Chad Michaels

---

title: "Chad Michaels" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1971-births", "living-people", "american-drag-queens", "rupaul's-drag-race-all-stars-winners", "drag-performers-from-los-angeles", "people-from-arcadia,-california", "rupaul's-drag-race-contestants", "cher", "celebrity-impersonators", "drag-performers-from-california", "musicians-from-san-diego"] description: "American drag performer and Cher impersonator" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Michaels" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American drag performer and Cher impersonator ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Chad Michaels
image	Rupaul Dragcon 2018-148 (41356433034) (cropped).jpg
caption	Michaels at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
birth_name	Chad Michael Storbeck
birth_date
birth_place	Arcadia, California, U.S.
spouse(s)	Adam Magee (m. 2015)
occupation	Drag performer, Cher impersonator
years_active	1995 – present
known_for	RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner; runner-up on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race
::

| name = Chad Michaels | image = Rupaul Dragcon 2018-148 (41356433034) (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | caption = Michaels at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018 | birth_name = Chad Michael Storbeck | birth_date = | birth_place = Arcadia, California, U.S. | death_place = | death_cause = | restingplace = | other_names = | spouse(s) = Adam Magee (m. 2015) | occupation = Drag performer, Cher impersonator | years_active = 1995 – present | known_for = RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner; runner-up on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race Chad Michael Storbeck, known professionally as Chad Michaels (born March 20, 1971), is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was a runner-up in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race 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, 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. 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. 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. Michaels is married to Adam Magee.

Career

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Performista_vestido_como_Cher-1.jpg" caption="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.

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

Morgan McMichaels is Michaels' drag daughter.

Michaels started touring with Farrah Moan in 2019 for the Burlesque tour, based on the 2010 film of the same name starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.

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

''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. His performance has been regarded as one of the best performances in the challenge's history.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/drag-race-snatch-game-performances-ranked-music/jinkx-monsoon-as-judy-garland-all-stars-7/ |title='RuPaul's Drag Race': Every Musical Impersonation on Snatch Game Ranked |author=Joe Lynch, Stephen Daw |date=23 January 2023 |magazine=billboard |publisher= |access-date=30 September 2023 |quote=}} Chad performed solidly in the remaining challenges, not winning any but doing well enough to be safe. This ended in episode 11, where Chad performed poorly in a ball challenge and was put into the bottom two against Latrice Royale. The two lip-synced to "No One Else on Earth" by Wynona Judd. Latrice was eliminated, and Chad won and gained a spot in the finale. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Chad_Michaels_as_Cher.jpg" caption="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.

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

::data[format=table]

Year	Song	Ref
2013	"Tragic Girl"
::

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2011	Bamboo Shark	Cher
2021	The Bitch Who Stole Christmas	Cher
TBA	Maybe This Time	Stephen	Pre-production
::

Television

::data[format=table]

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"
2011	Top Gear	Cher impersonator	Series 17, Episode 3
2012–24	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)
Guest Star (Season 16, Episode 8: "Snatch Game")
2012	RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
NewNowNext Awards
RuPaul's Drag U
2012–19	RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars	Contestant (Season 1) - Winner
Guest Star (Seasons 2–4)
2015	Jane the Virgin	Cher impersonator
2 Broke Girls
2019	The Ellen DeGeneres Show	Cher	Guest
2020	AJ and the Queen	Brian Gerrity/Cher	Guest appearance
::

Music Videos

::data[format=table]

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

Web series

::data[format=table]

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

References

References

1. . (March 24, 1971). ["Birth Announcement"](https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/aurelia/aurelia-sentinel/1971/03-24/). *Aurelia Sentinel*.
2. . (April 25, 1968). ["Linda Olson Wed In Lutheran Rites"](https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/california/arcadia/arcadia-tribune/1968/04-25/page-44/). *Arcadia Tribune*.
3. Peterson, Brian. (January 5, 2012). "Untucked with Brian: Interview with Chad Michaels of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', Season Four". SeattleGayScene.com.
4. "My early Anniversary pressy from @AdamMagee8803 !!! Omg it is awesome! Love u Baby!!🎁👬❤️🎉".
5. "Chad Michaels – RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Winner".
6. "About Chad Michaels". ChadMichaels.com.
7. (November 27, 2012). "See Chad Michaels Perform with the Dreamgirls Revue!". [[World of Wonder (production company).
8. Miller, Joshua. (April 15, 2010). "The Scottish Scandal, Morgan McMichaels". [[Edge on the Net.
9. (2019-03-07). "Farrah Moan is not here for your criticism: "Walk a mile in my motherf**king Louboutins"". Gay Times.
10. Addams, Calpernia. "California EOY 2010 – The Recap". [[Calpernia Addams.
11. Dan Avery. (August 12, 2013). "Get A Taste Of Chad Michaels' New Single, "Tragic Girl": LISTEN".
12. Gevertz, Jack. (June 27, 2021). "Where are the RuPaul's Drag Race All Star winners now? Plus the staggering amounts they've earned".
13. Joey Nolfi. (October 29, 2021). "RuPaul's new Christmas movie unites the largest Drag Race cast in history".
14. Hopkins, Jay. (October 25, 2018). "Rupaul's Drag Race Winner Chad Michaels Joins Cast Of "Maybe This Time"". PureWow.
15. Schiller, Rebecca. (May 14, 2018). "Chad Michaels Discusses Cher Impersonator Role in New Film 'Maybe This Time': Watch".
16. WOW Staff. (March 5, 2009). "Kath & Kim & Cher AKA Chad Michaels". WOW Report.
17. Damshenas, Sam. (22 March 2018). "Watch Drag Race fan favourites return for the season 10 premiere".
18. Rudolph, Christopher. (January 22, 2018). "Chad Michaels And Alaska Live Their "Handmaid's Tale" Fantasy In New "All Stars" 3 Clip". NewNowNext.
19. Cooper, Mariah. (July 24, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Stars: Where Are They Now?". US Weekly.
20. Tharrett, Matthew. (December 9, 2015). "Chad Michaels And Victoria "PorkChop" Parker Do Primetime TV On "2 Broke Girls"". NewNowNext.
21. Voss, Brandon. (October 5, 2019). "Watch Sean Hayes Turn Back Time With Chad Michaels on "Ellen"". NewNowNext.
22. Nolfi, Joey. (2019-12-03). "RuPaul brings 22 Drag Race queens to costar on AJ and the Queen". EW.com.
23. Robertson, Lindsay. (April 23, 2012). "Video: RuPaul And Three Finalists Star In 'Glamazon' Video".
24. Avery, Dan. (2013-09-05). ""Drag Race" Queens Star In Video For Cher's "Woman's World": WATCH". NewNowNext.com.
25. (August 24, 2013). "Liquid360 & Chad Michaels - Tragic Girl [OFFICIAL VIDEO]".
26. (July 19, 2013). "Chad Michaels as Cher on WOW Shopping Network". [[YouTube]].
27. (August 15, 2013). "Chad Michaels - Ring My Bell". [[YouTube]].
28. (December 2, 2013). "RuPaul Drives... Chad Michaels". [[YouTube]].
29. (August 27, 2013). "James St. James and Chad Michaels: Transformations". [[YouTube]].
30. (July 25, 2013). "RuPaul's Drag Race's Chad Michaels - It Gets Better - LogoTV". [[YouTube]].
31. (November 25, 2014). "Cher Tweets with Chad Michaels - Cher Impersonators". [[YouTube]].
32. (November 26, 2014). "Raja Drawja - Chad Michaels". [[YouTube]].
33. (October 3, 2014). "Chad Michaels and Morgan McMichaels – Bestie$ For Ca$h". [[YouTube]].
34. (June 24, 2016). "EAT IT! with James St. James! Chad Michaels & Friends Taste Crazy Oreo Flavors". [[YouTube]].
35. (March 19, 2018). "The Pit Stop Season 3 Episode 8: A Jury of Their Queers {{!}} RuPaul's Drag All Stars 3". [[YouTube]].
36. Damshenas, Sam. (2020-04-09). "The Vivienne reveals why her new show is "the biggest Drag Race challenge of all"".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::