NeNe Leakes: I'M BACK!!! 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Is So Boring Without Me

NeNe Leakes is eating her words ... returning to 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' this season, even though she declared there was no chance she'd go back.

Leakes surprised the cast when she showed up to their retreat in Jamaica. We're told none of the ladies knew NeNe was coming back and her surprising entry even left some of the ladies speechless. No small feat.

Our sources say producers phoned NeNe earlier this month, pleading with her to come back because the storylines were lacking excitement so far this season. In a nutshell: We suck, please help.

NeNe agreed to do it because the price was right this time, and it didn't affect the shooting schedule on her new game show.

We're told NeNe's episodes will air toward the end of the season.