Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan perform during Benton Follies on season finale of spin-off series Luann & Sonja: Welcome To Crappie Lake
Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan said a tearful goodbye to the town of Benton, Illinois on Sunday's season finale of Luann & Sonja: Welcome To Crappie Lake.
The reality stars made the small town better by putting in a children's playground, using their own money to fund an outdoor area at the dog shelter and hosting a cabaret show benefit.
'I'm Benton proud,' Sonja, 59, said. 'It could have been s*** show obviously. They're just really good people. Oh my god I'm so sad. I'm going to miss everybody.'
'I can't thank them enough especially for everything they have done at the motel,' Benton Motel owner Akesh Patel said after they left. 'I love them and you know I won't ever forget them. I'm done. I can't f***ing talk.'
As they drove out of town, Luann and Sonja saw the town had erected a billboard with their faces on it.
![Season finale: Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan said a tearful goodbye to the town of Benton, Illinois on Sunday's season finale of Luann & Sonja: Welcome To Crappie Lake](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74547879-12427979-image-a-82_1692603437955.jpg)
Season finale: Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan said a tearful goodbye to the town of Benton, Illinois on Sunday's season finale of Luann & Sonja: Welcome To Crappie Lake
'Oh my God,' Sonja screamed. 'Fabulous. 'There is no place like Benton.'
Luann, 58, and Sonja, both from The Real Housewives of New York City, had agreed to go to Benton, a town with a population of 7,000, and spend six weeks working with the Benton City Council to help the small town bounce back after the pandemic.
When the season finale started, Luann and Sonja were both busy planning their looks for their final event the Benton Follies. Luann had Broadway director Richard Jay-Alexander, who had directed countless stars, fly in and help them at the last moment.
'B****es I'm in Benton!' Richard said. 'I am so happy to be here.'
Luann said in a confessional that she hoped Richard could help them polish the final song of the Benton Follies, which was her duet with Sonja. They had packed the audience selling more than 400 tickets to the event. Paula Abdul, 61, had flown in and was still in town working with the dance acts.
'Make it strong,' Paula instructed them in a rehearsal.
Luann and Sonja arrived at the empty theater three hours before show time.
'Let's take a moment to enjoy the grandiosity of what this show is going to be,' Luann said. 'Before my cabaret shows I loved to stand on the stage and take it all in before the audience gets here.'
![She's proud: 'I'm Benton proud,' Sonja, 59, said. 'It could have been s*** show obviously. They're just really good people. Oh my god I'm so sad. I'm going to miss everybody'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548643-12427979-image-a-85_1692603947967.jpg)
She's proud: 'I'm Benton proud,' Sonja, 59, said. 'It could have been s*** show obviously. They're just really good people. Oh my god I'm so sad. I'm going to miss everybody'
![Final song: Luann said in a confessional that she hoped Richard could help them polish the final song of the Benton Follies, which was her duet with Sonja](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548653-12427979-image-a-84_1692603936756.jpg)
Final song: Luann said in a confessional that she hoped Richard could help them polish the final song of the Benton Follies, which was her duet with Sonja
![Dance coach: Paula Abdul, 61, had flown in and was still in town working with the dance acts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548677-12427979-image-a-86_1692603955649.jpg)
Dance coach: Paula Abdul, 61, had flown in and was still in town working with the dance acts
![Cabaret experience: The Countess brought her cabaret experience to the Benton Follies](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548673-12427979-image-a-87_1692604044442.jpg)
Cabaret experience: The Countess brought her cabaret experience to the Benton Follies
Richard showed up next to help with staging. Sonja insisted that Luann give the piano player her latest lyric changes.
'Stop being a bossy b****,' Luann said.
Luann worried about them getting through their song.
'It's the weakest link,' Luann said.
Richard stepped in between then to cut the tension and gave them stage direction.
'To have someone like Richard Jay come in and say let's remember you guys are friends,' Sonja said in a confessional. 'I know we have pressure on us but what's most important is where we are here together helping others.'
Right before the show started, Paula took her seat in the audience and told the crowd she was happy to be there. Next, Russell Jay Staglik, a TV producer from Benton, who brought Sonja and Luann to the town, took the stage.
'I am blown away by Sonja and Luann. They have done so much great stuff for this town,' Russell said.
![Getting ready: Luann and Sonja got ready right before they came on stage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548777-12427979-image-a-88_1692604142899.jpg)
Getting ready: Luann and Sonja got ready right before they came on stage
Luann and Sonja came out next, both dressed in white. Sonja said the last five weeks they spent in Benton had been amazing. The first act then walked out to sing the National Anthem, but there was no microphone so Luann rushed back to give her one.
'It's going to be that kind of show,' Luann said.
They introduced dance acts and drum groups who took that stage and entertained the crowds. One performer was an 86-year-old pianist.
'I'm surprised the show is going as well as it is,' Luann said. 'I'm just amazed at how the audience is receiving us.'
The final act of the show was Luann and Sonja's song about their time in Benton and all the people they met along the way.
'We love the motel Benton,' they sang. 'Where we first got our start. So happy we shared this time together you will always be in our hearts.'
They waved goodbye and said they loved Benton. The next day they packed up their belongings at the motel.
'I'm going to miss this little place,' Luann said.
Sonja re-sang their Benton theme song outside the motel but used her vibrator as a microphone. Luann said in a confessional that she had really grown to love the town and would miss the people.
'Sonja and Luann just brought a spark of energy and an encouragement that this town needed for us to believe that good things can happen here,' said Christian Drew, a cafe owner in town.
![Dance routine: The Benton Follies included a dance routine by Sloan Dance Studio](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548667-12427979-image-a-89_1692604186257.jpg)
Dance routine: The Benton Follies included a dance routine by Sloan Dance Studio
![Energy spark: 'Sonja and Luann just brought a spark of energy and an encouragement that this town needed for us to believe that good things can happen here,' said Christian Drew, a cafe owner in town](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548605-12427979-image-a-83_1692603903492.jpg)
Energy spark: 'Sonja and Luann just brought a spark of energy and an encouragement that this town needed for us to believe that good things can happen here,' said Christian Drew, a cafe owner in town
![Killed it: The final act of the show was Luann and Sonja's song about their time in Benton and all the people they met along the way](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/08/74548659-12427979-image-a-90_1692604230532.jpg)
Killed it: The final act of the show was Luann and Sonja's song about their time in Benton and all the people they met along the way
Akesh, the Benton motel owner, told them to stop by the park before they left. When they got there they saw that the town had gathered to send them off.
Sonja started crying and told one of the women that she would return to help with future plantings.
'Who would have thought when we first got off the plane in Benton that these people would become our family,' Luann said.
Sonja and Luann starred on The Real Housewives Of New York City that was rebooted for season 14 with a new cast.
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