Chevelle Brooks

By Johnny Trlica

When we look back on our memories of Christmas, it’s not the gifts that we recall but the people we were with. It’s those cherished memories that last a lifetime. The traditions we cherish in our families not only give meaning to these festive days but also strengthen the bonds between family members.

Many of us have memories of our families gathering around the piano and singing Christmas carols. Few of us can say in that group was a respected gospel singer or a drummer for The Temptations.

Chevelle Brooks can say that, and the December Montrose Star Spotlight is shining on her.

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Name: Chevelle Brooks

Pronoun: She/her/cashapp/zelle/venmo

Zodiac sign: Aries

Where is your hometown? Monroe, Louisiana.

How long have you been in the entertainment industry?
Thirty-one years ago, is when I started my pageant career. I started drag two years prior to my first pageant.

When was the first time you did drag and what was your first time on stage like?
My first time doing drag was in March of 1991 or ’92. It was a talent night at legendary Studio 13. I did Oleta Adams’ “Get Here”. I was so nervous. I showed up with absolutely nothing but a painted face. I wore a dress and shoes from a friend, Randee Rochelle (she was the front door person), and the host, the legend, Cookie LaCook (former Miss Gay Texas USofA at Large) gave me a bob wig. Oh yeah and, of course, I won!

Do you have a signature song — a number your fans insist that you perform?
I really don’t have a signature song. Some of my favorite artists to perform are Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker. Lately I have been performing Gladys Knight as an illusion. I have really been enjoying the audience response to that.

Do you get stage fright?
I don’t get stage fright, but I do get nervous before shows and pageants. It comes from me wanting to be the best on stage. I really want my audience to walk away wanting to see me again and enjoy what I have given them.

What is the thing you enjoy most about being on stage?
I love performing, period. Seeing the audience really enjoying me. The screaming, yelling and just pure excitement just gives me so much energy.

Do you have a pet peeve about being on stage?
My pet peeve is seeing someone in front not paying attention or on their phone texting or on social media. Why sit at the front? That space could be occupied by someone that really is a drag fan.

Who are your inspirations, personally and professionally?
What gives me inspiration is watching younger entertainers and seeing their passion for performing and drag. It makes me want to continue to be the best I can and grow. What inspires me personally is my friends and watching them elevate as adults. I have had the same circle of friends for 30 years. We encourage and inspire each other. I always aspire to inspire my friends and colleagues in this industry.

What do you feel is the most misunderstood thing about drag culture?
I’ve been doing drag for over 30 years, and what I’ve seen is that drag gives people, queer and straight alike, permission to be their fullest selves. What gets lost in the noise is that drag has always been a safe space. The misunderstanding comes from fear. But if people took the time to actually experience drag, they will see the heart, humor and humanity in it. People, please understand it’s not something to fear, it’s something to celebrate.

What are your thoughts on all the anti-trans and anti-drag show rhetoric coming from right-wing politicians?
When I look at this wave of bans and restrictions, I feel anger. But more than that I feel responsibility. Responsibility to speak truth. To remind others that art and expression and identity are not privileges, they’re human rights. The fact that politicians are using the drag community as a punching bag reveals so much. It’s the fear of difference, fear of expression, fear of what happens when people live without shame.

So, to those doing this work — performers, organizers, audience members — I say: hold your light higher. Because when drag is under threat, it isn’t just drag that’s at stake. It’s free speech. It’s community. It’s the freedom of people to show up as full versions of themselves.

What are you hoping to find under your Christmas tree this year?
I’m hoping to find the money to finish working on my physical body. Of course, it’s no secret, I’ve lost a little over a hundred pounds. So, there are some cosmetic needs I would like to take care of. It’s not a need but a want for my own self-love. It’s not about the show or people, it’s about me and how I want to feel and look. Also, a husband would be nice.

Describe your favorite Christmas memory.
My favorite Christmas memory was a time when my whole entire family was together. I was a teenager. My family is musically inclined, and my grandmother was the Louisiana chapter representative for the Gospel Music Workshop of America. My uncle played drums for the Temptations. They would play and we would all sit around and sing Christmas songs.

Where and when can we catch your act?
I host a themed drag brunch once a month on a Sunday at Houston Improv, Addison Improv and Arlington Improv, and twice a month at The Montrose Country Club, powered by Flip Phone Events out of Minneapolis. I host a male strip night every Monday at JR’s Bar & Grill. I also travel across the country. See if you can catch me from L.A. to Florida, from NYC to Texas. I’m definitely an all-around girl. If I haven’t been there, book me! It’ll be a treat.

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