MTV today announced the star-studded lineup of guest judges who will join Emmy(R) Award-winning host RuPaul and mainstay judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and Ts Madison for the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The network also released the jaw-dropping trailer for the upcoming season, featuring global pop star Katy Perry as the premiere guest judge airing on Friday, January 3rd. Episodes will follow the 90-minute format and air Fridays at 8:00 PM ET/PT on MTV.
The star studded line up of guest judges include Doechii, Sandra Bernhard, Julia Schlaepfer, Paul W. Downs, Hunter Schafer, Quinta Brunson, Jamal Sims, Law Roach, Adam Lambert, Betsey Johnson, Whitney Cummings, Sam Smith, Jerrod Carmichael, June Diane Raphael, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
This season ushers in a new twist that only RuPaul’s Drag Race can deliver – The Badonka Dunk Tank. Following the lipsync, each eliminated queen has a chance to receive immunity and save themselves from having to sashay away. Queens will choose from 10 levers and if they pick one of the two levers that dunks Michelle, they get to remain in the competition. If not, they will be eliminated.
Season 17 of Drag Race will feature 14 queens vying for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” and a cash prize of $200,000, served by TodayTix. The previously announced cast include Acacia Forgot (Los Angeles, CA), Arrietty (Seattle, WA), Crystal Envy (Asbury Park, NJ), Hormona Lisa (Chattanooga, TN), Jewels Sparkles (Tampa, FL), Joella (Los Angeles, CA), Kori King (Boston, MA), Lana Ja’Rae (New York, NY), Lexi Love (Louisville, KY), Lucky Starzzz (Miami, FL), Lydia B Kollins (Pittsburgh, PA), Onya Nurve (Cleveland, OH), Sam Star (Leeds, AL), and Suzie Toot (Fort Lauderdale, FL).
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, the Emmy(R) award-winning aftershow, will premiere immediately following at 9:30PM ET/PT on MTV. Untucked gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the backstage drama as the queens anxiously await their fate in the competition.
Fans can also relive the sickening season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, currently streaming on Paramount+, with a special marathon on MTV on Friday, January 3rd.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked are produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe, Mandy Salangsang, Michele Mills and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers. Daniel Blau Rogge serves as Executive Producer for MTV and Julie Ha serves as Supervising Producer.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” sponsors include ViiV Healthcare.
