Chad Michaels
Michaels at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
Born
Chad Michael Storbeck[1]

(1971-03-20) March 20, 1971[1]
Arcadia, California, U.S.[1]
Occupation(s)Drag performer, Cher impersonator
Years active1995 – present
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner; runner-up on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race
SuccessorAlaska

Chad Michael Storbeck, known professionally as Chad Michaels (born March 20, 1971), is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was the runner-up of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, alongside Phi Phi O'Hara, and the winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2013, he released "Tragic Girl", his debut single and music video.

Early life

Michaels was born Chad Michael Storbeck to former high school football player Jerry Michael Storbeck of Aurelia, Iowa and salon worker Linda Storbeck Olson of Encinitas, California[2] at Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California on March 20, 1971. His parents graduated from Pasadena High School and Aurelia High School, respectively, and wed in 1968.[2] They resided in Olivenhain, Encinitas, California at the time of his birth before they moved to Los Angeles, and then again to San Diego, where he was raised.[3][1] He originally went by the drag name "Brigitte Love." Michaels chose to perform under his own name after working at "An Evening at La Cage" in Las Vegas, which required the drag queens to use masculine stage names.[3] Michaels is married to Adam Magee.[4]

Career

Michaels is well known for impersonating Cher.

Michaels began his career as a celebrity impersonator, being especially known for his Cher impressions.

After his run on Drag Race, Chad continued to perform as Cher.[5]

Michaels produces and performs with the Dreamgirls Revue, a drag show in California.[6] Performers in the Dreamgirls Revue have included RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Delta Work, Raven, Detox, Morgan McMichaels, Raja, Shannel, and Venus D-Lite.[7]

Morgan McMichaels is Michaels' drag daughter.[8]

Michaels started touring with Farrah Moan in 2019 for the Burlesque tour, based on the Cher and Christina Aguilera movie.[9]

In 2010, Michaels competed in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant, becoming first alternate to winner Shangela.[10]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Season 4

In 2011, Michaels was announced as one of the 13 queens competing on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012.

The season began with a design challenge, which Michaels performed adequately in, but the episode 2, Chad won his first challenge alongside Madame LaQueer, the "WTF!: Wrestling's Trashiest Fighters", where the contestants had to play wrestlers. Chad continued performing well, getting good critiques for the advertisement challenge in episode 3 and the acting challenge in episode 4.

Chad won his second challenge in Episode 5, the Snatch Game, where he impersonated Cher, a performance that has gone down as one of the game's best.[11] Chad performed solidly in the remaining challenges, not winning any but doing well enough to be safe. This ended at the final 4 in episode 11, where Chad performed poorly in a ball challenge and was put into the bottom two against Latrice Royale. The two would lip-sync to No One Else on Earth by Wynona Judd, with Chad winning, sending Latrice home, and gaining a spot in the final 3.

Michaels impersonating Cher in Austin, Texas.

At the grand finale, it was revealed that Chad had lost the season to Sharon Needles, tying for second with Phi Phi O'Hara.

All Stars 1

Shortly after his run on season 4, Chad was announced as a contestant on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[12]

During the season, a twist was incorporated where the twelve contestants had to pair up with a fellow contestant to run the season with. Chad picked season 1 contestant, Shannel and the pair were given the name "Team Shad". The first challenge was a photo shoot where contestants had to take "half-baked" and "opposites attract" photos. Shad performed weakly, landing in the bottom two in episode 1 beside Team Mandora (Mimi Imfurst and Pandora Boxx). Chad lip-synced against Mimi to Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul and won, sending Mimi and Pandora home first.

In episode 2, team Shad survived the "gaff-in" challenge, followed by the team winning all three of the final challenges in episodes 3, 4, and 5, a pranks challenge, girl group/makeover challenge, and a ball challenge, which took both Chad and Shannel to the final 4.

In the finale, Shannel and Jujubee were eliminated, leaving Chad and season 2 finalist, Raven as the final two. After they lip-synced to Responsitrannity by RuPaul, it was announced that Chad had won All Stars 1. This secured his spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

Discography

Singles

Year Song Ref
2013 "Tragic Girl" [13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Bamboo Shark Cher [14]
2021 The Bitch Who Stole Christmas Cher [15]
TBA Maybe This Time Stephen Pre-production [16][17]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 MADtv Cher impersonator at gay bar Season 7, Episode 15
2003 E! True Hollywood Story: Cher Himself
2007 Women's Murder Club Glenn Whitney Episode 9: "To Drag and to Hold"
2009 Kath & Kim Cher Episode 16: "Bachelorette" [18]
2011 Top Gear Cher impersonator Series 17, Episode 3
2012–18 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Contestant (Season 4) – Runner-Up
Guest Star (Season 8, Episode 1: "Keeping It 100!")
Guest Star (Season 10, Episode 1 and 8)		 [19]
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Himself
2012 NewNowNext Awards Himself
2012 RuPaul's Drag U Himself
2012-19 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Himself Contestant (Season 1) - Winner
Guest Star (Seasons 2–4)		 [20]
2015 Jane the Virgin Cher impersonator [21]
2015 2 Broke Girls Cher impersonator [22]
2019 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Cher Guest [23]
2020 AJ and the Queen Brian Gerrity/Cher Guest appearance [24]

Music Videos

Year Title Artist Ref.
2012 "Glamazon" RuPaul [25]
2013 "Woman's World" (Remix) Cher [26]
2013 "Tragic Girl" Chad Michaels & Liquid360 [27]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 WOW Shopping Network Herself Guest [28]
2013 Ring My Bell Guest [29]
2013 RuPaul Drives Guest [30]
2013 Transformations Guest [31]
2013 It Gets Better Guest [32]
2014-2016 Cher Tweets Host [33]
2014 Raja Drawja Guest [34]
2014 Bestie$ For Ca$h Guest, with Morgan McMichaels [35]
2016 Eat It! Guest [36]
2018 The Pit Stop Episode: "A Jury of Their Queers" [37]
2020 The Vivienne Takes Hollywood Guest [38]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Birth Announcement". Aurelia Sentinel. Aurelia, Iowa. March 24, 1971.
  2. 1 2 "Linda Olson Wed In Lutheran Rites". Arcadia Tribune. Arcadia, California. April 25, 1968. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Michaels in Peterson, Brian (January 5, 2012). "Untucked with Brian: Interview with Chad Michaels of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season Four". SeattleGayScene,com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ @ChadMichaels1 (July 18, 2014). "My early Anniversary pressy from @AdamMagee8803 !!! Omg it is awesome! Love u Baby!!🎁👬❤️🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ "Chad Michaels – RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Winner". Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ "About Chad Michaels". ChadMichaels.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  7. ↑ "See Chad Michaels Perform with the Dreamgirls Revue!". World of Wonder. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  8. ↑ Miller, Joshua (April 15, 2010). "The Scottish Scandal, Morgan McMichaels". Edge Boston. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Farrah Moan is not here for your criticism: "Walk a mile in my motherf**king Louboutins"". Gay Times. March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ Addams, Calpernia. "California EOY 2010 – The Recap". Calpernia.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  11. ↑ Joe Lynch, Stephen Daw (January 23, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Every Musical Impersonation on Snatch Game Ranked". billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  12. ↑ Tanner Stransky (August 6, 2012). "'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race' cast announced". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ Dan Avery (August 12, 2013). "Get A Taste Of Chad Michaels' New Single, "Tragic Girl": LISTEN". NewNowNext.com. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  14. ↑ Gevertz, Jack (June 27, 2021). "Where are the RuPaul's Drag Race All Star winners now? Plus the staggering amounts they've earned". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Joey Nolfi (October 29, 2021). "RuPaul's new Christmas movie unites the largest Drag Race cast in history". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ Hopkins, Jay (October 25, 2018). "Rupaul's Drag Race Winner Chad Michaels Joins Cast Of "Maybe This Time"". PureWow. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  17. ↑ Schiller, Rebecca (May 14, 2018). "Chad Michaels Discusses Cher Impersonator Role in New Film 'Maybe This Time': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  18. ↑ WOW Staff (March 5, 2009). "Kath & Kim & Cher AKA Chad Michaels". WOW Report. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  19. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (March 22, 2018). "Watch Drag Race fan favourites return for the season 10 premiere". Gay Times. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (January 22, 2018). "Chad Michaels And Alaska Live Their "Handmaid's Tale" Fantasy In New "All Stars" 3 Clip". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  21. ↑ Cooper, Mariah (July 24, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Stars: Where Are They Now?". US Weekly. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ Tharrett, Matthew (December 9, 2015). "Chad Michaels And Victoria "PorkChop" Parker Do Primetime TV On "2 Broke Girls"". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  23. ↑ Voss, Brandon (October 5, 2019). "Watch Sean Hayes Turn Back Time With Chad Michaels on "Ellen"". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  24. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (December 3, 2019). "RuPaul brings 22 Drag Race queens to costar on AJ and the Queen". EW.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  25. ↑ Robertson, Lindsay (April 23, 2012). "Video: RuPaul And Three Finalists Star In 'Glamazon' Video". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  26. ↑ Avery, Dan (September 5, 2013). ""Drag Race" Queens Star In Video For Cher's "Woman's World": WATCH". NewNowNext.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  27. ↑ Liquid360 & Chad Michaels - Tragic Girl [OFFICIAL VIDEO], retrieved May 20, 2021
  28. ↑ Chad Michaels as Cher on WOW Shopping Network. YouTube. July 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  29. ↑ Chad Michaels - Ring My Bell. YouTube. August 15, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  30. ↑ RuPaul Drives... Chad Michaels. YouTube. December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  31. ↑ James St. James and Chad Michaels: Transformations. YouTube. August 27, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  32. ↑ RuPaul's Drag Race's Chad Michaels - It Gets Better - LogoTV. YouTube. July 25, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  33. ↑ Cher Tweets with Chad Michaels - Cher Impersonators. YouTube. November 25, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  34. ↑ Raja Drawja - Chad Michaels. YouTube. November 26, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  35. ↑ Chad Michaels and Morgan McMichaels – Bestie$ For Ca$h. YouTube. October 3, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  36. ↑ EAT IT! with James St. James! Chad Michaels & Friends Taste Crazy Oreo Flavors. YouTube. June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  37. ↑ The Pit Stop Season 3 Episode 8: A Jury of Their Queers | RuPaul's Drag All Stars 3. YouTube. March 19, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  38. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (April 9, 2020). "The Vivienne reveals why her new show is "the biggest Drag Race challenge of all"". Gay Times. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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