Patti LaBelle Proudly Refers To Herself As ‘The Original Drag Queen’

The Godmother of Soul is proudly calling herself “the original drag queen.” Patti LaBelle sat down with Page Six to discuss her diverse fanbase and heading out on tour later this year.

“I’m the original drag queen,” LaBelle, 77, said. “I was wearing crazy hair, crazy makeup, crazy clothes.”

The “Lady Marmalade” singer is known for getting super glammed up. However, throughout her four-decade career, she has built an incredibly diverse following, particularly with the LGBTQA+ community.  

“I always accepted everybody,” she continued. “And I think they saw in me someone that they could spill their hearts to. And they just follow me ’cause I’m honest.”

“I love gay people. I love all people,” she added. “I think my gay following realize that I’m one of those girls that they can come to say whatever they have to say, and I say, ‘It’s OK.'”

Now that the world is beginning to open back up, LaBelle says she is excited to get glammed up and get back in front of an audience.

The icon is getting ready to hit the stage again this fall. She is embarking on a five-city tour scheduled to hit New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.