The cast of the forthcoming E! series “The Golden Life” was honored with the Golden Kettle lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Virtual Reali-Tea Awards, hosted by Page Six. Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, Dorinda Medley, and Kelly Bensimon accepted the award, presented by Tri-State Cadillac.
Joan Vassos, star of “The Golden Bachelorette,” presented the award, remarking on the significance of the “Golden” title. “Because ‘Golden’ isn’t just about age; it’s about experience, it’s about longevity, it’s about knowing exactly who you are — and never being afraid to let the world see it,” Vassos stated. She added that the five honorees have been embodying this for over a decade in reality television.
De Lesseps expressed gratitude to E! for reuniting the cast for the new series. “It’s been an amazing ride,” she said. Bensimon, who previously worked for the Page Six column, noted the full-circle nature of the recognition. “I used to whisper about all of you guys, and now you guys are whispering about us. It’s unbelievable,” Bensimon remarked.
Singer thanked the show's fans for advocating for their return to television. “All the fans are constantly on social media saying, ‘We want you girls back, [we want] you OGs back on TV,’ so we owe a big one to you,” she said.
Morgan concluded the cast's acceptance speech with a pointed remark directed at her co-stars. “I also want to thank the New York Post for always being there for us, and for fact-checking — unlike some of my co-stars,” Morgan stated. “Hey! If we check the facts, we wouldn’t have a show, would we? And I’m lucky to still be with you all.”
The Golden Kettle is the Virtual Reali-Tea’s top lifetime achievement award, selected by hosts Evan Real and Danny Murphy to honor significant figures in reality television. De Lesseps also received the “Musician of the Year” award.
“The Golden Life,” which centers on the lives of the five reality stars in Palm Beach, is set to premiere on E! on Oct. 20. The VRT Awards ceremony also recognized other fan-voted categories, with winners including Ciara Miller for “Best Reunion Performance,” Kyle Cooke for “Hot-Tea of the Year,” and the cast of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” for “Best Cast.”