Who was Gabe Lopez and why is he remembered on RuPaul's Drag Race?

Gabe Lopez was a producer and songwriter who worked on RuPaul's Drag Race. He was honored on the show for his musical brilliance and his Emmy-nominated work, particularly for the "Wigloose: The Rusical!" episode.

When did Gabe Lopez pass away and what was the cause?

Gabe Lopez passed away in January 2026 following a brief but intense battle with lymphoma.

What was the 'Fannie' Rusical challenge on Drag Race season 18?

The 'Fannie' Rusical challenge on season 18 of RuPaul's Drag Race was a parody of the classic musical Annie, and it featured a special appearance by the late songwriter Gabe Lopez.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Drag Race Star Honored Posthumously in Emotional Rusical

Drag Race Star Honored Posthumously in Emotional Rusical

28 Feb

•

Summary

A recent episode featured a tribute to the late producer Gabe Lopez.
Lopez died in January 2026 after a battle with lymphoma.
He was honored for his Emmy-nominated sound mixing work on the show.

Drag Race Star Honored Posthumously in Emotional Rusical

This week's installment of RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 featured a poignant Rusical challenge, 'Fannie,' a parody of the classic musical Annie. The episode, filmed in 2025, included a special guest appearance by songwriter Gabe Lopez, who collaborated with the queens on vocal recordings. Tragically, Lopez died in January 2026. His mother, Connie Howard, announced his passing, stating he succumbed to a brief but intense battle with lymphoma. World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race, released a statement mourning the loss of Lopez, highlighting his musical brilliance and kindness. Lopez had recently received an Emmy nomination for his sound mixing on the 2023 musical episode "Wigloose: The Rusical!". Fellow Drag Race stars, including Blu Hydrangea and Pandora Boxx, shared their grief and fond memories of Lopez, remembering him as a true gem.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.