Chad Michaels

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.

Chad Michaels
Michaels at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
Born	Chad Michael Storbeck[1] (1971-03-20) March 20, 1971 (age 54)[1] Arcadia, California, U.S.[1]
Occupation(s)	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
Successor	Alaska
Spouse	Adam Magee (m. 2015)

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 2010 film of the same name starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.^[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. His performance has been regarded as one of the best performances in the challenge's history.^[11] 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.

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
2012–24	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")	[19]
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)	[20]
2015	Jane the Virgin	Cher impersonator		[21]
	2 Broke Girls			[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]
	"Tragic Girl"	Chad Michaels & Liquid360	[27]

Web series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2013	WOW Shopping Network	Herself	Guest	[28]
	Ring My Bell			[29]
	RuPaul Drives			[30]
	Transformations			[31]
	It Gets Better			[32]
2014-2016	Cher Tweets		Host	[33]
2014	Raja Drawja		Guest	[34]
	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]