The seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 2, 2015. RuPaul and Michelle Visage returned as judges, while the space previously occupied by Santino Rice was filled by new additions Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley. Matthews and Kressley were only both present for the season premiere and took turns sharing judging responsibilities. Shawn Morales, a member of the Pit Crew since the third season and Simon Sherry-Wood, a member in the sixth season, did not appear this season and were replaced by Bryce Eilenberg. Like the previous two seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, the season featured 14 contestants competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of 100,000 dollars. The season premiere debuted with a live and same-day viewership of 350,000, a 20% increase from the previous season. On March 20, 2015, it was announced that LogoTV had given the series an early renewal for an eighth season.
The eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 7, 2016. Returning judges include RuPaul and Michelle Visage, along with Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley, who shared judging responsibilities on an alternating basis. Twelve drag queens competed for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". The prizes for the winner are a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The full list of contestants was revealed during the NewNowNext Awards on February 1, 2016. The song "U Wear It Well" from RuPaul's album Butch Queen was featured in promotion for the show. On March 31, 2016, it was announced LogoTV renewed the show for a ninth season. It was the last season to solely be played on Logo, as the show moved to VH1 for its ninth season.
The twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 28 and concluded on May 29, 2020. The competition was broadcast on VH1 in the United States and saw 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a twelfth and fifth season respectively on August 19, 2019. At the time of the renewal the Drag Race franchise had earned VH1 a total of 14 Emmy nominations. Casting calls were opened in January 2019 while the cast was revealed by season 11 winner Yvie Oddly on January 23, 2020.
"American" is the twelfth episode of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Todrick Hall is a guest judge and choreographer. He coaches the remaining four contestants for the main challenge, who are tasked with writing, recording, and performing original versus to RuPaul's song "American".
"New Wave Queens" is the fourth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are guest judges, and Lucian Piane is also a guest.
"Shady Politics" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Vivica A. Fox and Thomas Roberts are guest judges.
"Glamazonian Airways" is the second episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode aired on March 9, 2015, and features a Rusical. Olivia Newton-John and Jordin Sparks serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley. Moby and Jamal Sims also make guest appearances, the former to help judge the mini-challenge and the latter to offer choreography coaching to contestants for the main challenge.
"ShakesQueer" is the third episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 16, 2015. Kat Dennings are Mel B are guest judges. The episode earned Mathu Andersen a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program.
"Spoof! " is the fourth episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 23, 2015. Jessica Alba and Lucian Piane are guest judges. Kennedy Davenport wins the episode's challenge, and Trixie Mattel is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom and losing a lip-sync against Pearl.
"Divine Inspiration" is the ninth episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Directed by Nick Murray, the episode originally aired on April 27, 2015. Demi Lovato and John Waters are guest judges. Lucian Piane and Our Lady J also make guest appearances, helping the contestants during rehearsals.
"Shade: The Rusical" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on March 17, 2014.
"Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical" is the seventh episode of the twelfth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on April 10, 2020. The episode has contestants perform a musical about Madonna for the main challenge. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Winnie Harlow serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.
"Viva Drag Vegas" is the twelfth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode focuses on the Las Vegas show RuPaul's Drag Race Live!
A Rusical is a musical theatre challenge recurring across the Drag Race television franchise. Rusical productions began in 2014 during the sixth season of the American series, and have subsequently become "a highly anticipated staple" of the reality competition, allowing contestants to showcase their talents.
"Condragulations" is the second episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on January 8, 2021. Choreographer Jamal Sims is a guest judge.
"Social Media: The Unverified Rusical" is the eighth episode of the thirteenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on February 19, 2021. The episode's main challenge is a Rusical about social media. Choreographer Jamal Sims is a guest judge, and Anne Hathaway also makes a guest appearance.
"Gettin' Lucky" is the fourteenth episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 9, 2021. The episode sees the remaining four contestants perform to RuPaul's song "Lucky". None of the contestants are eliminated from the competition.
"Halftime Headliners" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired on online streaming service Paramount+ on July 8, 2021. The episode has contestants impersonate famous singers and musicians and lip sync to a medley of RuPaul songs, inspired by Super Bowl's Halftime Shows. Jamal Sims served as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley.
"Moulin Ru: The Rusical" is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on March 25, 2022.
"RuPaul Roast" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 11, 2013.
