Original subtitles

Coming to you from across America

and several many time zones,

it's the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12!

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

Stalking us from Brooklyn, it's Dahlia Sin.

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Where they at? Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Get 'em back, bring back my girls ♪

♪ Come on, bring back my ho's ♪

From San Francisco, the animé-zing Rock M. Sakura.

♪ She going back to the werkroom ♪

♪ Rethink her life ♪

♪ On the alcohol, vodka and cranberry, thank you, doll ♪

From New York City, le magnifique Nicky Doll.

♪ The rise and fall ♪

♪ Shit hit the fan when she hit that wall ♪

♪ Girl, I got you, lost-and-found you ♪

♪ Mama Ru 'bout to show you ♪

From her backyard in Acworth, Georgia,

Boo! It's Aiden Zhane.

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my-- ♪

From Maine, the queen of New York City, it's Brita.

♪ Get 'em back, bring back my girls ♪

♪ Come on, bring back my-- ♪

♪ Ladies, bring back my girls ♪

From her kitchen in Hell's Kitchen,

the simply incredible Jan.

♪ Bring back my-- bring back my-- ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my-- bring back my-- ♪

From her hometown of K.C., M-O,

the wonderful Widow Von'Du.

♪ Bring back my girls, ho's ♪

She's blessed and highly favored,

from Ramseur, North Carolina, Heidi N Closet.

♪ She's trying to make some coins ♪

♪ Trying to score some points ♪

♪ Impress Miss Paul ♪

From New York City,

she's got Persian-ality, Jackie Cox.

♪ That girl went crazy ♪

♪ Fumbling that ball ♪

♪ Is she gonna lip sync and lose it all? ♪

And now, our top three queens.

♪ Bring back my girls, girls ♪

From Springfield, Missouri,

she's got us all screaming.

[party horn blows]

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Crystal Methyd.

♪ Bring back my-- ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

From Los Angeles,

good morning, campers, it's Gigi Goode.

♪ Bring back my-- ladies ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

And from Milwaukee,

the essence of beauty, Jaida Essence Hall.

♪ Where they at? Bring back my girls ♪

-♪ Get 'em back ♪ -And now, almost live

from his panic room in the Hollywood Hills,

it's RuPaul!

Hello, hello, hello!

Welcome to the RuPaul's Drag Race grand finale,

brought to you by filters. Filters...

They keep a quarantined queen looking good.

[laughs]

Now, after one of the most enter-tainting

seasons in herstory,

tonight we gather virtually

to crown America's next drag superstar.

Now, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,

and I wanna applaud all the queens

for pitching in like never before

to ensure that this show must go on.

I also wanna send my love and gratitude

to the amazing crew of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Out of caution for everyone's safety,

we are all working from home tonight.

I miss each and every one of you,

but I gotta tell ya, who I really miss are the grips.

[laughs] You should have seen me

trying to assemble this green screen all by myself.

Whew. [cat screeches]

But it was worth it,

because tonight it's all about our top three queens:

Crystal Methyd,

Gigi Goode,

and Jaida Essence Hall.

All three of these ladies are already legendary children,

but only one can win the crown.

Tonight, America's next drag superstar

will need to survive three competitive lip syncs.

First, a three-way close-up lip sync,

where they serve face, face, face.

The second, a lip sync from home, where each queen

has chosen a different song to express themselves

in a performance they've produced in lockdown.

And finally, I'll chose the top two queens

to lip sync for the crown

as they perform side-by-side, but thousands of miles apart.

Now, watching from home tonight

are my sequestered squirrel friends.

She's holed up with her husband.

Michelle Visage.

Hey, baby.

You know, as they say, any hole is a goal.

[laughs]

Sending you greetings from Camp Visage with me, the hubby,

the daughter, the dogs.

-[gasps] -Doing nothin'.

Here we are.

The hilarious Ross Mathews.

Hi, you guys.

Welcome to my homo, sweet homo!

You know, I watched all of Season 12 like 47 times.

Gay's Anatomy really holds up.

Oh, really?

[dog whines]

Yeah, fine, I'll tell you. Sorry.

Audrey thinks Jan was robbed in the Madonna challenge.

[dog whines] I told him.

And style superstar Carson Kressley.

Cheers, Ru. Greetings from Pennsylvania.

Hi-ee!

-Ha-- -Carson?

Carson!

I think your screen is frozen, darling.

Is your connection okay?

Oh, no, Ru, that's just my face.

I did a little homemade botox,

but it turned out it was poppers.

Oh. [laughs]

Thanks for noticing.

Thanks, guys. We'll be checking in with you a little later.

Now, to all the fans

who've been binge-ing this season in record numbers,

I have one thing to say:

Thank you!

RuPaul's Drag Race has helped me

while I've been self-isolating

by giving me both an escape,

but also connecting me with the world.

I've been watching RuPaul's Drag Race in quarantine,

just like everyone else,

and it just makes me feel good every time.

Watching Drag Race in self-isolation

has, first of all, made me smile a lot,

and made me forget about how sad some of this felt.

I love you, Ru!

I've loved watching Drag Race this season

because it taught me that even if we're sequestered

and isolated from the outside public,

we can still be fabulous.

Being in quarantine was nuts,

and it really helped to watch a lot of nuts.

Ru, thank you for this show.

Thank you for this excuse to get dolled up

for the first time since giving birth about six weeks ago,

and for the excuse

to show off my pornographically large breasts,

which are filled with milk.

Oh, yeah.

And now, let's all say this next part together.

Gentlemen, start your engines,

and may the best woman win.

RuPaul: The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race

receives a one-year supply

of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics

and a cash prize of $100.000.

♪ RuPaul's Drag Race ♪

♪ May the best woman ♪

♪ Best woman win ♪end act

[RuPaul laughs, bell dings]

Hey, it's Whoop,

and I'm sending this message

to everybody over at RuPaul's Drag Race.

As an entertainer, there are times

when we are really, really, really necessary,

where it just--nobody can do it better than we can.

I think this is one of those times,

and America needs her queens.

America needs her queens

to remind them how to social distance,

how to wash their hands,

but with a little flair and a little humor

and a little love.

Hang in there. I know you will.

I'd hate to think of a world without y'all.

Aw! Thank you, Whoopi.

[laughs]

And now it's time to do a deep dive

into the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent

of our top three queens.

Now, prior to tonight,

I had a one-on-one chat with my very best girls.

First up, the kooky and charismatic Crystal Methyd.graphic

-Uh-oh. -Uh-oh.

Who's ready to party and play?

I'm Crystal Methyd, and I'm a little devil

that likes to raise hell in the Bible Belt.

One, two, fashion's comin' for you.

I make a lot of my own drag myself.

Love to create weird and unique looks.

You're freaky, you're fun.

You are El-motherfucking-DeBarge.

Business in the front and party in the back!

Wow. Thanks, Magic Mullet!

♪ There comes a time in an artist's career-reer-reer ♪

[all laugh] Do the jerk!

[all laugh]

You have had a pivot in this competition

where you've really gone all-in on your weird,

which is, by the way, how you win this show.

I have worked my way from the bottom

to a consistent top in this competition.

I feel like I can do anything!

♪ I'll have you all screaming Crystal Methyd ♪

[all laugh]

Wow. Hello, Crystal Methyd.

Well, hi, Ru.

♪ To the beat of the rhythm of the night ♪

[laughs]

Now, is it just me,

or do you also hear that song every time I say your name?

It follows me everywhere I go.

[both laugh]

People have been telling me when you search "El DeBarge,"

that I show up.

It is absolutely crazy.

Now, Crystal, you earned your way to the top

by doing something most queens struggle with.

You applied the judges' critiques.

Yeah, I definitely tried to make sure I was listening,

but keeping what makes me... me in all of it.

I'm glad I was challenged in that way,

because now I feel like I'm even more capable

of creating all kinds of magic.

Now, your mom and dad sent us

this extra-special video message.

-Hi, RuPaul. -Hi, RuPaul.

Thank you for choosing Crystal to be on your show

and perhaps be the next America's drag superstar.

Cody, we're proud to be your parents.

I remember when you first told us that you were gay,

which took us by surprise.

I can still hear your dad saying,

"I'm not going to lose my son

"like so many other families have.

He's still Cody."

Remember we are your greatest fans.

Nana records your shows

and has your aunt translate what you're saying.

You keep reaching for the stars,

and don't settle for anything less, Crystal.

All your hard work has paid off.

Aw, wow!

That was so sweet.

That is so sweet, and they're so gorgeous and glamorous.

I know. Isn't my mom fabulous?

She is fabulous. She had the girls out, didn't she?

She's always got those girls out.

[both laugh]

Hey, listen, if you got it, flaunt it.

Yeah. I mean, she paid good money for 'em.

[laughs]

So how is your dad doing?

He's doing really good.

You know, it's a really hard thing

that he's going through with Parkinson's.

He's just slowly over time been losing mobility.

He actually just bought a huge, brand-new truck

so that before he's unable to drive,

he can live out this last bit of time in luxury.

[both laugh]

Hold on one second. This just in.

Breaking news.

We have another video message,

and this one's from your abuela.

[laughs]

[speaking Spanish]subtitles

I don't speak Spanish,

but I think your grandmother said, "I love glitter."

Was I close?

I believe that's what it translated to, yes.

And it was just my grandma's 90th birthday.

You are kidding me.

Yeah, she's incredible.

Now, your abuela had her girls out, too.

It's a family tradition.

To have the girls out and to wear all cheetah print

and all the jewelry, yeah.

Now, you have your girls out, too.

Is that your real body hair underneath that,

or is that just printed on the fabric?

It's printed on the fabric,

and then there's some yarn sewn in.

I've even got some in here.

Ooh, my goodness. [laughs]

Now, to win the crown

you're gonna have to perform three lip syncs from your home.

So what is your strategy to slay the lip sync?

I'm gonna do what Crystal Methyd does best.

I'm gonna be weird, I'm gonna be funny,

and I'm just gonna serve you all the emotions of the songs.

Now, Crystal, I always say

that we have a lot of young, sweet, sensitive souls

who watch our show for guidance and inspiration.

With them in mind,

what advice do you have for your younger self, little Cody?

[laughs] Oh, little cutie.

Cody, just know that as you grow up

you're gonna realize

that you're kinda different from the other kids.

Don't be scared by that.

Embrace it, and know that what makes you different

is what makes you so incredibly special.

Do not try and hide from it,

and know that your family

will always be behind you 100% no matter what.

And your mom knows that you go into her closet

and try on her clothes.

-You're not fooling anyone. -[laughs]

So, Crystal, tell me this.

What would it mean to you

to be crowned America's next drag superstar?

Ru, I want to turn drag on its head.

I want to create looks that are so bizarre

that people don't even know if it's drag.

Drag has always been about pushing boundaries,

and I think that my drag is doing that.

And I think that that is why

I am America's next drag superstar.

All right, she's DeBarge and in charge.

Crystal Methyd.

Thank you, darling.

Thank you.

You know, there's a lot of conflama in the world today,

but let's not forget about all the good that people are doing.

Serving gratitude with a little attitude,

it's the queens of season 12.

Although the world is in a crazy state right now,

we're all in this together and we will get past this.

It will get better.

♪ I feel a miracle... ♪

Shout out to all the doctors,

to the nurses, to the hospital administrators.

To all of those out there on the front lines.

To help us fight this coronavirus.

It really sucks what's going on in the world,

but in times like these we just have to remember to be blessed.

♪ I feel blessed, I feel blessed ♪

♪ And I owe it all to you ♪

♪ I feel blessed, I feel blessed ♪

♪ And there's nothing I can do ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

God bless all the people

who are surviving and thriving right now.

Can I get an "amen" for all of the essential workers

who are going to work every single day,

to make sure that all of us are taken care of? Mwah!graphic

I wanna throw a lot of love to my best friend Matt

over at Cox Hospital.

My mom is a respiratory therapist.

I wanna thank people like my mom,

who is singlehandedly running a restaurant right now.

I am thankful for the delivery guy

of my favorite Indian restaurant.

I know, girl. I know.

But a bitch gotta eat, okay?

I'm blessed there are people at grocery stores

putting their health at risk.

I wanna throw a lot of love

to people who have lost their jobs.

Just hang in there, please hang in there,

because we will see a brighter side of this.

Can I get a "amen"?

Can we get a "amen"?

Baby, can I get an "amen" for--ooh, girl.

We'll be right back.end act

Welcome back to the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race,

where tonight we'll be crowning America's next drag superstar.

Up next, when it comes to her many talents,

this queen is unapologetic.

Here she is, Miss Gigi Goode.

Ahoy. My name is Gigi Goode,

and I'm not just Goode, I'm incredible.

-Where's Gigi Bad? -Mm, that's what I wanna know.

Fashion means everything to me.

I see my drag going to the cover of Vogue, period.

This look, perfection!

Is that my new competition in the modeling world?

So what is like y'all's specialty?

Name something.

-She does it all, bitch. -Okay.

I think the first impression of me

is going to be, oh, God, here's another fashion queen.

No personality, no humor.

How do you make a robot funny?

I understand your concern,

but I do not have the same concern.

Okay. All right.

What's up, bitch?

[all laugh]

Come on, girls!

She needs a face transplant, stat!

Literally, I would steal that line.

Like that's a real rap line.

[all laugh]

You've got gorgeous out here

and a weird little mind in there.

You sold every moment of your performance.

You were just living what you were singing.

You weren't just good, you were great.

♪ I'm just here to win and leave a bitch on read, ow ♪

Oh, my goodness. Oh, my gosh.

Hello, Miss Goode.

Oh, what's up, bitch?

It's like looking in a mirror.

I know. Come on, Miss Daytona Beach.

So what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

Top three bitches.

Well, you know what, I can't say that I'm surprised.

[laughs]

I am so proud of myself for making it here,

and I worked my ass off to get here, so...

You're very confident. Where does that come from?

Confidence to me is something I cherish,

because a lot of people

can mistake confidence for cockiness.

And I like to believe

that I was raised in a way to stay humble,

but still be proud of everything that I put out into the world.

And I know that you live in Los Angeles now,

but when you were in high school,

you were living in the Midwest.

-Is that correct? -That is correct.

I was living in Woodstock, Illinois,

which if you've seen the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray,

that's where that was filmed.

So there really weren't any venues to perform,

other than, like, a substance-free venue

that doubled as an indoor rock wall.

[laughs]

I've been climbing up and down those walls

since I was 15 years old, mama.

Now, Gigi, if your mom had a nickel

for every time she was mentioned by you on the show,

she'd have a million dollars.

Well, tonight she sent you this very extra-special message.

Let's take a look.

Hi, Gigi. I'm here in my sewing room,

and I'm just so excited

you're on the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Oh, my gosh.

From the minute you walked into the werkroom

I was just blown away.

And to see you in that pirate outfit,

something that I made for you, was just so special.

You've done a phenomenal job.

And to RuPaul, I just wanna say thank you

for giving my child a chance to express themselves

in a way that they were truly meant to,

and for helping other people

show how they can be creative in so many unique ways.

So good luck, Gigi.

Bring home the crown, and I love you.

-Oh, my goodness. -Oh, my God.

Thank you, Mother Goode.

I wish every child

could have someone as supportive as your mother.

I have been so lucky to have her in my life,

and I just wanna preach it.

Now, Gigi, you are a huge inspiration

to so many of our very young, impressionable fans.

With that in mind, what words of wisdom

do you have for little Samuel?

Oh, my gosh.

[laughs]

You are so blessed

to have the people around you that you have.

Um... But your dad...

It's gonna-- it's not gonna be easy with him.

He's not gonna understand what you're doing

and what you wanna do.

And there's gonna be times

where he doesn't wanna look at you

dressed the way that you're dressed,

and he doesn't want to understand.

But there will come a time

when he will say that he's proud of you,

and, um...

when that moment happens, it's going to offer, you know,

a rope that you can pull to one another and finally reconnect.

And then you have your mom.

She's always been by your side every step of the way.

A lot of kids are not as lucky as you are,

so just remember to say thank you,

and tell everyone around you that you love them.

Wise words, especially in these crazy times we're living in.

So, Gigi, to snatch the crown tonight,

you're gonna need to lip sync from home.

What's your home space like?

It's pretty cramped,

so it's been a struggle to turn the space

into what I'm doing for my lip sync at home number,

which is actually very heavily inspired

by the original music video for this song.

I am so lucky to be able to do this for the world,

and really just-- I've created a goddamn fantasy,

and y'all don't even know what's coming.

Oh, boy.

So, Gigi, what would it mean to you

to be crowned America's next drag superstar?

Oh, gosh. Okay, well, that there is a loaded question, Miss Paul.

[laughs]

To me, it's not an option not to win.

And, you know,

if the crown ends up going to one of my other sisters,

I'm happy for them, but I know

that I have been able to deliver in every single category

that a Drag Race superstar has to give.

And I know that's a bold statement,

and I know it comes back to whether it's humble or cocky,

but I'm bringing it back to confidence.

This crown belongs to me.

Gigi Goode, you are one bad bitch.

Thank you for an incredible season.

Thank you so much.

I really, really do wanna thank you

from the bottom of my heart.

-Thanks, Gigi. -Thank you, Ru.

Love your "facekinki".

Up next, a queen who delivers grit, glitz, and glamour,

Jaida Essence Hall.

Take a look.

Hey, bitches, she's here!

I'm Jaida Essence Hall, the essence of beauty.

She's gonna put somebody's eyes out with those things.

For me, drag is exuding feminine energy.

I'm here to slay the competition.

Mm, what a delight.

Growing up, I always loved fashion,

and I never thought I would have the chance to do it,

and when I found drag, I'm like,

Oh, my God, I can do everything that I've always wanted to do.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

Damn, she looks snatch, and you're right.

I have deemed myself trade of the season.

Because I'm what?

Whip smart.

I think you're so friggin' funny, bitch.

Look over there!

Where?

You are stunning, so polished.

I don't think I've ever met anybody

that is a perfectionist in their head but has so much heart.

Every single week we see another layer peeled away,

and we see more and more Jaida.

Over the course of the competition I've grown.

It pushes you to be a better entertainer,

and, like, coming off of this,

baby, she's gonna be like Wonder Woman times 10.

I'm ready for it.

♪ That's how mother dear will slay the competition ♪

Jaida Essence Hall, you look like Diana Ross

on the Eaten Alive album cover.

Thank you. That wouldn't be a bad thing right now.

No, not a bad thing at all. Listen,

how did you fight your way into the top three?

Growing up where I grew in Milwaukee,

probably one of the worst neighborhoods in the city,

it was one of those things

where you had to fight for everything that you wanted,

no matter what it was.

Even for me coming from a place

that was so hard to grow up in and so rough,

it made me a better competitor

in so many other aspects of my life.

So, Jaida, how has your family reacted

to you appearing on Drag Race?

It's so crazy.

my mother is always at work, usually,

and she's, like, telling everybody at her job,

like, "This is my son."

And she's, like, holding up all these pictures of me.

And then when I had the first viewing party,

my second oldest brother and my father,

they came to the viewing party, and it was so crazy.

Because when you announced that I had won the challenge,

my brother and my father started to cry.

Oh, wow.

Well, it's time for the worldwide television debut

of your brother John and Papa Essence Hall.

Take a look.

All right, Jaida,

I just thought I'd send a little encouragement your way.

You have everything working in your favor.

You're smart, you're creative, you're courageous,

you're talented, you're funny,

you're extremely passionate.

Let's complete the mission

and go out there and win that crown.

I love you, bro.

Personally speaking, I'd just like to let you know, Jared,

that you're doing a hell of a job.

And I wish, I wish your grandmother was here

and your Auntie Poney was here

to see what you was doing.

I'm pretty sure they looking down at you right now,

thinking, you know, you doing your thing,

and just keep doing what you doing.

-Oh, my goodness. -Oh, my God.

They've got the essence, all right.

-Oh, my God. -My goodness.

So if your grandmother were watching us right now,

what would you want to say to her?

I would want to tell my grandmother

thank you so much for...

being the first person to accept me for who I was,

even though I didn't even know who I was then.

Ohh, I get emotional

always talking about her, but she was, like,

this super-glamorous woman all the time.

I watched Gone with the Wind with her,

I watched Casablanca with her.

Her favorite actress was Elizabeth Taylor.

So the way that I've built my drag character

is a lot--in a lot of ways that fantasy that me and her shared

from those movies and all of that.

And I get to live that every single time I get in drag.

Every single time that I step on the stage in drag

and I can live this glamorous fantasy,

I get to live out all the opportunities

I don't get to share with my grandmother now.

Thank you, Grandma, for inspiring this child

with the old, beautiful movies from the forties

and fashion and aesthetics.

It makes such a difference

when we have that kind of support in our lives.

-Yeah. -Now, Jaida,

it's time for you to chat with your younger self.

Oh, gosh.

What words of wisdom

do you have for little Jared?

First of all, bitch, you have sickening skin.

[laughs]

You will go through a lot in life.

You will have a lot of people

who won't like you because you're different.

So many times,

things that you think are for you you won't receive,

but those things are only there to make you stronger in the end.

And also...

I love you.

I love you so much.

And remember that-- remember to love yourself

no matter what you face in life.

The way you feel about yourself

is just as important as the way other people feel about you.

Yeah. Very wise words.

I hate crying.

[laughs] The tears of a drag queen.

[laughs]

Now, let's talk about tonight's lip sync.

You and your boyfriend live in a very small apartment.

Is that correct?

Yeah, it's tiny, tiny, tiny.

Did you clear out all the furniture?

Girl, maybe she's gonna dance across the couch.

Maybe she's gonna tap dance on a table.

Whatever I have to do.

Above all, she's a performer,

and she's gonna make it work.

So, Jaida, what does it mean to you

to become America's next drag superstar?

Oh, like I said in my political debate,

I'm a bitch of the bitches, for the bitches.

Like, I know--I know how it is

to, like, grind so hard and so many times be told no.

And it would give me a validation

that, bitch, you know what your craft is.

You know what you're doing.

You're in the right place at the right time for the right reason.

Yes, I hear you.

So, Jaida, in closing, I have one thing to say.

Look over there!

[laughs]

Where?

It gets me every time.

Me, too.

[both laugh]

Thank you so much, Ru.

Thank you, Jaida Essence Hall.

Ooh!

We'll be right back after this.end act

♪ Hey, kitty girl ♪

Welcome back to the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Now, the lockdown hasn't been easy on anyone,

but one queen can always find a [whistles] silver lining.

Check out this stuck-at-home video

sent to us from Heidi, still in the closet.

Take a look.

Good evening, good morning, good morrow.

It's me, Heidi N Closet,

with a PSA for all you people out there.

Announcer: Heidi's guide to [whistles] social distancing.

Now, during these crazy quarantine times,

I need you to make sure that you're staying safe and healthy,

as well as soft and [whistles] supple.

Wash yo hands! Please!

We gonna get you some nice, warm water.

A little bit of water just to get it going.

I think the word's "malleable."graphic

What I like to do is say my motto.

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you.

I'm worried about Heidi, okay?

And then you dry your hands.

Announcer: Safe socialization.

Hey, Mr. Garbage Man!

Ooh, you looking cute today.

Hello, Nicki Minaj?

It's me, Young Gappy.

Oh, hey, Mrs. Johnson, girl.

No, no, you stay over there.

How'd I get your number?

Girl, don't worry about how I got your number.

Girl, I got sources and stuff.

Oh, you're outside the property line, Mr. Johnson.

That's not social distancing.

Mm. Oh, you gonna block me.

No!

Announcer: Home entertainment.

What I do while I'm in quarantine

is I try to break in all my new shoes.

I'm just trying to--I'm trying to break them in, and--

so I can--so I can start dancing in them.

Oh! No, no, no. No, no, no.

Heidi, you're the winner of this week's challenge.

Now say it like you mean it.

[sighs]

Let's break 'em in.

-You cheated. -I did not.

-Did you cheat? -I did not!

Any questions? Concerns?

Yes, you, with no arms.

You are the winner of this week's challenge!

[squeals]

Can I take this off, please?

Now, I can't stress enough,

please do not put disinfectant on your body.

What I do recommend is...

Tears of a Drag Queen.

Oh!

[thunder, cloudburst] Oh, God!

[wails]

Thank you, Heidi.

Does anyone need to check on her?

Um, I don't know.

Now the time has come

for our first lip sync round of the night,

the close-up lip sync.

I'm looking for my top three to connect with the song,

convey the emotion,

and serve realness using just their faces.

Let's go.

Three queens sit before me.

Prior to tonight, you were asked to prepare

a lip sync performance of my new single,

Bring Back My Girls.

Crystal,

Gigi,

Jaida,

assume the position.

The time has come... [thunder]

to lip sync...

[echoing] for the crown!

Good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

♪ She goin' back to the werkroom ♪

♪ Rethink her life ♪

♪ On the alcohol, vodka and cranberry, thank you, doll ♪

♪ She goin' back to the werkroom ♪

♪ This ain't her night ♪

♪ The rise and fall ♪

♪ Shit hit the fan when she hit that wall ♪

♪ Girl, I got you, lost-and-found you ♪

♪ Mama Ru 'bout to show you who you was ♪

♪ Before you went and lost your mind ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my-- bring back my girls ♪

♪ Where they at? Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Get 'em back, bring back my girls ♪

♪ Come on, bring back my-- ♪

♪ Ladies, bring back my girls ♪

♪ She tryin' to make them coins ♪

♪ Tryin' to score some points ♪

♪ Impress Miss Paul, untucking backstage 'fore Mama calls ♪

♪ Miss Thing, Miss Shady, baby girl went crazy ♪

♪ Fumblin' that ball ♪

♪ Is she gonna lip sync and lose it all? ♪

♪ Girl, I got you, lost-and-found you ♪

♪ Mama Ru 'bout to show you who you was ♪

♪ Before you went and lost your mind ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Bring back my-- bring back my girls ♪

♪ Where they at? Bring back my girls ♪

♪ Get 'em back, bring back my girls ♪

♪ Come on, bring back my-- ♪

♪ Ladies, bring back my girls ♪

[applause]

Thank you, ladies.

It's good to see you've all been flossing.

The judges will be sharing their critiques shortly.

Now, late last year

we lost a beloved member of the Drag Race family.

Jacqueline Wilson passed away

shortly after we completed filming Season 12.

She loved her queens, and we still love her.

Jacqueline was most definitely the soul of Drag Race.

Jacqueline really, really, really loved the show,

and you could tell in everything that she did.

One of the best parts of being on the show

was getting to work with her.

She was an amazing, an amazing, amazing person.

A very strong, inspiring, direct,

Emmy Award-winning black female producer.

She was so passionate about drag.

She loved getting to work on RuPaul's Drag Race,

and she took so much pride

that she'd been working on it since Season 2.

Jacqueline's job was to essentially tell our story.

And any of those moments that you see queens sitting down,

talking to that person on the other side of the camera,

oftentimes, it was Jacqueline.

For me, that was Jacqueline.

Miss Jacqueline was my story producer

on Season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race.

We laughed, we cried.

She was my mother, she was my therapist.

Thanks.subtitle

On my final day after my elimination,

she got out of her chair

and insisted I give her a big hug.

And when I was not hugging her hard enough,

she insisted I squeeze her harder.

She changed my world so drastically.

She just really cared.

She was my rock during my season.

She always had encouraging words for me

and kept me grounded and level-headed.

And looked like that doing it.

And looked like that doing it.

Could have walked down the runway at any given moment.

Baby, at any given moment.

Jacqueline was a fashion icon in the Drag Race world.

Honey, if Jacqueline's going to an event,

call the newspapers,

because she's going to shut it down with her fashion.

If Jacqueline felt a way about something,

honey, she would let you know.

She would be so blunt. She would always say

that she's a straight, no-chaser kind of girl.

She can smell the B.S.

You didn't want that side-eye.

No, you didn't want the side-eye.

Or the rolled eyes, honey.

Oh, even worse.

She just kept it real, and when I thought I was fierce,

she was, like, "Chirl, chirl, that sponge dress."

[laughs]

She was always kind of someone who brought me back to sanity.

And even after filming, she would call me

and make sure that I was doing okay.

And she was always kind of rooting for me.

We would always talk on the phone, I would always visit.

Jacqueline and I would speak

after every single episode of RuPaul's Drag Race.

She was at our wedding.

No matter where you were gonna be performing,

she would find you to let you know we're here for you.

She even came to see me on Broadway.

Every Christmas party, every show.

It's something I will cherish forever.

I'll be eternally grateful for the words of encouragement,

the advice that Jacqueline offered me.

She was just a great mentor to me,

and she didn't let, um...

Oh, God.

Everyone who knew her looked up to her.

I keep this picture of Jacqueline in my home.

It's a picture of Jacqueline and RuPaul

that I keep on my desk where I do a lot of my work.

[sighs]

I really miss her.

I'm just so grateful that I got to meet

such a beautiful, honest, and loving soul.

Jacqueline, I wanna thank you so very much

for sharing your light, your love,

your passion of what you do, your energy with us.

Thank you, Jacqueline.

Thank you, Jacqueline.

Thank you, Jacqueline.

We will always, always remember you,

and you will always have a very special place in our hearts.

We miss you, Jacqueline.end act

♪ I am American, American ♪

Welcome back to the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Now, inspired by Madonna's 1990 Rock the Vote video--

Speak your mind, there's nothing to it. Vote!

Our Season 12 queens

are here to remind you to hit the polls this November.

Take a look.song lyric subtitles

♪ Oh, yes ♪

♪ And what? ♪

I vote because it is my right as a U.S. citizen.

Together, we have the power to change America.

Not only for the queers of now, but the queers of tomorrow.

I'm Canadian, so I can't vote, but, boy, if I could...

And you can.

It's easy to register right now.

Ooh, yeah.

Throwing shade is cheap, but voting is free.

The most revolutionary thing you can do is vote.

And what?graphic

For our second lip sync smackdown for the crown,

I've asked each of our top three queens

to produce, direct, and star in a lip sync from their home

to a song that they've chosen.

Now, our judges, Michelle, Ross, and Carson

will be watching from home

and will share their critiques shortly.

Because after this lip sync, I will eliminate one queen,

and then the top two will lip sync

for the title of America's next drag superstar.

First up, from her home in Springfield, Missouri,

Crystal Methyd.

Good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

♪ You're beautiful, and that's for sure ♪

♪ You never ever fade ♪

♪ You're lovely, but it's not for sure ♪

♪ That I won't ever change ♪

♪ And though my love is rare, rare, rare ♪

♪ And though my love is true, yeah ♪

♪ Hey, I'm just scared ♪

♪ That we may fall through ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I'm like a bird, I only fly away ♪

♪ I don't know where my soul is, soul is ♪

♪ I don't know where my home is ♪

♪ And, baby, all I need for you to know is ♪

♪ I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away ♪

♪ I don't know where my soul is, soul is ♪

♪ I don't know where my home is ♪

♪ But, baby, all I need for you to know is ♪

-♪ I'm like a bird ♪ -♪ I only fly away ♪

♪ I don't know where my soul is ♪

♪ I don't know where my home is ♪

♪ And, baby, all I need for you to know is ♪

♪ I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away ♪

♪ I don't know where my soul is ♪

♪ I don't know where my home is ♪

[cheers and applause]

Thank you, Crystal.

We'll be right back.end act

Welcome back to the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.

We are in round two

of our lip sync smackdown for the crown.

Up next, from her home in Los Angeles, California,

Gigi Goode.

Good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

♪ We're talking away ♪

♪ I don't know what I'm to say ♪

♪ I'll say it anyway ♪

♪ Today's another day to find you shying away ♪

♪ I'll be coming for your love, okay ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ Take me on ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ I'll be gone ♪

♪ In a day or two ♪

♪ Oh, the things that you say, yeah ♪

♪ Is it life, or just to play my worries away? ♪

♪ I'll be coming for you anyway ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ Take me on ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

♪ I'll be gone in a day ♪

♪ Take on me ♪

[cheers and applause]

Thank you, Gigi.

Next up, from her estate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

Jaida Essence Hall.

Jaida, good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

Oh, yeah.

Ladies and gentlemen!

♪ He said, hi, my name is so-and-so ♪

♪ Baby, can you tell me yours? ♪

♪ You look like you came to do one thing ♪

♪ Set it off ♪

♪ I started on the left ♪

♪ Then I had to take him to the right ♪

♪ He was out of breath ♪

♪ But he kept on dancing all night ♪

♪ You trying, admit it ♪

♪ But you just can fight the feeling inside ♪

♪ You know it ♪

♪ And I can see it in your eyes ♪

♪ You want me, you smooth as a mother ♪

♪ You're so undercover ♪

♪ By the way that you was watching me ♪

♪ Ooh, ah ♪

♪ The way you look at me, I'm feeling you, ah ♪

♪ I just can't help it, trying to keep it cool, ah ♪

♪ I can feel it in the beat, ah ♪

♪ When you do those things to me, ah ♪

♪ Ring the alarm ♪

♪ The club is jumping now, so get up ♪

♪ Ooh, I love the way you vibe with me ♪

♪ Dance with me forever ♪

♪ We can have a good time, follow me ♪

♪ Follow me to the beat together ♪

♪ Ooh, oh, oh, I feel it ♪

♪ I got to have you, baby ♪

♪ Oh, I feel it ♪

♪ I got to have you, baby ♪

♪ I can feel it in the beat ♪

♪ When you do those things to me ♪

♪ Don't let nothin' stop you ♪

♪ Move ♪

♪ Somebody ring the alarm ♪

♪ The club is jumping now, so get up ♪

[cheers and applause]

Thank you, Jaida.

And now it's time for the judges' critiques,

starting with Crystal Methyd.

So Crystal's close up, gosh, I was so intrigued.

It was so asymmetrical and unusual,

but I was riveted.

And her lip sync from home, what the flock?

It was genius.

It was so her, it was so creative,

it was so unique.

I don't wanna egg her on, but that was just about perfect.

I feel like she just gave everyone the bird.

[all laugh]

I never thought that regurgitation

would make it into Drag Race, but somehow it did,

and I feel better knowing that her baby bird was nourished.

Creative, kooky, Crystal.

Up next, judges, what did you think of Gigi Goode?

Gigi Goode's close-up was spectacular.

She actually was acting with her eyelashes,

like, syncopated to the beat the entire time.

And then her lip sync from home, I had an aha moment.

It was so well conceptualized.

And then that moment when she jumps and her outfit changes,

I don't know how she did that.

That's the thing on the TikTok that the kids do.

Can someone teach Uncle Ross how to do that?

Honey, she brought the nostalgia,

she brought the fashion, she brought it all.

She was not just good, she was amazing.

And last but not least,

what did you all think of Jaida Essence Hall?

For me, it was really interesting

because she was stealing focus from some of the other girls

by moving backward and forward towards the camera,

a very smart choice.

Jaida's lip sync from home,

she is so at home with this material

that she actually inhabits the song.

She's performing like she is in Madison Square Garden

and the whole place is packed.

She used her couch,

she used her floor, she used her hair.

If anything was in Jaida's way,

she was going to use it, and that she did.

Amazing.

Oh, my God, you guys.

This quarantine, I think it's getting to me

because I actually agree with Michelle.

-[gasps] -Thank you, judges.

And as usual, you've been no help at all.

Calling my top three queens.

I've made my decision.

The queens moving forward

to the finale lip sync for the crown

will be...

...announced right after this.

Aah!

Ah, ha-ha.

No, ma'am.end act

Welcome back to the grand finale

of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12.

Crystal Methyd,

Gigi Goode,

Jaida Essence Hall,

each of you have presented performances tonight

and all season long that have made me so proud,

and now I've made my decision.

I need to see more.

Con-drag-ulations. You are all moving on

to the final lip sync for the crown.

-Oh! -Yay!

Werk!

That's right, all three of you will face off

in a first-time-ever cross-country battle royale.

And in the end,

one of you will be crowned America's next drag superstar.

Get ready, ladies,

because tonight you have a date with destiny.

Wait a minute.

I thought Miss Destiny was up in prison.

She's out? She got paroled?

Shit, she ain't changed her ways.

Look, I grew up with Miss Destiny.

I know who she is.

I don't know who she's trying to fool.

Oh, yeah, I'll be the judge of that.

We are just one lip sync away from crowning a winner, baby.

But first, last week our reigning Miss Congeniality

crashed the reunion to announce this year's Miss Congeniality.

Take a look.

[laughs] Oh, after a long year of being congenial,

it is so nice to unwind with a good pal who understands.

Girl, I will always love you.

Well, I hear ya, squirrel friend.

It can be exhausting being so nice all the time.

I'm so nice, I agreed to do this video.

But I gotta say,

it is a real drag being stuck here at the house.

I wish I had some reason to get dressed up and go out somewhere.

[gasps] Oh, oh, we should totally do

that remake I pitched you, Steel Drag-nolias.

Yeah, I got the script,

but I'm keeping my options open right now.

So is that a hard pass?

Nina, you know how I love our heart-to-heart talks,

and I really, more than anything,

appreciate you keeping my secret

that my real name is Leslie Jordan,

and I'm just in drag.

[phone rings]

Dolly Parton, living legend and queen of country music,

stop talking!

I have to go crash the Drag Race reunion

and present the Miss Congeniality award.

Well, I see she's tucked in for the night.

All right, Dolly, how do I look?

Meh.

Bye, Dolly.

I'll see you at the 9 to 5 sing-along.

How do I get into this--

Wow. I finally got the role I wanted!

Hello, ladies, it's me, Nina West!

And I'm here to present this year's Miss Congeniality.

[shouting and applause]

The winner will receive $10.000!

Yes!

Presented by Pantene Nutrient Blends.

The Season 12 queens have all voted,

and the winner is...

Heidi N Closet.

-♪ Hey, kitty girl ♪ -Oh, my God!

[cheers and applause]

-Con-drag-ulations! -Thank y'all.

Oh, thank you!

Con-drag-ulations.

I wanna say thank you.

Thanks very much to all my Season 12 sisters.

Y'all are all fabulous and amazing,

and I really thank y'all so, so very much.

Y'all taught me so much through this experience.

And I want to speak to all those people out there

that have been made fun of for just being who you are.

I've been there, and it feels amazing

to be celebrated for just being who I am.

So I want you all to be just who you are,

because that's when your star is truly shining the brightest.

So keep shining your true selves. Mwah.

Love you, Heidi! [cheers and applause]

Yeah!

But wait, ladies. That's not all.

To honor your spirit and commitment

to entertaining the world over these last several many weeks,

each of you will receive a $2.000 tip.

What?

Courtesy of Pantene Nutrient Blends.

[cheers and applause]

-All right. -Thank you!

Thank you, girl.

See? Being kind really is cool.

[applause]

Imma wash my hair now.

Come on, Miss Pantene stimulus checks.

Now, RuPaul's Drag Race has never had a winner

as freakin' fabulous as our reigning champion,

straight from Denver, Colorado,

the not-so-straight Yvie Oddly.

[inhales] Oh, God.

Um, let me go throw on my... good sweatpants.

Hmm.

Aah!

[mutters] Fuck!

It's done!

Since winning Season 11,

my life has been a nonstop whirlwind of excitement.

I've been on all the best carpets.

I've stormed every catwalk. [meow]

I've met the most amazing people,

been invited to some incredible openings.

Most of all, the experience has given me a whole new outlook.

Actually, Ru, I've been stuck at home just like everyone else.

But before that, I was meeting fans, werking the world,

headlining at RuPaul's Drag Race Live in Vegas,

living life like never before.

This year has been so Oddly blessed, and I'm super grateful.

And to our new queen, con-drag-ulations,

and get set for the ride of your life.

So are you dying to know

who's gonna be crowned America's next drag superstar?

Well, the queens are getting ready.

For fairness, all three were sent materials

to create identical performance spaces

and were provided with camera-phones

which their partners or housemates will use

to film their final lip sync for the crown.

Child, it's all gonna go down right after this.end act

Welcome back to the grand finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.

To the top three queens safe at home,

and to your fans watching from the far reaches of this planet,

it all comes down to this moment.

Ladies, in addition to the title

of America's next drag superstar,

the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race

will receive a year's supply

of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics,

a crown and scepter provided by Fierce! Drag Jewels,

and a cash prize of $100.000.

Crystal Methyd in Springfield, Missouri,

Gigi Goode in Los Angeles, California,

Jaida Essence Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

no matter what happens next, ladies,

you three are the very definition of drag excellence.

So it is with grace and gratitude

that I ask you to assume the position.

Three queens stand before me.

Prior to tonight,

you were asked to prepare a lip sync performance

of Survivor by Destiny's Child.

Y'all know who that is.

Ladies, this is your last chance to impress me

and snatch the title of America's next drag superstar.

The time has come... [thunder]

for you to lip sync...

[echoing] for the crown!

Good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

♪ Now that you're out of my life ♪

♪ I'm so much better ♪

♪ You thought that I'd be weak without ya ♪

♪ But I'm stronger ♪

♪ You thought that I'd be broke without ya, but I'm richer ♪

♪ You thought that I'd be sad without ya, I love harder ♪

♪ You thought that I would fail without ya, but I'm on top ♪

♪ Thought it would be over by now, but it won't stop ♪

♪ Thought that I would self-destruct ♪

♪ But I'm still here ♪

♪ Even in my years to come, I'm still gonna be here ♪

♪ I'm a survivor ♪

♪ I'm not gonna give up, hey ♪

♪ I'm not gonna stop, I'm not ♪

♪ I'm gonna work harder ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it, I'm a survivor ♪

♪ I will survive, yeah ♪

♪ Keep on survivin' ♪

♪ Wishing you the best ♪

♪ Pray that you are blessed ♪

♪ Much success, no stress, and lots of happiness ♪

♪ I'm better than that ♪

♪ I'm not gonna blast you on the radio ♪

♪ I'm not gonna lie on you and your family, oh ♪

♪ I'm better than that ♪

♪ I'm not gonna hate on you in the magazines ♪

♪ I'm better than that ♪

♪ I'm not gonna compromise my Christianity ♪

♪ I'm better than that ♪

♪ You know I'm not gonna diss you on the Internet ♪

♪ 'Cause my mama taught me better than that ♪

♪ I'm a survivor, I'm not gonna give up ♪

♪ I'm not gonna stop ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa ♪

♪ Oh, whoa, oh, whoa ♪

♪ Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ After all of the darkness and sadness ♪

♪ Soon comes happiness ♪

♪ If I surround myself with positive things ♪

♪ I'll gain prosperity ♪

♪ I'm a survivor, I'm not gonna give up ♪

♪ I'm not gonna stop, I'm gonna work harder ♪

♪ I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it ♪

♪ I will survive and keep on survivin' ♪

♪ I'm a survivor, I'm not gonna give up ♪

♪ I'm not gonna stop, I'm gonna work harder ♪

♪ I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it ♪

♪ I will survive, and keep on survivin' ♪

Wow.

Wow, wow, wow.

Now, the time has come to crown our queen.

Ladies, I've made my decision.

The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race,

America's next drag superstar, is...

Jaida Essence Hall.

[cheers and applause]

♪ I'm a winner, baby ♪

♪ I'm a winner ♪

♪ I'm a winner, baby ♪

♪ I'm a winner ♪

♪ I'm a winner, baby ♪

♪ I'm a winner ♪

Con-drag-ulations.

Is there anything you'd like to say?

I would like to say

that if you can't love yourself, how the hell you gonna--

Look over there!

Now prance. Prance, my queen!

Whoo!

Now, everyone within the sound of my voice, you betta vote!

And remember, if you can't love yourself,

how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?

Can I get an "amen" up in here?

-Amen! -Amen!

All right. Now let the music play.

♪ I'm a winner ♪

♪ I'm a winner, baby ♪

♪ I'm a winner ♪

♪ I'm a winner, baby ♪

♪ I am American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ The red, white, and blue ♪

♪ I am American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ Just like you, too ♪

♪ Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ The red, white, and blue ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ Just like you, too ♪