Kandi Burruss Is Feeling ‘Perfect’ as She Begins in Broadway’s ‘& Juliet’ (Exclusive)

Kandi Burruss is stepping into a new chapter, onstage and off.

Amid her divorce from Todd Tucker after 11 years of marriage, the Grammy winner and Real Housewives of Atlanta alum is back on Broadway, beginning performances in the hit musical & Juliet on Thursday, Dec. 11.

The timing, she admits to PEOPLE, is — like the Max Martin song she sings in the musical — “f–kin’ perfect.”

“There’s obviously a lot going on right now in my life offstage, but it feels good to have this to focus on,” Burruss, 49, says. “The show is so much fun that no matter what’s happening, it just takes you out of that space.”

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That doesn’t mean Burruss isn’t aware of how much is shifting around her. But returning to the boards for the first time since she made her debut in 2018 feels like a steadying force at exactly the right time.

“At first, I was a little nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Burruss laughs. “I have not performed on Broadway in eight years, since Chicago. That’s a long time! And yeah, I toured with Xscape, and have done acting roles, but of course, I want to be on point, I want to be right! But I feel strong about it. I feel good. I feel ready to go.”

And that aforementioned song made famous by Pink? It’s taken on new meaning for Burruss.

“This morning I said, ‘I need to be singing these lyrics to myself,’ ” Burruss says of the 2010 anthem. “I’m always in my head, doubting myself — even though I guess it may look to other people like I never have doubts. But people just see the shiny part of the coin, right? You don’t see the other side where it’s kind of dull. It’s kind of like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know if this is what I’m supposed to be doing?’ So I’m really hearing those words now.”

& Juliet reimagines what would happen if Shakespeare’s Juliet survived Romeo and Juliet and got to live and love on her own terms. The musical — with a hilarious book by David West Read, the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek — is set to a score of pop anthems by prolific producer Max Martin, including those made popular by Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and Robyn.

Burruss is playing Juliet’s nurse, Angélique, in the musical — a role that feels personal.

“I’m Juliet’s protector, I’m nervous for her. And instead of letting her run off into the world, I run with her and in the midst of that journey, find out things about myself,” Burruss says, describing her character’s arc. “And I know what that’s like. You know, my daughter Riley, she’s stepped out into the world, doing her own show, Next Gen NYC. The same way Angélique is trying to protect Juliet, I feel that about Riley. I want to be her protector.”

In the years since playing Mama Morton in Chicago, Burruss has remained connected to Broadway, becoming one of the busiest producers in the industry and helping bring to the stage five plays including acclaimed revivals like The Wiz, Othello (with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal) and the upcoming Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (with Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer).

When the opportunity for & Juliet came, Burruss jumped at it, saying she knew it was time to remind audiences she’s not just behind the scenes.

“I really wanted to come back to Broadway as a performer, not just as a producer,” the “No Scrubs” songwriter says. “I don’t want people to just put me in one box.”

And while Chicago was nearly a decade ago, Burruss is approaching this run with the same discipline she brought to her Broadway debut — maybe even more.

The stakes feel higher now, and she’s determined to show up for every single person who buys a ticket. “Back when I was a part of Chicago, my main thing was I didn’t wanna miss a show,” she recalls. “I made sure I took care of my voice, I did my vocal exercises… I just did what I was supposed to do.”

She’s carrying that mindset straight into & Juliet. “I’m taking that same energy into this one,” Burruss says. “I wanna be here for every person that buys a ticket to see me… so I’m definitely doing my best to take care of myself, take care of my voice, and be my best self for the stage.”

Burruss is already three performances in. Fans flocked to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre to support Burruss’ debut on Thursday, showering the mother of three with cheers throughout the show (and an enthusiastic standing ovation when she took her bow after the performance).

Afterwards, the cast and select theatergoers — including PEOPLE — celebrated Burruss’ big night at a private event held at famed New York City theatrical institution Sardi’s. Among the stars in attendance were Burruss’ Xscape costars Tamika Scott and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle; Cottle’s husband, rapper T.I., and their daughter; theater producer Brian Moreland; RHOA alums Carmon Cambrice, Don Juan Clark and Derek J; and Riley.

“It’s amazing,” Burruss tells PEOPLE. “I’m definitely feeling the love, for sure.”

Tickets to & Juliet are on sale now.