Divas have come and gone. But one will always remain: Cher. And this year, Denver’s PrideFest will pay homage to her when Chad Michaels takes to the main stage to dazzle us with his impersonation of the icon. Known as one of the best Cher illusionists, Michaels makes it a point to be spot on. From the makeup to the gowns to wigs to the songs, this drag queen is such a carbon copy of the original, he’s a one of a kind himself!
How did you get started?
I’ve been doing female impersonation since 1992. It’s going to be 20 years. I started out in San Diego with the Dream Girls review. My drag mother got me doing Cher. It snowballed from there. I worked in San Diego for a few years and then Vegas. Doing Cher on the road, in the casinos.
Why Cher?
When I started doing her, she was the celebrity I was most prone to look like. And the Dream Girls require you to do at least one celebrity impression to be apart of the cast. It was my contribution at the time and something I’ve just worked on over the years.
You’ve been doing this, like you said, for almost 20 years. Drag has changed a lot. What’s your opinion of drag today?
The face of it is completely changing. I think a big catalyst has been RuPual’s Drag Race. She’s taking fresh faces – relatively obscure faces – and putting them on television. I earned my career the old fashioned way. I’ve earned my reputation by really working hard for working 20 years straight. The Drag Race has brought it far more mainstream and far more quickly. Drag is faster now. People want to see different things.
Is that good or bad?
It can be nothing but good. Things can never stay the same. We need things to change. We need new role models. Those queens use their platforms.
How do you stay fresh?
Cher keeps me on my toes. Let me tell you. I try to keep my show fresh by being as current as I possibly can. I do take extra care with my costumes. My partner and myself do the majority of my costumes. I think for me, it’s bringing the most realistic experience to the stage as I can. I’ve got several Burlesque looks. I’ve got all the looks for the Caesar Place and the farewell tour. All those costumes are in rotation and you probably won’t see me do the same Cher number in two months.
What’s your personal philosophy of life?
No matter what you’re doing, your happiness has to be primary. Having a stable home base is so important. Always follow your heart. Whenever I have to make a decision – I labor over everything – but your heart will always tell you everything. It’s your guide.
Are you a fan of Cher?
I wasn’t at first. I grew up with the Sonny and Cher Show. You can’t help but love Cher. I don’t know anybody but the random bitter bitch that doesn’t like Cher. She’s an American hero. She defines celebrity. She defines stardom. She defines overcoming diversity. She’s a strong role model for women and girls. With her, it’s always ‘yes’ never ‘maybe.’
What’s your favorite Cher song?
A lot of people call it a cop out – but it’s a “A Song for the Lonely.”
