Dolores Catania is making her way up the East Coast.
It was announced at BravoCon 2025 that The Real Housewives of New Jersey star would appear on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island in a “friend of” role, thanks to her connection to new Housewife Liz McGraw.
Along with Dolores and Liz, the upcoming show will star Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti (of Bachelor Nation), Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.
Bravo officially announced in May that RHORI was gearing up to be their 11th Real Housewives franchise. Rumors about Dolores’ involvement started swirling shortly thereafter, and Andy Cohen played coy to Us Weekly exclusively in May about her involvement.
Meet the Cast of Bravo’s Upcoming Series ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’
“You know what, we haven’t even started shooting yet,” he said at the time. While she is a RHONJ girl at her core, Dolores does have “authentic roots” in the smaller state.
“The idea is she would set a tone but not as an official cast member,” an insider told Us.
While no release date for RHORI has been announced just yet, the show is set to premiere via Bravo next year. Keep scrolling for an inside look at Dolores’ connection:
Her 1st Teaser
Dolores hinted at the “wild” cast while on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live in June.
“They’re not Jersey, but we’ll see,” she added.
Breaking Down Her Rhode Island Connection
“So my first time out of New Jersey was in Rhode Island,” Dolores told Us in July. “I was 18 years old.”
Dolores recalled being in “awe” of the state as she moved ex-husband Frank Catania’s sister into her dorm at a college in Rhode Island.
“It was my first time experiencing anything [outside] of New Jersey. It was insane,” she added. “They paint the streets with the Italian flag there.”
The strong Italian heritage in Rhode Island is what made her fall in love. Dolores teased that RHORI viewers “will very much love” the Italian presence on TV.
What Paulie Knew
Dolores’ now-fiancé, Paulie Connell, teased their involvement in RHORI with a September Instagram post.
“And that’s a wrap Rhode Island,” he captioned a series of photos at the time. “Oh did we have a blast, so so impressed tbh, you have earned a special place in our hearts.”
Andy Cohen Hints Rhode Island Housewives Could Fill NJ Void: ‘Very Italian’
He added, “Great people along with great food and so much Fun, RI you are in for a treat, Jersey Style ! Stay tuned.”
Dolores added a hint of her own in the comments section, telling fans to “stay tuned.”
The Liz McGraw of It All
When the official RHORI announcement came at BravoCon in November, it was revealed that one of the main cast members is longtime friends with Dolores.
“We’re friends,” Dolores said about Liz in the RHORI trailer. The two appeared to be at a party where they were asked if they were sisters. “Do you think we look alike?” Dolores asked.
A press release from Bravo further detailed Dolores’ connection to the state.
“Rhode Island captured Dolores’s heart years ago and she’s longed to return ever since,” the statement read. “With her dear friend Liz McGraw living there, and a shared business project on the horizon, a sun-soaked, beach-filled summer is a natural fit for this Jersey girl.”
BravoCon Teasers
“Filming any Housewives show, no matter what, can sometimes be stressful,” Dolores told Bravo at the three-day convention in Las Vegas on November 16. “People think it’s easy; it’s not. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how all the fans love Rhode Island.”
