you, but you f*cking blew my mind. First of all, you can sing. Second of all, you are funny. And third, you wear a dress like no woman I’ve ever seen!” He assured her she would be “a big Cabaret star.”
She speaks about her love for her LGBTQ fans, sharing that at least 25% of her audience is the boys, or members of the LGBTQ community. She hopes her fans see that, “I’m living my best life in my fifties. So, if that gives inspiration to people, so be it. I’m doing what I love to do and I make no excuses.”
She references when Real Housewives co-star Bethenny Frankel said “Life is not a cabaret…” and to that Countess Luann says, “Guess what? It is!”
She talks about how “Even before Housewives, I’ve had LGBTQ community friends.” She then quotes a verse from her song Chic C’est La Vie, “Live the life you want to live. There’s no sympathy, don’t forget to see the best life can be so soft, the little things can take you down. So it’s best to brush them off.”
She shares that, “When we did Housewives, we were always supportive of the LGBTQ+ community because we just always have been. You know, we’re pretty authentic on New York Housewives.”
Countess Luann says that “Carson Kressley is one of my oldest friends.” Adding, “I love my queens. I just did Rupaul’s Drag Race in Canada with Brad Goreski. I love and support that community.”
She shares her excitement about the new season of The Real Housewives of New York including out LGBTQ cast members Jenna Lyons and Racquel Chevremont. “I think it’s great,” she says. “I’m glad to see it.”
To close, she praises Grammy winning producer Tracy Young and expresses her gratitude for having the chance to work with her on her track Marry F Kill. “So, I feel very blessed. I feel very blessed to be supported by the LGBT+ community.”
Don’t miss Countess Luann on her tour in the U.S. and Europe, get you tickets here!