Cher attends The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California
Amy Sussman/GIA new year means a new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race — and on Friday (Jan. 6), fans won’t have to wait anymore as the reality TV phenomenon returns for its 14th season.
Every new season brings, along with a brand new batch of queens to the work room and the main stage of the show, a new set of celebrity guest judges, ready to dish out their high praise and constructive criticisms to the drag superstars as they vie for the crown and $100,000. Season 14 certainly has its fair share of guest judges, with the two-part season premiere alone featuring appearances from both Lizzo and Alicia Keys.
Past seasons of the franchise have seen superstar guests come join the judges to critique the queens, with notable names like Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Leslie Jones and many more offering their expertise in seasons past.
But who are the stars we’ve yet to see behind the panel that we would love to see appear on a future season? Billboard made a wishlist, choosing 5 stars we think would be perfect additions to the show. Check out our picks below:
Dolly Parton
Just the thought of the Backwoods Barbie herself strolling out onto the main stage is enough to make your heart quiver. Dolly Parton already has a connection to the franchise — she’s been impersonated twice (by Trixie Mattel and Kylie Sonique Love) on the show — and has a massive LGBTQ following. Were she included for a season premiere where the queens were tasked with a songwriting challenge, we think she would be a near-perfect choice to let them know who’s got the stuff, and who still needs some work.
Lil Nas X
Looking at Lil Nas X’s visual artistry over the last few years, you can clearly see the influence of drag — and that’s not including his top-tier Halloween costume from 2021. Along with being one of the biggest LGBTQ names in the entertainment industry, Lil Nas’s eye for fashion would make him a fabulous guest judge for a ball challenge where he gets to appraise the contestants’ couture, while also trolling those who maybe didn’t quite nail the challenge.
Elton John
While there were rumors that Sir Elton John would be joining RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in season 3 as a guest judge, the “Rocket Man” singer never made his Drag Race debut on the international season. We’d like to see that get fixed — John is a living LGBTQ legend and would have plenty of advice for the fierce and fabulous queens that appear on the show. Plus, he’s got a resumé long enough to warrant him judging almost any challenge; whether it’s acting, singing, dancing, or fashion, John would be a perfect fit for letting the girls have it.
Madonna
Somehow, we have had two separate “Night of a Thousand Madonnas” runway categories and a Rusical in her honor on Drag Race, without the Material Girl actually showing up in person. She’s a lifelong ally to the community, a gay icon, and she would be one of, if not the biggest guest star to join the panel. While we’d love to see Madge join for a songwriting challenge, at this point, we’d be happy to see her in almost any capacity on the show — just let the Queen of Pop show the queens how it’s done!
Cher
With every new season, a throng of fans ask a question that has been asked since the show began back in 2009; “When is Cher going to be a guest judge?” The pop superstar certainly has a storied history on the show — along with being given the Rusical treatment, Cher’s mother Georgia Holt and son Chaz Bono both appeared on the show in season 6, while All Stars 1 winner and season 4 runner-up Chad Michaels has repeatedly honored her on the show, especially with a stunning Snatch Game impression. The Goddess of Pop has made it clear that she’s open to the idea — so we “Believe” that she’s coming to a Drag Race season sometime within the foreseeable future!
NEWS
David Lee Roth made an unexpected appearance at the Stagecoach Festival on Saturday evening, stepping onto the stage with Teddy Swims to perform “Jump,” the iconic 1984 hit by Van Halen.
During his Stagecoach set, Swims welcomed Roth after running through his recent single “Mr. Know It All” along with “Some Things I’ll Never Know,” both taken from his debut studio album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), which arrived in September 2023.
This moment marked the third straight festival where the two have shared the stage. Swims previously invited Roth out during recent sets at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where he introduced him as “David Lee Roth from the best band of all time, Van Halen,” before they kicked into “Jump” together.
The latest performance unfolded during a chaotic night at Stagecoach, as strong winds earlier in the evening led to a temporary evacuation of the grounds and forced several changes to the schedule, including removing artists such as Journey and Riley Green from the lineup.
The evacuation came after powerful gusts swept through the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the site of the festival. An “emergency evacuation” notice appeared on screens across the venue, urging attendees to “move quickly and calmly to the nearest exit,” while alerts sent through the festival’s official app instructed people to clear the area.
The interruption impacted several stages, with the Mane Stage sitting between sets when the evacuation alert was issued. Wind conditions had been intensifying throughout the day, with stronger gusts arriving in the evening as part of a regional wind advisory.
Even with the disruption, Swims’ set ultimately continued, and Roth’s surprise appearance stood out as one of the biggest highlights of the night as fans returned once the festival resumed.
Stagecoach, one of the largest country music festivals in the United States, takes place every year at the same location as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and regularly draws tens of thousands of fans.
