‘RHOP’ alum Candiace Dillard Bassett to receive special music honor at Page Six’s VRT Awards

Known for her iconic tenure on “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” Candiace Dillard Bassett is a reality TV superstar — but she is also a powerhouse vocalist with a music catalog that transcends beyond the Bravo-verse. 

Unlike most unscripted stars who’ve released a single or two, Dillard Bassett can sing, and her shimmering discography full of bops like “Drive Back,” “Fine Whine” and “Insecure” prove that. 

So it only makes sense that Page Six’s very own “Virtual Reali-Tea” co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real are honoring Dillard Bassett with the Magic Mic Award for her achievements as a recording artist at Page Six’s inaugural VRT Awards in September. 

She will also be performing live at the event, treating attendees to the magic of hearing her voice IRL and the eye-catching spectacle of her stage sets. 

“RHOP” fans will remember Dillard Bassett embarking on her journey as a R&B chanteuse in 2021’s Season 6, which included the making of the video of her signature track “Drive Back.” Subsequently, she dropped her debut album, “Deep Space,” in September of that year.

Dillard Bassett’s debut LP reached the No. 4 position on iTunes and peaked at No. 24 on Billboard’s Current R&B Albums chart. She later released a deluxe edition of the album in December 2022. 

The expanded project included new songs and a live version of “Drive Back,” which she triumphantly sang for a sold-out crowd at BravoCon that year. 

Dillard Bassett has collaborated with notable artists, including Trina, Q Parker, Isaac Carree, Anwan Glover, Kevin L. Blackmon and the late Traci Braxton. Her latest single, “How Do You Live?” — an emotional mid-tempo track — was made available to stream in March, making everyone’s 2025 playlist that much better. 

The star, who will be participating in the next season of Peacock’s Emmy-winning series “The Traitors,” previously told Page Six in February 2024 that music has always been her passion — and that she is grateful to Bravo for giving her a platform to highlight that part of her career. 

“They have supported me immensely with my music career, with my acting career, with just my love for wanting to express myself as an artist,” she shared at the time. 

“They’ve really given me the space to talk through and talk about my love for [the] industry.”

The first-ever VRT Awards are slated for Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. at New York City’s City Winery. 

Other special guests include Golden Kettle recipients Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton of “The Real Housewives of Miami.” The award — presented by Tri-State Cadillac — celebrates the duo’s one-of-a-kind journey on the juggernaut franchise. 

“Real Housewives of New Jersey” mainstay Melissa Gorga will also be on hand to receive the That’s Mother! Award, recognizing the multidimensional diva for her inspiring ride on reality TV.

Voting is officially open for the VRT Awards. From “Hot-Tea of the Year” to “Comeback Queen,” help us crown more winners here. And be sure to get your tickets to our live event.