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Sharon Needles
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Sharon Needles (born November 28, 1981) is the stage name of Aaron Robert Coady, an American drag performer and recording artist. Needles rose to international attention on the fourth season of the Logo reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, where she quickly became a fan favorite and was subsequently crowned "America's Next Drag Superstar" in April 2012.[2][3]
Key Information
After winning Drag Race, Needles released her debut album PG-13 in January 2013.[4] It debuted at number 186 on the Billboard 200 and number nine on Dance/Electronic Albums.[5] Later, Needles released the US Dance/Electronic chart top-ten albums Taxidermy (2015), Battle Axe (2017), Spoopy (2019), and Absolute Zero (2022).
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Needles was subject to marked criticism in response to allegations of racially insensitive behavior and sexual misconduct.
Early life
[edit]Aaron Coady was born in Newton, Iowa to Joan Coady.[6][7] Coady is of Irish descent and was raised Catholic.[8] At age four, he began wearing high-heels and dressing up with the encouragement of his parents.[9] His years growing up in Iowa was a difficult time as he faced severe anti-gay and anti-"outsider" harassment, which prompted him to drop out of Newton High School.[10][6][11] He began doing drugs at an early age, later being convicted for a DUI and assault on a police officer.[6] He stated, "I started drugs really early and sneaking out and sleeping with boys and not coming home for weeks on end."[6]
Coady began doing drag in 1997[12] and, in 2004, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he began working as a professional drag performer with the stage name Sharon Needles (a pun on the phrase "sharin' needles") in nightclubs and various other venues with the drag troupe "the Haus of Haunt",[13] which Needles describes as "one punk rock, messy mash up of very talented, fucked up weirdos".[14][15]
Career
[edit]
In November 2011, it was announced that Needles had been selected to compete as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[16] The season premiered on January 30, 2012, and with Needles winning the first challenge she became an instant stand-out for her "ghoulish" fashion sense and unconventional make-up choices.[14][15][17][18][19] On the night of the premiere episode, Entertainment Weekly columnist Tanner Stransky hailed Needles' macabre style as "drop dead genius" and rhetorically asked "Is Sharon Needles the most 'sickening' (a drag term for 'fabulous') contestant ever?"[18]
Throughout the fourth season of Drag Race, Needles endeared herself to audiences and became a favorite of the media, judges, and viewers alike for her quick wit, confidence, humility and uniqueness, as well as for her "transgressive" aesthetic.[14][15][17][19][20] On March 27, 2012, Lady Gaga tweeted – "Sharon Needles looks FABULOUS 2night on drag race. Very Born This Way outfit/fame monster wig. Any rentals for my tour? #needthatbodysuit."[21][22] Needles herself admitted that she was ambivalent in believing that she could win, stating, "(B)eing a comedic, campy, shtick queen and seeing how far those types of queens made it in past seasons, I would have been shocked if I made it past the first day."[15]
In a departure from previous seasons of Drag Race, where rumors of previous winners had leaked before the final episodes could air, the decision was made not to pre-tape the finale episode announcing the season's winner.[23][24] Instead, RuPaul decided to give fans an opportunity to voice their opinions as to who should win before taping of the final episode on April 25, 2012.[23][24] For the taping, three outcomes were filmed announcing each of the "final 3" as the winner, with the true outcome only known to RuPaul and a select few involved in the editing.[23][24] The finale episode aired on April 30, 2012, when it was announced that Needles had been crowned "America's Next Drag Superstar".[23][25]
In June 2012, Needles won the Facebook vote to appear as a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, but declined, as the reigning champion, to participate in the competition.[26] She also confirmed that her replacement in the competition would be fellow RuPaul's Drag U professor and the runner-up in the Facebook voting, Pandora Boxx.[26] Needles became a horror host in October 2012 when she began presenting horror and suspense films airing on the Logo network under the series title Fearce![27] Needles also became the face of an advertising campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals promoting vegetarianism,[28] appearing on billboards throughout the United States. In June 2012, the Pittsburgh City Council issued an official proclamation declaring June 12, 2012, "Sharon Needles Day."[29][30][31]
On January 29, 2013, Needles released her debut studio album PG-13, which debuted at number 186 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 3,000 copies in its first week.[5] In April 2013, Needles was featured on the single "RuPaulogize," from Willam Belli's debut album The Wreckoning.[32]
In September 2015, Needles released "Dracula" as the lead single from her second studio album. Needles released her second studio album titled Taxidermy on October 31, 2015. The second single, released on August 5, 2016, was "Hollywoodn't". The music video was once again directed by Santiago Felipe and explored the dark side of Hollywood. In the video, Needles portrayed Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. the Black Dahlia, Sharon Tate and Jayne Mansfield. Her third studio album, Battle Axe, debuted on October 6, 2017, along with a video for the single of the same name. The second single from the album was "Andy Warhol Is Dead", released on November 5, 2017.[33] She contributed to the compilation album Christmas Queens 3 (2017).[citation needed]
Sharon Needles was also voted the "Best Drag Performer" of Pittsburgh 2015 by the staff of the Pittsburgh City Paper.[34]
Personal life
[edit]Needles is Catholic.[8] He struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.[6]
Needles was in a four-year relationship with fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Justin Honard, better known by his stage name, Alaska Thunderfuck; they ended their relationship in 2013 but remained friends.[35][36][37]
Needles was also in a long-term relationship with special FX artist Chad O'Connell. The two began dating in late 2013 and got engaged in 2015.[38] They broke up in summer 2020.[39]
Needles lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[40]
Controversies
[edit]Needles has been widely criticized for her consistent and frequent usage of the N word, with some recounting incidents where she used the word in public.[41][42][failed verification] Needles has also been criticized for use of heavy racial imagery in her show, with activists Enakai and Maura Ciseaux "pointing out that by employing racist language and imagery in her act, Needles may be perpetuating [a racist] environment."[43] A former Drag Race producer named Needles as one of three former queens to be "one hundred percent banned" from the franchise, in part due to her racism and other allegations against her.[44]
In 2013, a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, age 15 at the time, alleged they began speaking to Needles over FaceTime and social media. Needles completely denied all the allegations made. The fan alleged they opened up to Needles about their self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and Needles allegedly encouraged them to keep harming themself. When they met, the fan opened up about swallowing pills and Needles' response was that "suicide is beautiful and that [they] should keep eating pills, and kept calling [them] an idiot and a moron."[45] The fan claimed that Needles encouraged them to "cut deeper" when they would self-harm.[45] After winning a RuPaul's Drag Race themed cruise, Needles allegedly gave the fan "shotguns of weed" and encouraged them to drink alcohol.[45] They claimed Needles was physically abusive, hitting them multiple times and at one point she "sat on [their] neck and choked [them]."[45] Michelle Visage was made aware of what happened [46][failed verification] and reported the actions to the production company of RuPaul's Drag Race.[45] Needles completely denied all the allegations made.[47]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [5] |
US Dance [48] |
US Indie | ||
| PG-13 |
|
186 | 9 | 25 |
| Taxidermy |
|
— | 11 | — |
| Battle Axe |
|
— | —[A] | — |
| Absolute Zero |
|
_ | 3 | _ |
Extended play
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Spoopy |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Why Do You Think You Are Nuts?" | 2013 | PG-13 |
| "Dressed to Kill" | 2014 | |
| "I Wish I Were Amanda Lepore" (featuring Amanda Lepore) | ||
| "Dracula" | 2015 | Taxidermy |
| "Hollywoodn't" | 2016 | |
| "Battle Axe" | 2017 | Battle Axe |
| "Andy Warhol Is Dead" | ||
| "#Liftmeup" (with Greko, Debbie Harry, Amanda Lepore, and Peppermint) |
2019 | Non-album single |
| "Lift Them Up 2020" (with Greko, Debbie Harry, Amanda Lepore, and Peppermint) |
2020 | |
| "Absolute Zero" | 2022 | Absolute Zero |
| "Flamin' Hot" |
Other appearances
[edit]| Song | Year | Other Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "RuPaulogize" | 2013 | Willam Belli | The Wreckoning |
| "Supermodel Inc." | 2014 | Super Electric Party Machine | Super Electric Party Machine |
| "Jingle Bells" | 2015 | N/A | Christmas Queens |
| "Snow Machine" | 2016 | N/A | Christmas Queens 2 |
| "The Murder of the Lawson Family" | 2017 | N/A | Christmas Queens 3 |
| "I Don't Give a F**k" | 2018 | Jiggly Caliente | T.H.O.T. Process |
| "Brothers in Our World" | N/A | Christmas Queens 4 |
Music videos
[edit]| Song | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "This Club Is a Haunted House" | 2013 | Michael Sharkey |
| "Call Me on the Ouija Board" | Santiago Felipe | |
| "Why Do You Think You Are Nuts?" | Marina Pfenning & Tony Balko | |
| "Dressed to Kill" | 2014 | Ben Simkins |
| "I Wish I Were Amanda Lepore" | ||
| "Dracula" | 2015 | Santiago Felipe |
| "Jingle Bells" | Steve Willis | |
| "Hollywoodn't" | 2016 | Santiago Felipe |
| "Battle Axe" | 2017 | |
| "Andy Warhol Is Dead" | Ben Simkins | |
| "666" | 2018 | |
| "Monster Mash" | 2019 | Brad Hammer |
| "Absolute Zero" | 2022 | Assaad Yacoub |
| "Flamin’ Hot" |
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Queens | Herself | Documentary | [50] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title season | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Season 4 - Winner | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | ||||
| RuPaul's Drag U | ||||
| 2012-2013 | Fearce! | Logo TV original | [51] | |
| 2013 | Watch What Happens: Live | Season 9, Episode 67: "Laura Linney & John Benjamin Hickey" | [52] | |
| She's Living for This | Season 2, Episode 1 | [53] | ||
| 2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Season 8, Episode 1 | ||
| 2017 | Good Behavior | Tonya Hardon | Season 2, Episode 5, "You Could Discover Me". | [54] |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Glamazon" | RuPaul | [55] |
| 2013 | "RuPaulogize" | Willam | [56] |
| "You Seemed Shady" | Pandora Boxx & Adam Barta | [57] | |
| 2015 | "Hieeee" | Alaska Thunderfuck | [58] |
| 2019 | "Scores" | Kahanna Montrese | [59] |
Web series
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | RuPaul Drives | Herself | Guest | [60] |
| Ring My Bell | Guest | [61] | ||
| Sharon Needles' Horroscope | Host | [62] | ||
| Pure Camp | Co-Host, alongside Alaska Thunderfuck | [63] | ||
| Cooking with Needles | Host | [64] | ||
| 2014 | WOW Shopping Network | Guest | [65] | |
| Alyssa's Secret | Guest | [66] | ||
| Let the Music Play | Guest | [67] | ||
| 2015 | Drag Queens React | Episode: Drag Queens Reading Mean Comments - Part 3 | [68] | |
| 2016 | Bestie$ for Ca$h | Guest, with Heklina | [69] | |
| 2017 | COSMO Queens | Guest | [70] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Battle Axe did not enter the main Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart, but peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Album Sales chart.[49]
References
[edit]- ^ "CALL ME ON THE OUIJA BOARD". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Season 4 winner is..." EW.com. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ Leblanc, Jessica (2017-07-04). "Top 15 Fan Favorites From RuPaul's Drag Race". BabbleTop. Archived from the original on 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ "Sharon Needles' "PG-13"". Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ a b c Caulfied, Keith (8 February 2013). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Divas Debut in Top 10 on Billboard Dance Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Exclusive Video Premiere and Interview: 'Call Me on the Ouija Board,' Sharon Needles". Interview Magazine. August 8, 2013.
- ^ @SHARON_NEEDLES (May 12, 2013). "Wish my mom a happy moms day @JoanCoady" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b @sharonneedlespgh (March 17, 2022). "Happy St. Patrick's Day!". Instagram. Archived from the original on October 16, 2025.
As a queer, catholic raised Irish queen, I had the privilege and responsibility to demand the repeal of the 8th Amendment.
- ^ "Sharon Needles: In depth from hell". Xtra Magazine. June 24, 2012.
- ^ "It Gets Better: Drag Edition". HuffPost. May 2, 2012.
- ^ @sharonneedlespgh; (June 12, 2023). "Happy Sharon Needles Day in the city of Pittsburgh!.. there is beauty everywhere." – via Instagram.
- ^ @SHARON_NEEDLES (February 11, 2017). "Tonight there's a comet, an eclipse, and a full moon.. it is also my 20 anniversary of doing drag. Happy birthday Sharon!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Just who did create the Haus of Haunt?". facebook.com.
- ^ a b c Maria Sciullo (April 21, 2012). "Reality Check: Sharon Needles makes 'Drag' Finals". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ a b c d Daniel McEvily (April 26, 2012). "Hail Sharon". Baltimore Gay Life.
- ^ Primera Hora (November 15, 2011). "Dos "dragas" boricuas en el reality show de RuPaul". PrimeraHora.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Mark O. Estes (April 30, 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race: Why Sharon Needles Deserves To Win". TVOvermind.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Tanner Stransky (January 30, 2012). "Is Sharon Needles the most 'sickening' contestant ever?". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b Joey Guerra (April 30, 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race: Happy Halloween". The Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
- ^ Chris Spargo (April 26, 2012). "Sharon Needles Talks 'Drag Race', Beyonce & Boyfriend". NewNowNext.com.
- ^ Lady Gaga (March 26, 2012). "Sharon Needles looks FABULOUS..." Twitter.
- ^ Lindsay Robertson (March 27, 2012). "Lady Gaga Tweets Her Love Of Sharon Needles' Look". NewNowNext.com.
- ^ a b c d Maria Sciullo (April 30, 2012). "Sharon Needles crowned 'Drag Race' queen". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ a b c Tanner Stransky (April 26, 2012). "On the Scene at 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Reunited'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Tanner Stransky (April 30, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner speaks out". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b Chris Spargo (June 21, 2012). "Sharon Needles Explains Why She Won't Be On 'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race'". NewNowNext.com.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (August 29, 2012). "'FEARce! Hosted By Sharon Needles' Coming To Logo This October". New Now Next. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (October 15, 2012). "Sharon Needles, Drag Queen, Stars In PETA Halloween 'Flesh-Eating' Ad". HuffPost. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ Mueller, Benjamin (June 12, 2012). "Pittsburgh City Council honors drag queen with Sharon Needles Day". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ Crawley, Dave (June 12, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner Sharon Needles Honored". KDKA. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (June 12, 2012). "It's Sharon Needles Day In Pittsburgh: Video". NewNowNext. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ Jacobs, Blake (19 April 2013). "Willam's "RuPaulogize": Never Too Late". World of Wonder. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "Sharon Needles – Andy Warhol Is Dead". Genius. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
- ^ "2015 Best of People & Places". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Middleton, Josh (December 18, 2013). "Sharon Needles and Alaska Announce Breakup". Phillymag. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Stars Sharon Needles, Alaska Break Up - Us Weekly". usmagazine.com. 19 December 2013.
- ^ "Sharon Needles, Alaska break up". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Sharon Needles: net worth, boyfriend and dating history". celebliveupdate. 11 May 2021.
- ^ "Chad O'Connell on Twitter".
- ^ "Sharon Needles: 30 Things About My Pittsburgh". NewNowNext.
- ^ Avery, Dan (30 April 2012). "So Is Drag Race Star Sharon Needles A Racist Or What?". Queerty. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ Burns, Chase (November 1, 2017). "UPDATE: Queer/Bar Cancels Sharon Needles Performance". The Stranger. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ Spargo 6/28/2012, Chris. "Sharon Needles Attacked In Atlanta, Breaks Down". LOGO News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Duncan, Charlie (2023-05-04). "Drag Race 'producer' spills behind-the-scenes tea – from Bosco's chocolate bar to All Winners 2". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ a b c d e Zimmerman, Amy (2021-12-08). "'Drag Race' Star Sharon Needles Terrorized a 15-Year-Old Superfan. And They Weren't Alone". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ Fernós, Faustos (2014-03-31). "FOF #1959 – Michelle Visage is a Cosmological Woman". Feast of Fun. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ Curto, Justin (2021-12-08). "Drag Race Winner Sharon Needles Accused of Abusing Underage Fan". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (6 December 2014). "Adore Delano Sets 'Drag Race' Record". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "Sharon Needles: Chart History - Dance/Electronic Album Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ Guerrero, Desiree (30 August 2019). "Alaska Shines in New Drag Documentary". Advocate. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ Spargo, Chris. "'FEARCE! HOSTED BY SHARON NEEDLES' COMING TO LOGO THIS OCTOBER". logotv.com. Logo TV. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (April 23, 2013). "Sharon Needles Is Stopping By "Watch What Happens Live"". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "**She's Living For This**". here TV. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Hinzmann, Dennis (October 25, 2017). "Michelle Dockery Goes Undercover with RPDR Queens In Good Behavior". Out. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ Robertson, Lindsay (April 23, 2012). "Video: RuPaul And Three Finalists Star In 'Glamazon' Video". NewNowNext. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "Willam Belli's 'RuPaulogize' Video Features Sharon Needles As RuPaul, Roller Skating Mayhem". huffpost.com. HuffPost. 22 April 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ Nichols, James (23 July 2013). "Pandora Boxx, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star, Debuts 'You Seemed Shady To Me' Video With Adam Barta". huffpost.com. HuffPost. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ Alaska Thunderfuck - Hieeee [Official]. YouTube. June 8, 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Voss, Brandon (March 10, 2019). ""Drag Race" All-Stars Butch It Up in Kahanna Montrese's "Scores" Video". NewNowNext.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ^ RuPaul Drives...Sharon Needles. YouTube. September 23, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles - Ring My Bell. YouTube. August 22, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles' Horrorscope - The Return of The Living Dead. YouTube. October 3, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles and Alaska: Pure Camp - License To Grill. YouTube. September 5, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Cooking with Sharon Needles - Vegetarian Italian. YouTube. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ RuPaul on WOW Shopping Network - Glamazon. YouTube. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Alyssa Edwards' Secret - Halloween Special with Sharon Needles. YouTube. October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles' Let The Music Play - This Club Is a Haunted House Featuring RuPaul. YouTube. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Part 3 | Drag Queens Reading Mean Comments w/ Jinkx, Bebe, Raja, Raven, Chad, Tyra, Sharon, Violet. YouTube. August 25, 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles & Heklina - Bestie$ for Ca$h. YouTube. February 22, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sharon Needles | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan. YouTube. October 30, 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
External links
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Sharon Needles.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sharon Needles.
- Official website
- Sharon Needles at IMDb
- Sharon Needles discography at Discogs
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
Sharon Needles
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Childhood in Iowa
Aaron Coady, known professionally as Sharon Needles, was born on November 28, 1981, in Newton, Iowa, a small working-class town in the state's Jasper County.[10] Raised by a single mother in a conservative Midwestern environment marked by prevalent anti-gay attitudes, Coady's early years were shaped by the rigid social norms of rural Iowa, where deviations from traditional masculinity faced routine hostility.[11] From a young age, Coady experienced social isolation and daily harassment at school due to his emerging homosexuality and non-conforming mannerisms, which marked him as an outsider in the community. In interviews, he has described his childhood as inherently challenging for gay youth in such settings, recounting persistent bullying that included verbal abuse and exclusion rather than seeking broader advocacy narratives.[12][13] These experiences, rooted in the era's limited acceptance of sexual minorities in small-town America, contributed to a formative sense of alienation without evident familial support structures to mitigate the hostility. Coady attended Newton High School but dropped out during his teenage years, a decision influenced by escalating bullying and advice from school officials to leave amid the anti-outsider climate.[12] This early exit from formal education forced him into self-reliance, navigating odd jobs and survival in Iowa's limited economic landscape, which honed practical skills absent from structured schooling.[14] Such hardships, common in conservative regions with sparse resources for nonconformists, underscored the causal pressures of environment on personal development, fostering resilience through unassisted adaptation rather than institutional intervention.Relocation to Pittsburgh and initial drag involvement
In 2004, Aaron Coady relocated from Iowa to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at approximately age 22, drawn by the city's burgeoning arts and nightlife scene as a refuge from rural conservatism and prior experiences of bullying for his sexuality.[12][15] Pittsburgh's relatively tolerant environment for queer performers enabled Coady to transition from sporadic, informal drag experimentation—begun as early as 1997—to consistent professional appearances in local nightclubs.[16] Upon settling in Pittsburgh, Coady adopted the stage name Sharon Needles, a pun evoking "sharing needles" that nodded to his transient punk youth involving frequent moves and name changes, while aligning with an emerging persona rooted in horror tropes and hypodermic syringe imagery.[16] His earliest drag looks emphasized affordable, scavenged goth elements from thrift stores, such as tattered fabrics and macabre makeup, performed at venues including the Blue Moon bar in Lawrenceville.[9][17] These low-fi, shock-oriented routines gradually built a niche audience within Pittsburgh's underground queer community, predating broader recognition and emphasizing self-taught shock value over polished production.[18]Career
Pre-Drag Race performances in Pittsburgh
Aaron Coady, performing as Sharon Needles, relocated to Pittsburgh in 2004 and commenced professional drag performances in the city's local bar circuit.[19] There, she cultivated a distinctive horror-centric aesthetic influenced by 1980s slasher films, zombie horror, and gothic motifs, incorporating punk and transgressive elements that set her apart from polished, glamour-oriented competitors.[20] [21] Needles established the Haus of Haunt, a Pittsburgh-based drag collective focused on barrier-breaking, punk-inspired, and macabre revues, fostering collaborations with local performers to stage campy, shocking acts in nightclubs.[22] [23] This troupe emphasized excess and downtown clownery, building her reputation for edgier drag that contrasted with mainstream styles prevalent in the scene.[21] [24] Throughout the late 2000s and into 2011, she secured regular gigs at venues including Brillobox, where she appeared for events like "A Random Party" on June 25, 2009, and Blue Moon Bar, a key spot for Haus of Haunt performances featuring controversial and offensive routines.[25] [9] These appearances allowed refinement of her horror-themed numbers, often involving gothic props and visuals, through self-directed hustle in Pittsburgh's queer nightlife.[26]Participation and win on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 (2012)
Sharon Needles was selected as one of 13 contestants for the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, a reality competition series on Logo TV that premiered on January 30, 2012.[27] Entering with a distinctive horror-themed aesthetic emphasizing campy fright elements over polished glamour, Needles quickly differentiated herself in a cast featuring competitors like Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O'Hara, and Latrice Royale.[28] In the premiere episode, "RuPocalypse Now!", contestants scavenged materials from a junkyard to create post-apocalyptic couture looks for the runway challenge. Needles triumphed in this mini-challenge by constructing an outfit from garbage bags, caution tape, and a shopping cart repurposed as a helmet, earning praise from judges RuPaul Charles and Santino Rice for its resourceful ingenuity and subversion of traditional drag beauty expectations through grotesque, survivalist styling.[29] Her performance set a tone of unconventional creativity, contrasting with more conventional entrants and foreshadowing her edge in challenges favoring bold originality over conformity. Throughout the season's 14 episodes, Needles accumulated multiple challenge wins, including the "Dragazines" photo shoot and "Float Your Fanny Down the Potomac" boat design tasks, while surviving eliminations via lip-sync battles against queens like DiDa Ritz and Milan.[28] She maintained visible camaraderie with select peers, such as Latrice Royale, amid occasional tensions, and drew external support from Pittsburgh drag scene connections, including a pre-recorded encouragement video from Alaska Thunderfuck, who shared local ties but competed in a later season.[30] The finale aired on April 30, 2012, where Needles performed a medley and final runway presentation, securing the crown as the season's winner over runners-up Chad Michaels and Phi Phi O'Hara.[28] As the first victor prominently identified with horror drag, she received the grand prize of $100,000 cash, a one-year supply of cosmetics from Almay, and the platform to release her debut single "Call Me on My Cell," produced as part of the show's sponsorship obligations.[31]Music releases and touring (2012–present)
Following her victory on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4, Sharon Needles released her debut studio album PG-13 on January 29, 2013.[32] The album featured 12 tracks, including the lead single "This Club Is a Haunted House" with guest vocals from RuPaul, and debuted on the Billboard 200 chart.[33] Needles promoted the release through music videos and live performances, marking her initial foray into structured pop-electronic production aligned with her horror-themed persona.[34] Subsequent releases included the album Taxidermy on April 30, 2015, via Sidecar Records, with singles such as "Dracula" released on October 30, 2015. This was followed by Battle Axe on October 6, 2017, through PEG Records, comprising 11 tracks emphasizing synth-heavy dance tracks. In 2019, Needles issued the EP Spoopy, and by 2022, she released Absolute Zero along with the single "Flamin' Hot," distributed independently via platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. These later projects reflected a transition to self-managed production and distribution, prioritizing direct-to-fan streaming metrics over traditional label support.[35] Needles began headlining tours shortly after her 2012 win, performing at clubs and venues across the United States and internationally starting in 2013.[36] Early tours supported PG-13 with sets incorporating drag elements and album tracks, expanding to Europe and other regions by the mid-2010s.[37] She continued annual touring cycles tied to album drops, such as promotions for Taxidermy and Battle Axe, logging dozens of dates yearly through specialized drag and electronic music circuits.[38] Despite industry shifts, Needles maintained a schedule of live shows into 2024 and 2025, including international stops in the UK and Europe, with performances emphasizing high-energy, thematic stage production.[39]Additional media and entrepreneurial ventures
Needles hosted the Logo TV series FEARce!, a horror film showcase featuring introductions to suspense and B-movie titles, which premiered on October 28, 2012, and ran through 2013.[40][41] The program positioned her as a horror-themed host akin to Elvira, aligning with her established aesthetic.[42] In collaboration with designer Geoffrey Mac, Needles developed a merchandise line including T-shirts, shorts, dresses, and custom prints, with the partnership originating post-Drag Race and continuing for nearly a decade by 2020; Mac described her as possessing the largest private collection of his custom pieces, totaling 95 items.[43][44] Needles participated in the 2021 launch of SERV Vodka, co-creating the Blood Orange flavor alongside Drag Race alumni Alaska Thunderfuck, Manila Luzon, Trixie Mattel, Monét X Change, and Trinity the Tuck; the line, produced by Producer Entertainment Group in partnership with Casa Maestri Distillery, features naturally infused vodkas targeted at LGBTQ+ consumers.[45][46][47] Apparel, accessories, and branded items bearing Needles' likeness, such as Funko Pop! figures, remain available through specialized drag merchandise retailers.[48][49] She has appeared as a guest on podcasts including Race Chaser, discussing Drag Race season 4 dynamics in a 2020 episode hosted by Alaska Thunderfuck and Willam.[50]Artistic style
Horror and goth aesthetic
Sharon Needles' drag persona embodies a horror and goth aesthetic through core visual elements such as pale, corpse-like foundation achieved with heavy applications of white pigments like Ben Nye Clown White, paired with stark black lips via products such as OCC Lip Tar in Tarred, creating a vampiric, undead pallor.[51] Exaggerated prosthetics, including latex masks and mismatched or opaque white contact lenses, further distort features to evoke horror archetypes like zombies and witches, often incorporating gothic motifs such as death-oriented macabre details and punk-infused asymmetry.[51] This style fuses punk DIY resourcefulness—employing improvised materials like cigarette ashes or Kool-Aid for makeshift effects—with consumerist excess in accessories and layered costuming, prioritizing grotesque satire over conventional drag's "fishy" emphasis on seamless feminine allure and polish.[51] Runway presentations exemplify this departure, featuring intentionally discomforting designs like damaged zombie facades with tattered, apocalyptic ensembles and haunting undead bride silhouettes that reject tanned, plucked prettiness in favor of edgy, monstrous provocation.[51] [52] [53] Initially reliant on thrift-sourced props and low-budget assemblies reflective of alternative drag scenes, Needles' costuming progressed post-2012 to incorporate professionally fabricated elements, such as custom Halloween latex masks available through her merchandise store, while steadfastly retaining the spooky, horror-centric hallmarks.[51]Influences and evolution
Sharon Needles' artistic persona draws heavily from horror cinema, citing favorites such as cult classics that shaped her affinity for the macabre and grotesque.[54][55] She has explicitly modeled aspects of her drag on the provocative, trash-infused aesthetics of filmmaker John Waters, whom she emulates as a "connoisseur of weird things, serial killers, and drag," incorporating elements of exploitation and semi-misogynistic 1980s tropes into her performances.[56][51] Punk and shock rock figures like Alice Cooper and bands such as Black Flag and the New York Dolls inform her musical and performative edge, emphasizing raw, rebellious energy over polished conformity.[57] Her stylistic origins trace to feelings of alienation during an upbringing in small-town Iowa, which she has described as hellish, fostering an authentic goth persona rooted in escapism from rural isolation rather than performative trends.[58] This amateur goth phase in the early 2000s, developed through underground Pittsburgh performances, prioritized subversive horror elements like ghoulface makeup and deranged creativity, distinct from mainstream drag's glamour focus.[59] Post-2012, following her RuPaul's Drag Race appearance, Needles refined her looks toward exaggerated, polished horror—incorporating fillers and fetish-inspired designs—while preserving the repulsive allure that defines her appeal, rejecting sanitized "inclusive" drag in favor of unapologetic provocation as the causal driver of her distinctiveness.[60][61] This evolution maintains causal fidelity to her punk-horror roots, prioritizing shock value over commercial assimilation, as evidenced by critiques of mainstream pop's puppet-like use of drag.[62]Personal life
Relationships
Sharon Needles, whose real name is Aaron Coady, was in a romantic relationship with fellow drag performer Alaska Thunderfuck (Justin Honard) for approximately four years, beginning around 2009.[63] The pair met in the Pittsburgh drag scene prior to their appearances on RuPaul's Drag Race and their partnership gained public attention during season 4 in 2012, where both competed as contestants.[30] Following Needles' victory on the season, the couple frequently appeared together at events and undertook joint tours, blending their professional collaborations with their personal relationship.[64] Their dynamic was often highlighted in drag community discussions as emblematic of interpersonal connections within the competitive entertainment circuit.[65] Needles and Thunderfuck announced their amicable split on December 18, 2013, via a joint public statement, citing mutual growth and continued friendship as factors.[66] Post-breakup, they have occasionally collaborated professionally while maintaining a non-romantic bond, as evidenced by shared appearances and supportive public comments.[63] No subsequent long-term romantic partnerships have been publicly confirmed by Needles.Health issues and lifestyle choices
Needles has openly discussed a history of heavy alcohol and drug use tied to the excesses of Pittsburgh's underground drag and nightlife scene in the mid-2000s, where informal gatherings often involved intense partying, including getting "shitfaced" in non-traditional settings like under bridges rather than mainstream gay clubs.[14] Her choice of stage name, derived from "sharing needles," alludes to early encounters with intravenous drug culture in that environment.[4] In a 2012 backstage discussion, she detailed personal battles with methamphetamine addiction amid rising fame from RuPaul's Drag Race.[67] By 2020, Needles acknowledged ongoing substance involvement in a social media post stating, "The devil does drugs," reflecting survival to age 39 despite such habits.[68] The performative demands of drag, including prolonged wear of prosthetics, heavy makeup, wigs, and six-inch heels—often while intoxicated—have contributed to physical strain, with Needles describing chronic exhaustion and forgoing sleep as her "favorite drug" during peak touring periods.[14] This lifestyle aligns with broader patterns in high-pressure entertainment circles, where access to substances post-fame exacerbates risks of dependency, as noted in accounts from contemporaries linking sudden availability of "free drinks, drugs" to relational and personal breakdowns.[69] In recent years, Needles has pursued recovery, including a three-month residency at an addiction treatment facility in Utah, which she credited in a November 2024 social media update for providing structure amid chaos.[70] Such efforts underscore adult agency in addressing empirically linked health risks from prolonged substance exposure in social performance industries, though long-term outcomes remain personal and unverified beyond self-reports.[14]Controversies
Allegations of racial insensitivity and provocative imagery
Prior to her appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 in 2012, Sharon Needles incorporated provocative imagery into performances at Pittsburgh's Blue Moon bar, including wearing swastika-emblazoned bathing suits while hailing Hitler and using racial epithets, as reported by eyewitness Eli Kuti.[9] These elements were part of her "transgressional art" style, intended to confront dark societal issues and provoke dialogue rather than endorse ideologies, according to supporters like gallery director Eric Shiner who viewed it as deconstructing stereotypes in drag tradition.[9] Needles has dismissed such criticism by emphasizing artistic autonomy, stating, "I’m an artist and I don’t … have to answer for my work."[9] In May 2012, amid rising fame from Drag Race, Needles faced accusations of blackface after a Huffington Post article highlighted a performance where she described "painting myself brown" alongside offensive language, which critic Brandon Thomas labeled as rooted in white supremacy and harmful to Black queer audiences.[71] Needles denied the blackface characterization, attributing darker makeup to tributes to figures like RuPaul and Beyoncé rather than stereotypes, and framed her use of shocking visuals as intentional provocation to challenge norms.[9] Additional reports noted her appearances in Nazi and Confederate flag attire with in-character racist remarks, amplifying debates over whether such imagery constituted satire or insensitivity.[72] Critics within queer communities, including activists protesting her bookings, argued that Needles' reliance on racial slurs and symbols like swastikas perpetuated harm, particularly when performed by a white artist, regardless of ironic intent.[73] Needles has countered by rejecting demands to avoid politically charged content, expressing aversion to "tiptoeing around politics" and acknowledging that some early extremes were later abandoned as her career evolved.[73] These incidents, often resurfacing via social media in the late 2010s, underscore tensions between her horror-goth provocation and expectations of sensitivity in drag performance.[9]Claims of sexual misconduct
In December 2021, The Daily Beast published an investigative report detailing allegations of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by Sharon Needles (Aaron Coady) against multiple young fans, primarily following Needles' win on RuPaul's Drag Race season 4 in 2012.[74] The report centered on "Annecy," a pseudonym for a fan who was 15 years old in 2013 when the alleged interactions began. Annecy claimed that during a November 2013 Drag Race cruise, the then-31-year-old Coady provided them with marijuana via shotguns, alcohol, physically hit and choked them by sitting on their neck, and encouraged self-harm by instructing them to "cut deeper" during a bleeding incident.[74] The allegations from Annecy extended into 2014 and 2015, involving frequent FaceTime calls where Coady reportedly encouraged suicidal ideation and self-harm, and sent a GIF depicting underage children in a sexual context, which Annecy described as grooming behavior.[74] In 2015, at a tour stop in Charlotte, North Carolina, Annecy alleged Coady verbally and physically assaulted them, including slapping their face.[74] The report noted corroboration from witnesses including Lizzie Renaud, Lauren, and Jake Register for elements of the cruise and subsequent interactions.[74] Additional claims in the report included an anonymous Southern California fan alleging groping by Coady during a 2015 meet-and-greet, constituting non-consensual sexual contact.[74] Another accuser, using the pseudonym "Serena," reported over three years of unwanted touching, coercion to consume alcohol, and encouragement of self-harm, highlighting patterns of boundary violations with younger fans.[74] A separate anonymous fan from a 2019 Glasgow event, aged 15 at the time, claimed Coady encouraged their eating disorder by telling them to "keep throwing up," though this did not involve explicit sexual elements.[74] These accounts, spanning 2013 to 2019, were framed by accusers as exploiting power imbalances inherent to Needles' post-fame status and access to underage admirers at events.[74] No criminal charges or legal convictions have resulted from these claims.[74]Responses, defenses, and career repercussions
Needles has responded to backlash by emphasizing artistic autonomy over adherence to evolving social norms within queer spaces. In a 2020 interview, she critiqued the pressure on drag performers to conform, noting that "drag queens are coke snorting, shoplifting, boyfriend stealing, cock sucking, alcoholic monsters… now we’re expected to be something that we’re not."[75] She has framed cancel culture as one of multiple personal and societal stressors, alongside events like divorce and the COVID-19 pandemic, without issuing formal apologies for her provocative content.[75] Earlier statements reinforce this stance, with Needles declaring, "I’m an artist and I don’t fucking have to answer for my work," while defending transgressive elements as a means to spotlight dark issues through humor and dialogue.[9] Allies have echoed defenses rooted in expressive liberty, with art curator Eric Shiner describing Needles' drag as a "political voice or social critique" that deconstructs stereotypes to foster discussion.[9] Opponents in queer venues, prioritizing community standards over unrestricted provocation, have demanded stricter accountability, resulting in targeted professional setbacks. For instance, Seattle's Queer/Bar canceled a scheduled November 16, 2017, performance after outcry over Needles' history of edgy imagery.[76] Providence's AS220 similarly withdrew her headlining slot at the 2017 Foo Fest following complaints about insensitivity.[77] These incidents contributed to broader career constraints, including no invitations to return for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars or later seasons after her 2012 season 4 win. Needles has maintained an independent trajectory, however, with ongoing performances and the release of her album Absolute Zero in 2025.[78]Reception and impact
Achievements and positive recognition
Sharon Needles won the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on April 30, 2012, earning the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" and a $100,000 cash prize, which marked a pivotal launch for her career in mainstream drag entertainment.[79] This victory propelled her to national prominence, leading to estimates of her net worth exceeding $3 million by the mid-2010s through performance bookings, merchandise, and music releases.[80] In recognition of the win, Pittsburgh City Council honored her with a proclamation declaring June 12, 2012, as "Sharon Needles Day" in the city, celebrating her as a local artist who gained international acclaim.[12] Her debut studio album, PG-13, released on January 29, 2013, debuted at number 186 on the Billboard 200 chart and number nine on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart, selling approximately 3,000 copies in its first week and outperforming RuPaul's prior album Glamazon in initial sales.[81] Subsequent releases, including Battle Axe in 2017, achieved top-ten positions on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart, demonstrating sustained commercial viability in niche electronic and dance genres. Needles has been credited with pioneering an alternative drag aesthetic emphasizing horror and goth elements, which garnered fan acclaim for innovating beyond traditional pageant styles during her post-Drag Race rise from 2012 to 2014.[75] As of 2025, Needles maintains an active performance schedule with independent gigs and club appearances, releasing her album Absolute Zero to support ongoing tours that highlight her enduring appeal in underground and alternative drag circuits.[82] Her influence has been noted in expanding drag's stylistic boundaries, with appearances at events like the 2012 NewNowNext Awards underscoring early positive industry acknowledgment.[83]Criticisms from queer community and broader society
Within the queer community, Sharon Needles has faced backlash for her horror-infused, boundary-pushing drag aesthetic, which some argue undermines contemporary emphases on inclusivity and emotional safety. Performances emphasizing shock value and irreverence have been viewed as clashing with norms prioritizing affirmation and avoidance of perceived harm, leading to internal divisions. For example, in November 2017, Seattle's Queer/Bar canceled a scheduled appearance by Needles following community outcry that her booking signaled an unwelcoming space for trans and people of color attendees, despite initial plans to proceed.[76] Similar tensions emerged in Pittsburgh's queer scene, where local performer Eli Kuti publicly critiqued Needles' act for failing to engage substantive dialogue on social issues, resulting in personal rifts among community members.[9] Critics, including bloggers like those at Queering the Game of Life, have framed her unyielding approach as perpetuating "queer on queer violence" by rejecting calls for restraint in queer politics.[9] This reflects a broader 2010s–2020s shift in drag toward polished, accessible entertainment, contrasting Needles' self-described refusal to "tip-toe around gender rules or queer politics."[9] From broader societal perspectives, particularly conservative viewpoints, Needles' style exemplifies concerns over drag's promotion of sexualized content and its potential risks to youth. Her acts, often blending explicit imagery with camp horror, have been cited in debates portraying drag as inherently provocative and unsuitable for family audiences, amplifying calls for restrictions.[9] In this context, detractors argue that high-profile figures like Needles, as a RuPaul's Drag Race winner with influence over young fans, fail to model restraint, potentially normalizing premature exposure to adult themes.[9] By 2022–2023, such critiques fueled legislative efforts in states like Tennessee and Kentucky to classify drag performances as obscene when minors are present, with proponents claiming they contribute to the sexualization of children—a view echoed in moral panics framing drag's cultural expansion as eroding traditional boundaries.[84][85] These arguments prioritize causal risks of desensitization over drag's artistic intent, positioning Needles' unapologetic realism as emblematic of a form pushing societal limits without sufficient safeguards.[9]Legacy in drag culture
Sharon Needles' participation in RuPaul's Drag Race season 4, culminating in her victory on April 30, 2012, marked a pivotal shift by integrating gothic and horror aesthetics into mainstream drag competition, challenging the prevailing emphasis on polished glamour and camp. Her runway presentations, drawing from 1980s slasher films, zombie tropes, and punk subcultures, emphasized exaggerated, macabre visuals—such as self-injected facial fillers and Morticia Addams-inspired silhouettes—that prioritized shock value and narrative disruption over conventional beauty standards.[86][20] This approach causally expanded drag's stylistic boundaries, demonstrating that subcultural influences could elevate performance art beyond assimilationist norms, influencing subsequent contestants to experiment with edgier, thematic coherence in looks.[75] Post-2012, Needles' aesthetic has been credited with inspiring a cohort of performers who adopted horror-infused drag, fostering a niche for "fringe creatives" uninterested in pop-diva mimicry. Queens and observers have noted her as a progenitor of "goth drag," where visual storytelling via dark, inclusive cues—rather than high-fashion polish—became viable for competition success, evident in the increased prevalence of spooky, alternative runways in later seasons.[87][88] However, this innovation introduced tensions: while advancing creative liberty, it amplified cycles of backlash in an increasingly politicized drag milieu, where provocative imagery invites scrutiny from community gatekeepers and media outlets prone to amplifying subjective offense over artistic intent.[9] By 2025, Needles maintains a cult following among anti-conformist drag enthusiasts, evidenced by her ongoing performances in Pittsburgh venues like Blue Moon and the release of her album Absolute Zero, yet she remains sidelined from Drag Race reboots and mainstream circuits amid unresolved controversies.[9][82] This marginalization underscores a broader causal dynamic in drag culture: institutional preferences for sanitized, commercially viable personas—often shaped by left-leaning media and production biases—have curtailed returns for edgier pioneers, relegating her to underground reverence rather than canonical celebration.[89] Her enduring appeal lies in validating drag as a vessel for unfiltered subcultural expression, sustaining influence among performers prioritizing authenticity over approbation.[56]Discography
Studio albums
Sharon Needles' debut studio album, PG-13, was self-released on January 29, 2013.[90] Featuring 12 tracks with horror-infused electronic pop, including "This Club Is a Haunted House" with RuPaul and "Call Me on the Ouija Board," it debuted at number 186 on the US Billboard 200 and number 9 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.[81] Her second studio album, Taxidermy, arrived on October 31, 2015, through Sidecar Records and Producer Entertainment Group.[91] The 10-track release emphasized macabre themes in synth-driven production, highlighted by opener "Dracula" and "The Big Bang." It peaked in the top 15 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.[81] Battle Axe, Needles' third studio album, was released on October 6, 2017, by Producer Entertainment Group.[92] Comprising 11 songs with dark, electropop aesthetics, including the title track and "Andy Warhol," it also charted in the top 15 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.[81] The fourth studio album, Absolute Zero, followed independently via PEG Records on July 22, 2022.[93] This seven-track effort maintained Needles' signature blend of eerie lyrics and electronic beats, reflecting her niche appeal within drag and alternative music scenes where physical sales and streaming remain limited compared to mainstream pop releases.[94]Extended plays and singles
Sharon Needles released the extended play Spoopy on October 11, 2019, consisting of five Halloween-themed cover songs, including renditions of "Monster Mash" and "Thriller".[95][96] The EP was produced by Tomas Costanza and issued via PEG Records, emphasizing Needles' signature horror and synth-pop aesthetic.[97] Among her singles, "Flamin' Hot" was issued on July 8, 2022, as a dance-pop track produced by Costanza, serving as the lead promotional release ahead of her album Absolute Zero.[98][99] An accompanying music video directed by Assaad Yacoub featured Needles in fiery, campy imagery.[100] This output occurred during a period of public controversies surrounding Needles' career.[101]Guest appearances and other recordings
Sharon Needles contributed guest vocals to RuPaul's "Glamazon," a track from the 2012 promotional single featuring fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Chad Michaels and Phi Phi O'Hara.[102] She appeared on the holiday compilation album Christmas Queens with a cover of "Jingle Bells," released on November 27, 2015, as part of a series featuring multiple drag performers.[103] Needles also contributed to subsequent installments, including Christmas Queens 2 (2016), which included various drag artists' holiday tracks and interludes.[104] Additional appearances include features on RuPaul's "RuPaulogize," listed in RuPaul's Drag Race related releases, and contributions to remix compilations such as LIFT THEM UP 2020 - The Aviance Mixes.[105] These credits primarily stem from Drag Race-affiliated soundtracks and seasonal specials emphasizing collaborative drag performances.[105]Filmography
Television appearances
Sharon Needles competed as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered on January 30, 2012, on Logo TV, and won the competition in the finale aired on April 30, 2012.[106] She appeared as a guest on subsequent episodes of the series in 2013 and 2014.[107] Needles also served as a drag professor on RuPaul's Drag U, a spin-off series, during its 2012 season.[108] In 2012–2013, she hosted the horror-themed web series FEARce!, appearing as the character Sharon Neddles across multiple episodes.[10] Needles co-hosted the 11-episode comedy series Pure Camp with fellow drag performer Alaska in 2013.[107] She made a guest appearance on RuPaul Drives... in 2013.[109] Needles featured in the TNT series Good Behavior during its second season, episode 5, titled "You Could Discover Me," which aired on November 26, 2017.[110] She participated in the annual Christmas Queens television specials from 2015 to 2018, performing musical numbers and sketches.[111] Additional guest spots include Hey Qween! in 2014 and Follow Me in 2018, both as herself.[109]| Program | Year(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race | 2012 | Contestant (S4 winner) |
| RuPaul's Drag U | 2012 | Drag Professor |
| FEARce! | 2012–2013 | Host (Sharon Neddles) |
| Pure Camp | 2013 | Co-Host |
| Christmas Queens | 2015–2018 | Performer |
| Good Behavior | 2017 | Guest (S2, E5) |