Sam Star

Sam Star
Born
Sam Purkey

(2000-01-24) January 24, 2000 (age 26)
Leeds, Alabama, USA
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 17)
Websitethesamstarstore.com

Sam Purkey (born January 24, 2000), known professionally as Sam Star, is an American drag performer. Star competed on Love for the Arts, the seventeenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

Career

Sam Star is an American drag performer. He has competed in pageantry, having been crowned Miss Glamorous Newcomer 2022. Her drag mother is three-time Drag Race alum Trinity the Tuck. He is additionally a retired gymnast and cheerleader.

Sam Star featured on Trinity the Tuck's single "Six Six Sex" alongside fellow Drag Race competitor Jewels Sparkles and Shontelle Sparkles. On the second episode of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17, He performed her debut single "Say Yeehaw!", produced and co-written by Drew Louis. Her Instagram following grew by 865 percent as the show aired.

In April 2026, Star was announced to be competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in the third bracket. He and Lucky Starzzz are the only representatives of season 17 on the cast.[citation needed]

Personal life

Sam Star was born and raised in Leeds, Alabama and attended high school there. He is currently based in its suburb. Star attended the University of Alabama’s musical theatre program, but dropped out due to the cost of textbooks.

On episode six of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17, Star revealed that her godfather is former NBA player Charles Barkley. Barkley attended high school with Sam's mother and helped raise them.

Filmography

Television

List of television credits, with selected details
Title Year Role Notes Ref.
Love for the Arts 2020 Contestant 6th place
RuPaul's Drag Race 2025 Contestant Finalist
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2026 Contestant 7th

Discography

All credits adapted from Apple Music and Spotify.

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Album Writer(s) Producer(s)
2025 “Got It From Her”
(featuring Trinity the Tuck)		 Non-album singles Drew Louis, Sam Star Drew Louis
"Say Yeehaw!"
Year Title Artist(s) Album Writer(s) Producer(s)
2024 "Six Six Sex"

(featuring Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, and Shontelle Sparkles)

 Trinity the Tuck Sinematic (Deluxe) Drew Louis, Jayelle, Coen Hutton Drew Louis
2025 "HAUS"

(featuring Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, and Allura The Doll)

 Non-album single Drew Louis, Ryan Taylor, Allura The Doll

References

  1. ↑ "Flappin' About the Queens of Birmingham Documentary and Toothy Drag Merch (feat. Sam Star) - Flapping & Flawning Podcast". Apple Podcasts. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  2. ↑ @samstarqueen; (January 24, 2024). "birthday boy! #24" – via Instagram.
  3. ↑ "Drag Performers Across the Nation Urge You to Vote in New PSA". www.out.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  4. 1 2 Tinoco, Armando (2024-12-04). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 Cast Photos, Trailer & Premiere Date Set At MTV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Sam Star". ourcommunityroots.com. Our Community Roots. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ Peerspace (2024-10-25). "Go Behind the Scenes of 'Drag Race' Star Trinity the Tuck's Latest Music Video". Peerspace Blog. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  7. ↑ "Drew Louis, the Creative Force Behind Drag Race's "My Kitty" Is Back". www.toomuchlovemagazine.com. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  8. ↑ "Here's how many IG followers Drag Race S17's queens snatched". www.out.com. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  9. ↑ "LHS Diplomats Tour Chick-fil-A Headquarters in Atlanta | Leeds Area". 6 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Announces Season 17 Cast, Updated 'Rate-a-Queen' Twist". Variety. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  11. ↑ Nolfi, Joey. "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 queens promise 'profane imagery' on runway, loads of drama, and twisty 'panic' ahead". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Azeem, Safwan (2025-02-07). "NBA Legend Revealed As 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star's Godfather". Collider. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  13. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant Reveals Charles Barkley Is Her Godfather (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  14. ↑ "Trinity the Tuck Has A New Drag Competition Starting this Week". www.out.com. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  15. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (December 4, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 cast revealed as Rate-a-Queen returns with a major twist: 'The game is new'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Sam Star on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  17. ↑ "Sam Star - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-07.