Tammie Brown
Brown at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023
Born
Keith Glen Schubert

(1980-09-15) September 15, 1980 (age 43)
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
OccupationDrag performer
Websiteplanettammie.com

Tammie Brown is the stage name of Keith Glen Schubert (born September 15, 1980), an American drag performer, reality television personality, and recording artist. Brown was a fixture in the Southern California drag scene before appearing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.[1]

Early life

Keith Glen Schubert was born to Constance Marie “Conie” Rowe and Keith H. Schubert[2][3] at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital[4] on September 15, 1980, in Corpus Christi, Texas, but was raised in Fulton, Texas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.[5][6][7] He was originally planned to be born in Puerto Vallarta, but was born in Corpus Christi instead due to an amoeba epidemic.[7] He additionally lived in Mathis, Texas for a short time during junior high.[4] He was raised as a Christian. Growing up, he wanted to be a rockstar or a popstar, and was surrounded by his parents’ music tastes, which included artists such as the Dire Straits, Talking Heads, Sade, Jimmy Buffett, and Tom Petty. During his time spent living in Mexico, he was further artistically inspired by Gloria Trevi, Tina Turner, and Mexican culture.[8] He first started dressing in drag during high school, where he attended Rockport-Fulton High School,[6] in theatre productions of Grease as Cha Cha and Into the Woods as Cinderella's Stepmother.[5][9] Due to his religion, he was fearful of embracing his homosexuality for fear of being sent to Hell. However, his fears were quelled when a Native American friend of his informed him of their culture’s views on homosexuality, as well as concepts such as two-spiritism.[8] His father was originally unsupportive of his interest in drag, once stating to his mother that they should “just kill him and bury him in a hole in the backyard”- however, Brown has stated that he has become "friends" with his father again since. He studied Middle Eastern dance for two years before moving onto disco.[10] He originally wanted his drag name to simply be "Keith Schubert" or "Glen Schubert", but after recommendations from fellow Texas drag queens to make up her own name, he decided to do so. While preparing to go clubbing, he tuned into a three-way call that contained his friend and a boy he had a crush on, and his caller ID identified him as "Bob Brown", his friend's stepdad's name (also said to simply be his friend’s name). When the boy eventually realized "Bob"’s true identity and called Schubert out for it, he got the idea to adopt the surname. He has said that his first name, Tammie, was simply “sort of made up”.[8] He also considered the name "Tootsie Turner" as a drag name, because he was a big fan of Tina Turner and the movie, Tootsie.[11]

Career

Tammie posing at Drag Con Los Angeles June 2015

Although her drag persona was created in 1999, her first measure of fame was gained when she became a member of the Long Beach location of Hamburger Mary's popular drag brunch show, "The Brunchettes", in 2003.[12]

Brown first appeared on The Surreal Life with Tammy Faye Messner. Out of drag, Schubert has appeared on How Clean Is Your House? and acted in commercials for McDonald's and UPS.[5] Brown also performed in the Los Angeles Auditions of season 2 of America's Got Talent.[13]

Brown was announced as one of nine contestants for the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 2, 2009. She was eliminated in the second episode, placing eighth.[14]

Brown was amongst 12 past contestants who were brought back for RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars in 2012. Brown was paired with first-season castmate Nina Flowers to form Team Brown Flowers and was eliminated in the second episode "RuPaul's Gaff-In."[15] "Responsitrannity," the runway theme song for All Stars, was inspired by RuPaul's first season fight with Tammie Brown.[16] Brown, along with All Stars contestants Manila Luzon, Raven, and Latrice Royale, appeared in a television commercial for travel website Orbitz's new portal for LGBT leisure travel.[17]

Outside of Drag Race, Brown released her debut album Popcorn on March 18, 2009.[18]

In 2011, Brown and fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Ongina were honorary trail guides for the Saddle Up LA AIDS Benefit Trail Ride.[10]

In 2012, Brown was featured in an Allstate ad.[19] Brown was also photographed for Gorgeous, a project that involved Armen Ra, Candis Cayne, and Miss Fame.[20]

Tammie Brown in 2017

Brown is a member of the band the Rollz Royces with Kelly Mantle and Michael Catti.[21] Mantle and Catti have appeared in Tammie Brown's Christmas show Holiday Sparkle at Fubar in West Hollywood, California.[22]

She was one of thirty drag queens featured in Miley Cyrus's 2015 VMA performance.[23]

Brown was the only season one contestant to not appear at the season ten grand finale, due to being the warm up act for Trixie Mattel's tour in August 2018.[24]

In June 2019, Brown was one of 37 queens to be featured on the cover of New York Magazine.[25]

In July 2023, Brown announced a month-long residency at Red Room, a nightclub and performance venue in Provincetown, Massachusetts.[26]

Personal life

Schubert is openly gay and has been out since high school.[10] He frequently volunteers at the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Center.[27]

Schubert describes himself as a "pop-folk artist" in all aspects of his art. His longest ongoing visual art project are the "Rag Queens", which are "little creatures" that Schubert creates out of his used nylons (as well as wire and papier-mâché) and sells via his social media accounts.[8]

Schubert has described his drag style as "bohemian", "Hollywood", and "organic". He cites the movies What's Love Got to Do with It? and Tootsie as major inspirations for his drag.[10][12]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Popcorn
Hot Skunx / Zorillos Calliente
  • Released: March 11, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Schubert'
  • Released: October 18, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download

Extended plays

Title Details
Little Bit of Tammie

Singles

Title Year Album
"Discos Undead" 2010 Non-album single
"Love Piñata"[28] 2012
"Whatever It May Be" (featuring Bownce)[29] 2014
"Round 'n' Round" 2019 Schubert'

Music videos

Title Year Director
"Whatever"[30] 2007 Rod Barroso
"Shakabuku U"[31]
"The Ballad of Tiger Lilly"[32] 2009
"Discos Undead"[33] 2010
"Clam Happy"[34]
"Love Piñata"[35] 2012
"Amigos Son Héroes/La Telaraña"[36] 2014 Bri Cirel
"I Stay Connected"[37]
"Walking Children in Nature"[38]
"Round 'N Round"[39] 2019 John Mark
"Schubert"[40] 2020

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Mouse's Birthday Himself
2011 The Summer of Massacre Clubber #2
2011 Fest Selects: Best Gay Shorts, Vol. 1 Himself
2013 I Am Divine Himself

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2004 How Clean Is Your House? Himself "Philthy Philharmonic"
2007 America's Got Talent Himself "L.A. auditions"
2009 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself 8th Place (Eliminated in Episode 2)
2010 RuPaul's Drag U Himself Episode 7: "Mother vs Daughters" [41]
2010 The Arrangement Himself Episode 6 [42]
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Himself 9th/10th Place (Eliminated in Episode 2)
2015 Skin Wars Himself Season 2 Episode 4 "Queens or Divas" [43]
2021 The Sherry Vine Variety Show Himself Guest appearance [44]

Music videos

Year Song Director
2005 "Twisted Transistor" (Korn)[5] Dave Meyers
2007 "She's Madonna" (Robbie Williams)[5] N/A
2008 "Mm-ma-ma" (Crazy Loop)[5] N/A
2011 "Progress" (Ayumi Hamasaki) Masashi Muto
2011 "Sleepless in Silverlake" (Les Savy Fav)[45] Tom Bingham
2012 "Responsitrannity" (RuPaul) N/A
2012 "Queen" (Xelle)[46] JC Cassis
2012 "The Chop" (Manila Luzon & Latrice Royale) Syuji Honda
2014 "Eliminated" (Kelly Mantle feat- Bownce & Wendy Ho) Kija Manharé
2019 ”Elevator to the Gallows”[47] (Senses Fail) John Mark
2019 "Yellow Cloud"[48] (Trixie Mattel) Brad Hammer

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Ring My Bell Herself Guest [49]
WOW Shopping Network Guest [50]
2015 Transformations Guest [51]
2018 Spillin' the Tea Co-Host [52]
2019 Feelin' Fruity Guest [53]
Detailz Guest [54]
Drag Queen Video Dates Guest [55]
Bootleg Opinions Guest [56]
The Browns Starring role [57]
2020 Queen with a Cause Two episodes [58]
2023 Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd Podcast; Guest [59]
Queenterrogated Guest [60]

References

  1. ^ Podell, Michael (2015-09-03). "An Interview With Drag Race All-Star Tammie Brown". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  2. ^ @thetammiebrown (November 15, 2021). "Reunidas .. my Mom with and here dear friend if 30 Margarita Del Río .. Tlaquepaque Jalisco .. @ Mexico City, Mexico (w/ Instagram link)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Keith Glen Schubert". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Young, Mark. "Q&A with Corpus Christi-born RuPaul's Drag Race alum Tammie Brown". Caller Times. www.callertimes.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "About Tammie". TammieBrown.net. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Gray & Wiltshire, James & Janet (21 November 2019). "Tammie Brown Interview – Holiday Sparkle Tour". Out Central Oregon. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Schultz, Brandon. "Gay-Listers Guide: Tammie Brown On Puerto Vallarta". Forbes. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Podell, Michael (3 September 2015). "An Interview With Drag Race All-Star Tammie Brown". huffpost.com. BuzzFeed, Inc. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Fitzgerald, Chistine (11 September 2010). "RuPaul's Drag U Faculty Spotlight – Tammie Brown". Socialite Life. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d Normal, Abby (19 May 2011). "Tammie Brown, "This Interview Will Burst Your Bubble!"". Yahoo! Voices. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Meet the Queens: Tammie Brown | RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed". YouTube. September 26, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Reynolds, Daniel. "Tammie Brown Has Been Saving the Earth (and Drag!) for 20 Years". advocate.com. Advocate. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Allen, Timothy (25 July 2014). "Flashback: Watch Tammie Brown on America's Got Talent, Circa 2007". Queerty. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  14. ^ Kelly, Chris J (2013-10-08). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Recap Realness: Four Wrongs Don't Make A Right". Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  15. ^ Sava, Olivia (30 October 2012). "RuPaul's Gaff-In". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  16. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (19 October 2012). "RuPaul Picks Favorite All-Star Drag Race Looks - The Daily Beast". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  17. ^ Spargo, Chris (12 November 2012). "The Queens Take Vacation Back: Orbitz Behind The Scenes". New Now Next. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  18. ^ "Tammie Brown - Popcorn (File) at Discogs". Discogs. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  19. ^ Robertson, Lindsay (24 July 2012). "While You Were Working: 'Drag Race' Contestant Stars In Allstate Ad". New Now Next. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  20. ^ Baume, Matt (14 December 2013). "PHOTOS: Exclusive Chat with Drag Icons Delta Work, Tammie Brown and Landon Cider". Queerty. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  21. ^ Hollywood, Hollis (13 January 2013). "Experience Tammie: There's No One Else Like Tammie Brown". HollisHollywood. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  22. ^ Spargo, Chris (21 November 2012). "Tammie Brown's Holiday Show Is The Event Of The Season". New Now Next. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  23. ^ Lamour, Joseph. "Meet All 30 Of Miley's Day-Glo Dancers From Her Insane VMA Performance". MTV News. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  24. ^ "We spent two months interviewing Drag Race's Tammie Brown over WhatsApp - here's what happened". Gay Times. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  25. ^ "On The Cover: The Most Powerful Drag Queens In America".
  26. ^ @planettammie (July 6, 2023). "#tbt around 2006 …" – via Instagram.
  27. ^ "Happy Birthday to Drag Artist Tammie Brown". The Gay Almanac. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  28. ^ "Love Pinata - Single by Tammie Brown". iTunes. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  29. ^ "Whatever It May Be (feat. Bownce) - Single by Tammie Brown on iTunes". iTunes. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  30. ^ rod1million (2007-04-28). "Tammie Brown "Whatever" Music video !!! WORLD PREMIERE!!!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ rod1million (2007-11-26). "TAMMIE BROWN "SHAKABUKU U "!!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ rod1million (2009-05-04). "TaMMie Brown-"The Ballad of Tiger Lilly"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ rod1million (2010-05-21). "Tammie Brown "Discos Undead!"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2010-07-06). "TaMMie Brown - "Clam Happy!"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  35. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2012-01-30). "TaMMie Brown's "Love Piñata"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  36. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2014-03-31). "TaMMie Brown Double Feature: " Amigos Son Heroes/ La Tearaña"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  37. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2015-05-11). ""I Stay Connected", TaMMie Brown". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  38. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2014-06-14). "TaMMie Brown featuring Michael Catti "Walking Children in Nature"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  39. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2019-09-24). "Tammie Brown "Round 'N Round" Music Video". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  40. ^ ItsTaMMieBrown (2020-01-01). "Tammie Brown "Schubert'" Music Video". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  41. ^ Stransky, Tanner (August 3, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag U' series premiere recap: To judge or not to judge such tragic figures?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  42. ^ "Arrangement Episode Guide 2010 Season 1 - Arrangement Episode 6". TV Guide. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  43. ^ Boulet, Ruth (2015-07-08). "Skin Wars season 2 episode 4 recap: The Drag Queens are here!". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  44. ^ EW Staff (May 25, 2021). "What to Watch on Tuesday: The Voice and This Is Us close out their seasons". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  45. ^ "Tammie Brown - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  46. ^ Spargo, Chris (25 October 2012). "XELLE's 'Queen' Music Video Features Every 'Drag Race' Queen: Watch October 25, 2012 ● by Chris Spargo". New Now Next. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  47. ^ Munzenrieder, Kyle (2019-05-03). "How RuPaul's Drag Race Queens Became the Hottest Music Video Accessory". WMagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  48. ^ Freeman, Jon (May 17, 2019). "Trixie Mattel Goes Electric With New Song 'Yellow Cloud'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  49. ^ Tammie Brown - Ring My Bell. YouTube. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  50. ^ Tammie Brown on WOW Shopping Network. YouTube. October 25, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  51. ^ Tammie Brown & James St. James - Transformations. YouTube. September 29, 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  52. ^ Spillin' The Tea: Full 'Drag Race' Kiki | Billboard Pride. YouTube. July 4, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  53. ^ Tammie Brown! Feelin' Fruity with Seth Bogart. YouTube. June 27, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  54. ^ Detailz w/ Dida Ritz: IMHO at DragCon NYC 2019. YouTube. September 13, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  55. ^ Tammie Brown: Drag Queen Video Dates. WOWPresents. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  56. ^ TAMMIE BROWN joins Drag Race UK x Bootleg Opinions Season 1 Episode 6!. Yuhua Hamasaki. November 10, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  57. ^ Daniel Reynolds, "Tammie Brown Has Been Saving the Earth (and Drag!) for 20 Years". The Advocate, October 2, 2019.
  58. ^ Rudolph, Christopher (September 2, 2020). "Tammie Brown Is a Kick-Ass Action Star in "Queen With a Cause"". NewNowNext. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  59. ^ TAMMIE BROWN | Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd | Episode 7. Moguls of Media. March 7, 2023. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via YouTube.
  60. ^ TAMMIE BROWN Accused of Murder - Queenterrogated. Producer Entertainment Group/PEG. July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023 – via YouTube.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tammie Brown.
RuPaul's Drag Race
Categories