Sam Star
{{Short description|American drag performer}}
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| name = Sam Star
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| birth_name = Sam Purkey
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| birth_place = Leeds, Alabama, USA
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| television = RuPaul's Drag Race (season 17)
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Sam Star is the stage name of Sam Purkey,{{Cite web |date=2023-05-29 |title=Flappin' About the Queens of Birmingham Documentary and Toothy Drag Merch (feat. Sam Star) - Flapping & Flawning Podcast
|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/flappin-about-the-queens-of-birmingham/id1623084118?i=1000614835736 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}} an American drag performer who competed on Love for the Arts{{Cite web |title=Drag Performers Across the Nation Urge You to Vote in New PSA |url=https://www.out.com/drag/2020/10/20/drag-performers-across-nation-urge-you-vote-new-glaad-psa |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.out.com |language=en}} and the seventeenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=2024-12-04 |title='RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 Cast Photos, Trailer & Premiere Date Set At MTV |url=https://deadline.com/gallery/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-cast-photos-trailer-premiere-date-mtv/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}
Career
Sam Star is an American drag performer. She has competed in pageantry, having been crowned Miss Glamorous Newcomer 2022.{{cite web|url=https://ourcommunityroots.com/?p=134410 |title=Sam Star |website=ourcommunityroots.com |publisher=Our Community Roots |access-date=December 6, 2024}} Her "drag mother" is three-time Drag Race alum Trinity the Tuck. She is additionally a retired gymnast and cheerleader.
Sam Star featured on Trinity the Tuck's single "Six Six Sex" alongside fellow Drag Race castmate Jewels Sparkles and Shontelle Sparkles.{{Cite web |last=Peerspace |date=2024-10-25 |title=Go Behind the Scenes of 'Drag Race' Star Trinity the Tuck's Latest Music Video |url=https://www.peerspace.com/blog/trinity-the-tuck-music-video/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Peerspace Blog |language=en-US}} On the second episode of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17, she performed her debut single "Say Yeehaw!", produced and co-written by Drew Louis.{{Cite web |title=Drew Louis, the Creative Force Behind Drag Race's "My Kitty" Is Back |url=https://www.toomuchlovemagazine.com/article/drew-louis-the-creative-force-behind-drag-races-my-kitty-is-back |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.toomuchlovemagazine.com |language=en}} Her Instagram following grew by 865 percent as the show aired.{{Cite web |title=Here's how many IG followers Drag Race S17's queens snatched |url=https://www.out.com/drag/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-queens-instagram-most-popular#rebelltitem12 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.out.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Sam Star was born and raised in Leeds, Alabama and attended high school there.{{cite web | url=https://leedsareachamber.com/lhs-diplomats-tour-chick-fil-headquarters-atlanta/ | title=LHS Diplomats Tour Chick-fil-A Headquarters in Atlanta | Leeds Area | date=6 March 2018 }} They are currently based in the suburb.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-12-04 |title='RuPaul's Drag Race' Announces Season 17 Cast, Updated 'Rate-a-Queen' Twist |url=https://variety.com/lists/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-cast/sam-star/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} They attended the University of Alabama’s musical theatre program, but dropped out when told the cost of textbooks.{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-queen-interviews-8756802 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 queens promise 'profane imagery' on runway, loads of drama, and twisty 'panic' ahead |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |website=ew.com |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 11, 2024}}
On episode six of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17, Sam revealed that their godfather is former NBA player Charles Barkley.{{Cite web |last=Azeem |first=Safwan |date=2025-02-07 |title=NBA Legend Revealed As 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star's Godfather |url=https://collider.com/charles-barkley-nba-godfather-rupauls-drag-race-sam-star/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Collider |language=en}} Barkley attended high school with Sam's mom, and helped raise them.{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant Reveals Charles Barkley Is Her Godfather (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/drag-race-contestant-sam-star-reveals-charles-barkley-is-her-godfather-8786813 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=People.com |language=en}}
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+List of television credits, with selected details ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" |Notes !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" |Love for the Arts
|2020 |Contestant |6th place |
|---|
| scope="row" |RuPaul's Drag Race
|2025 |Contestant |Finalist |{{cite magazine |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |date=December 4, 2024 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 cast revealed as Rate-a-Queen returns with a major twist: 'The game is new' |url=https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-cast-revealed-new-queens-8754566 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Dotdash Meredith}} |
Discography
All credits adapted from Apple Music and Spotify.{{Cite web |title=Sam Star on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sam-star/1088574688 |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Apple Music |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sam Star - Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/35rp0b5Bg1sulKpmroiR4B?si=Qv2EUOSDSsyeXR_sdqz4Pw |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Spotify}}
= Singles =
== As lead artist ==
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Album !Writer(s) !Producer(s) |
| rowspan="2"|2025
|“Got It From Her” | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} | rowspan="2"|Drew Louis, Sam Star | rowspan="2"|Drew Louis |
| "Say Yeehaw!" |
== As featured artist ==
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|+ !Year !Title !Artist(s) !Album !Writer(s) !Producer(s) |
| 2024
|"Six Six Sex" (featuring Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, and Shontelle Sparkles) |Drew Louis, Jayelle, Coen Hutton | style="text-align: center;" |Drew Louis |