Kennedy Davenport
Davenport at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2022
Born
Reuben Asberry Jr.

(1980-09-09) September 9, 1980 (age 43)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts
Occupation(s)Drag queen, television personality, dancer
Known for

Reuben Asberry Jr.,[1] better known by the stage name Kennedy Davenport (born September 9, 1980), is a drag queen, television personality, and dancer from Dallas, Texas, who came to international attention on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing fourth overall, and on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she was the runner-up.[2]

Career

Davenport first appeared on television in the eighth season of America's Got Talent in 2013. She was eliminated in the Vegas round.[3][4]

She was announced as one of the fourteen contestants in season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race on March 2, 2015,[5] where she placed fourth overall. After this, she made a one-episode appearance on Skin Wars with fellow Drag Race contestants.[6] On October 20, 2017, Davenport was announced as one of the returning queens for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3.[7] Davenport ultimately was the runner-up overall, losing to Trixie Mattel.[2][8]

Outside of Drag Race, Asberry has won numerous titles in drag pageants,[9] including Miss Gay USofA 2019, Miss Gay Orlando 2016, Miss D’Elegance International 2013, and Miss Gay Black USofA 2009.[10] Her dance performances are her signature component.[9]

Davenport also works as a musician; she released her first single, "Moving Up", featuring rapper Dresia Dee on March 16, 2018.[11][12]

In July 2020, she returned to the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars as a Lip-Sync Assassin. She lip-synced against Miz Cracker to Fancy by Reba McEntire but lost.

In April 2023, Davenport and her Drag Race alumni Jan Sport, Manila Luzon and Olivia Lux performed alongside Kelsea Ballerini at the CMT Music Awards, held in Austin, Texas. The performance was seen as Ballerini's support to drag performers following the passing of the Tennessee drag ban[13]

Personal life

Asberry was born to Checkery Marie Thacker.[14] His father, Reuben Asberry Sr., died on October 25, 2013.[15] Prior to pursuing drag, he spent some time in the United States Navy.[16]

A $33,000 bank payment was needed to prevent his house from being foreclosed upon. A GoFundMe page was created to help pay off the house note,[17] and a drag event was held to support him, featuring fellow Drag Race alumni.[1]

His drag mother is Kelexis Davenport,[18] who is also drag mother to the late season 2 Drag Race contestant Sahara Davenport.[19] Another one of Kennedy's drag sisters, Bianca Gisele Davenport Starr, was murdered on December 8, 2017.[20] Drag Race season 11 contestant A'keria C. Davenport, and other Drag Race Contestants throughout the years (Honey Davenport, Monét X Change and Ra'Jah O'Hara) are among members of the Davenport drag family.[21][22]

Pageant history

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2019 Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts Himself [25]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2013 America's Got Talent Himself (contestant) Season 8 [3][4]
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (contestant) Season 7 (4th place) [5]
2016 Skin Wars Herself Episode: "Miss Skin Wars" [26]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Herself (contestant) Season 3 (Runner-Up) [2]
2020 AJ and the Queen Drag queen Guest appearance [27]
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 5) Herself Guest (“Lipsync Assassin”)
Episode: "Stand-Up Smackdown" 		[28]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 2)
2023 57th Annual CMT Music Awards Herself Performer with Kelsea Ballerini, Jan Sport, Manila Luzon & Olivia Lux [29]

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2015 "Uptown Fish"[30] Shangela

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Herself Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race [31]
2015 Transformations Guest [32]
2016 Hey Qween! 2 episodes, Guest [33]
2016 How To Makeup World of Wonder series [34]
2016 Fashion Photo Ruview Guest, alongside Raven and Raja [35]
2018 Before She Walks In Guest [36]
2018 Whatcha Packin' Guest [37]
2018 Cosmo Queens Season Three, Episode Ten [38]
2019 Detailz Guest [39]
2019 Werq The World Season 1 [40]
2019 Follow Me Episode: "Mayhem Miller" [41]
2021 Pageant Pod Podcast by Moguls of Media [42]
2021 Binge Podcast by Entertainment Weekly [43]
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked WOWPresents Plus original [44]

Theatre

Year Production Role Venue Ref(s)
2019 The Gospel According to Kennedy Davenport Herself Laurie Beechman Theatre [16]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Album
"Moving Up" 2018 Non-album single

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dance
[45]
"Drag Up Your Life"
(RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 3) 		2018 — Non-album single
"Kitty Girl"
(RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 3) 		18

Other appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Throw Ya Hands Up"[46] 2015 RuPaul RuPaul Presents CoverGurlz 2
"Cha Cha Heels" 2016 Lucian Piane, Katya Zamolodchikova RuPaul's Drag Race: The Rusical
"One Last Christmas Card" 2017 Adam Barta featuring Mrs. Kasha Davis, Eureka O'Hara, and Kennedy Davenport Non-album singles

References

  1. ^ a b "Shangela, Latrice Royale, Kasha Davis Raise The Roof To Save Kennedy Davenport's Home". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  2. ^ a b c "'Drag Race All Stars 3' Runner-Up Kennedy Davenport on Racism From Fans: 'Drag Has No Color'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  3. ^ a b "Five Facts About Kennedy Davenport". QWEERIST. 2018-01-12. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  4. ^ a b America's Got Talent (2013-07-17), Kennedy Davenport - Drag Queen Gets Down to Donna Summer's "Last Dance"- America's Got Talent 2013, retrieved 2018-02-18
  5. ^ a b Nichols, JamesMichael (2015-01-28). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Adds New Judges, Will Premiere March 2". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  6. ^ "Drag Queens Stomp the Runway at 'Skin Wars'". 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  7. ^ "RuPaul To Reveal 'All Stars' Season 3 Cast On Upcoming VH1 Special: 'Prepare To Be Gagged'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  8. ^ Fitzpatrick, Molly (16 March 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race's Kennedy Davenport on the All Stars 3 Finale". www.vulture.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  9. ^ a b Schlichte, Garrett (15 February 2018). "Does RuPaul's Drag Race Have a Race Problem?". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018.
  10. ^ Fortino, A. Sebastian (25 February 2010). "New Miss Black Gay US of A Crowned". South Florida Gay News. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Former Miss Black Gay US of A Kennedy Davenport was proud to hand over her crown to Miss Bordeaux.
  11. ^ gardTV (2018-03-16), Kennedy Davenport :: Moving Up feat. Dresia Dee (VIDEO), retrieved 2018-03-17
  12. ^ "'Drag Race' Runner Up Kennedy Davenport Releases Disco-Flavored 'Moving Up'". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  13. ^ Chris Willman (April 3, 2023). "Kelsea Ballerini's Performance With 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens at CMT Awards Playfully Flouts Wave of Anti-Drag Laws". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Reuben Asberry". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "Reuben Asberry Sr.'s Obituary on Dallas Morning News". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  16. ^ a b Frisby, Troy (September 6, 2018). "BWW Review: Kennedy Davenport Puts Emotion on Display in Cathartic THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KENNEDY DAVENPORT". Broadway World. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "'Dancing Diva of Dallas' Raising Money to Save Family Home". CW33 NewsFix. 2015-11-12. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  18. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Season 7 :: The Kennedy Davenport Interview". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  19. ^ Richard Curtin (2012-10-09), Kelexis Davenport on the death of drag daughter Sahara Davenport, retrieved 2018-02-18
  20. ^ "Texas Police Arrested a Man for the Murder of Kennedy Davenport's Drag Sister". Hornet Stories. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  21. ^ Voorhis, Genevieve Van (7 March 2019). "The House Of Davenport Has Turned 'Rupaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Into A Family Reunion". Bustle. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  22. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11 queens stun in EW's exclusive portraits". EW.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Kennedy Davenport". Our Community Roots. May 28, 2018.
  24. ^ USofA Pageants - Miss Gay USofA 2019!!! Kennedy Davenport, retrieved 2019-05-26
  25. ^ Evan Ross Katz (May 1, 2019). "Trixie Mattel's 'Moving Parts' Documentary Proves She's Not Just A Skinny Legend". Garage. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  26. ^ Boulet, Ruth (2016-05-11). "Skin Wars meets RuPaul's Drag Race: a Season 3 episode 4 preview". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  27. ^ Nolfi, Joey (2019-12-03). "RuPaul brings 22 Drag Race queens to costar on AJ and the Queen". EW.com. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  28. ^ McCallian, Paul (July 17, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Recap: Roast Battle". Vulture. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  29. ^ Willman, Chris (April 3, 2023). "Kelsea Ballerini's Performance With 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens at CMT Awards Playfully Flouts Wave of Anti-Drag Laws". Variety.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  30. ^ Hinzmann, Dennis (April 8, 2015). "WATCH: Shangela's Bringing You 'Uptown Fish'". Mic.com. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  31. ^ Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 1 | Born Naked. YouTube. March 23, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  32. ^ James St. James and Kennedy Davenport: Transformations. YouTube. July 15, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  33. ^ Hey Qween (2016-02-22), Kennedy Davenport on Hey Qween with Jonny McGovern!!! | Hey Qween, retrieved 2019-05-08
  34. ^ Hey Qween (2016-08-18), HOW TO MAKEUP: Kennedy Davenport - "Luscious Lips", retrieved 2019-08-28
  35. ^ Hey Qween (2018-08-10), FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW w/ Raja, Raven & Kennedy Davenport RuPaul's Drag Race, retrieved 2019-08-28
  36. ^ Hey Qween (2018-01-27), Before She Walks In: Kennedy Davenport 'Sickening' | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3, retrieved 2019-08-28
  37. ^ VH1 (2018-03-19), Whatcha Packin: Kennedy Davenport | Season 3 Episode 8 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, retrieved 2019-09-25((citation)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ Hey Qween (2018-06-10), Kennedy Davenport | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan, retrieved 2019-08-28
  39. ^ Detailz w/ Dida Ritz: IMHO at DragCon NYC 2019. YouTube. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  40. ^ Barbour, Shannon (July 25, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Kennedy Davenport's Biggest Accomplishment Lies Outside the Show". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  41. ^ FOLLOW ME: Mayhem Miller. YouTube. June 10, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  42. ^ Hecht, Evan (October 28, 2021). "Seven drag artist podcasts you need to check out". DBK News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  43. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 14, 2021). "BenDeLaCreme and Kennedy Davenport recall chaos after RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3 self-elimination". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  44. ^ Nolfi, Joey (October 5, 2023). "Drag Race queens unite for new RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked TV series". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  45. ^ "Dance/Electronic Songs - March 31, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  46. ^ "RuPaul Teases "Covergurlz 2," New Album With Season 7 Queens, On Instagram". www.logotv.com. 2015-01-30. Retrieved 2024-03-01.

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