Countess Luann: Life is a Cabaret

“You write your own stories. Life is a cabaret, and nobody writes it for you.” So says Countess Luann de Lesseps, best known as an original cast member of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

“You never know in life. It’s a ride, but you’re in the driver’s seat,” she continues. “So really this tour is about living the best decade of my life right now. I’m loving what I do, I love the creative part of it.”

She’s talking about her new show, “Countess Cabaret,” set to make its stop at The Fillmore Minneapolis on April 5. The reality star and actress is no stranger to touring a cabaret show, and this time around audiences can expect a setlist packed with some of Countess Luann’s most

iconic hits, including “Money Can’t Buy You Class,” “Chic C’est La Vie,” “Feelin’ Jovani,” and her latest sensation, “Marry F Kill.” Her own songs are mixed in with classic cabaret tunes, pop

and Broadway standbys, and her trademark wit and charm.

Calling this her greatest hits tour, de Lesseps says she approaches any cabaret show by picking songs she loves, attaching a personal story to them, and then finding “the perfect Tina Turner dress” to wear. She jokes, “It’s like you’re on my living room couch, just sit down and let me take you for a ride.”

Unlike some reality stars, de Lesseps doesn’t shy away from her past. In fact, she often leans into her relationship with Bravo and includes clips throughout her show.

“It’s a part of my history; it’s a part of my story,” she says. “People come to my shows and they’ve never seen a ‘Housewives’ episode and they have the best time. It’s really not about the housewives — it is, but it’s about relationships, really. I talk a lot about that for my show, my own personal relationships.”

For someone who seems to have done a little bit of everything, including scripted television and ‘The Masked Singer,’ de Lesseps still has some gigs to check off her list. “I’d be really good at a game show. I’d like to be the host of the Love Connection,” she laughs. “I love variety. I grew up with Carol Burnet and Cher. I love the sketch comedy type stuff, I’m a big fan of SNL — in fact, they’ve spoofed us many times on SNL.”

She advises that you have to take opportunities as they come. “I always say jump on the train, or it’s going to leave without you. Why not take the chance and do something out of your comfort zone?” she says.

“That’s how I really live my life. I took a chance on ‘Housewives,’ I didn’t know that was going to become what it became. I took a chance doing my cabaret show — I was scared to death! It was my first show and they did it for Bravo, so on television as well! I live by the motto: if you don’t do things that scare you, you’re not really living.”

Perhaps the perfect example of that motto is agreeing to participate in “Love Hotel,” premiering April 27 on Bravo. She joins Gizelle Bryant, Shannon Storms Beador and Ashley Darby for a first-of-its-kind “Real Housewives” dating show hosted by Joel Kim Booster. Throughout their stay in Los Cabos, Mexico, the housewives will get to go on dates with a group of eligible bachelors.

“This is a fresh take on housewives and dating,” de Lesseps says. “You’re going to see camaraderie and having each other’s backs and being good wingmen for each other and seeing some hot guys, that’s for sure! I must say, they did a really good job at casting. I’m not mad at that!”

As if there wasn’t enough on her plate, de Lesseps says there are still “a lot of irons in the fire” for her next projects. “Let’s see what happens!” she says before laughing. “But I’m really looking forward to bringing [my tour] to Minneapolis. People often ask me, ‘Aren’t you tired of being on tour?’ I love it. I have a great time, I have a great team. I’m happy to travel and do my cabarets, and then I’ll take some downtime, that’s for sure.”

Tickets for Countess Cabaret are available at countessluann.com.