Exclusive

Glee Scoop: NeNe Leakes Set To Return to McKinley in Season 5

Exclusive! Coach Roz is coming back to the Fox hit for multiple episodes

By Leanne Aguilera Aug 13, 2013 12:45 AMTags
GLEE, NeNe Leakes, Chord OverstreetAdam Rose/FOX

Who's ready for more sass, snark and amazing run-on insults?!

E! News can exclusively confirm that the one-and-only NeNe Leakes is set to return to Glee in season five as the quick-witted and terrifyingly intimidating Coach Roz. Sources confirm that Leakes is set to appear in multiple episodes of the Fox hit's upcoming season.

There are many shakeups afoot for the Fox hit this fall following the shocking death of Cory Monteith. Creator Ryan Murphy told E! News recently that Lea Michele "felt strongly" about the importance of the cast getting back to work and being together as their mourn their loss, and Glee is currently working on a special two-part, years-in-the-making Beatles-themed event.

According to Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly, the third episode of the season will write Monteith's character, Finn Hudson, out of the show. "That episode will deal directly with the incidents involved with Cory's passing and the drug abuse in particular," he said, though Reilly wouldn't confirm that Finn would die from a drug overdose. Following the third episode, Glee will take a lengthy hiatus before retuning to the Fox line-up. 

When we last saw Coach Roz, she had relinquished her position as coach of the swim team and successfully snatched the Cheerios away from the clutches of Coach Sue (Jane Lynch). There are no additional details yet as to what Leake's character will be up to when we return, but our fingers are crossed that Glee fans will be treated to many more hilarious and long-winded rants. We could all certainly use a coach Roz-induced smile right about now.

PHOTOS: Fans mourn Cory Monteith

Leakes' other comedy gig, The New Normal, was canceled after just one season, but the reality-TV star is keeping very busy. Leakes' Bravo hit I Dream of NeNe will retun September 17 with a special wedding episode and she will continue to appear in upcoming seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Glee's fifth season premieres Sept. 26 on Fox.

—Reporting by Holly Passalaqua