Former Stanford Tight End And United States Senator Cory Booker And American Drag Queen RuPaul Are Distant Cousin Sharing a Stretch of Identical DNA!
They May Come From a Shared Southern Lineage!
July 28, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on July 23, 2026
United States Senator Cory Booker and American drag queen RuPaul are distant cousins, thanks to DNA discoveries on the PBS genealogy series Finding Your Roots.
In October 2026, both Cory and RuPaul were seen in the PBS genealogy series Finding Your Roots, hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
The show revealed that RuPaul and Cory Booker share a long stretch of identical DNA on their first chromosome, confirming the distant familial connection.
Before 2026, neither Cory Brooker nor RuPaul was aware of any connections between them, as they seemed to come from different professions and had no familial connection.
United States Senator Cory Booker And American Drag Queen RuPaul are DNA Cousins!
When RuPaul appeared in Finding the Roots Season 6, which aired in 2026, Booker had previously participated in Season 1.
So, following the show’s typical ritual, when producers cross-referenced RuPaul’s DNA with past contestants, they discovered the match with Booker, announcing that they are “DNA cousins”.
When the begins, the host offers RuPaul the photo of Cordy and says, “;
You and Cory Booker are DNA cousins. Cory was in the first season of Find Your Roots,) and of course is a senator from New Jersey. Yeah. You and Cory share a long stretch of identical DNA on your first chromosome.
So, when RuPaul discovered that Cory was his DNA Cousin, he was quite happy, and he even said that Cory is really sweet and he reminds RuPaul of his Cousin Eula.
About six months later, in April 2026, Cory Booker made a surprise cameo in the Season 13 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race. This was when it was officially revealed that Cory and RuPaul were somehow related.
It's a family reunion for cousins and on tonight's finale of ! I love seeing our discoveries continue to bring people together. ❤
— Henry Louis Gates Jr (@HenryLouisGates)
On the show, RuPaul introduced Cory by saying;
Now, to explain the rules of the Lip Sync Smackdown, please welcome United States Senator , and my cousin , Cory Booker. No, really, we are related.”
To this warm welcome by RuPaul, Cory responded with a smile, saying, “Thank you, cousin RuPaul… thank God for you, thank God for America, and thank God for my cousin RuPaul”.
Previously, there was no indication that these distinct personalities from different professions shared any familial bond or were related in any way.
Cory on the left on’RuPaul’ Episode Three with Sen. Cory Booker!. (Source: )Therefore, the familial connection between Cory and RuPaul was first revealed in late 2026 via Finding Your Roots, and then confirmed publicly on RuPaul’s show in April 2026.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Booker was a standout high school football player in New Jersey. He played tight end for Stanford University from 1987 to 1990, earning his degree in political science.
- RuPaul is a Licensed Pilot. He once said flying a plane is more relaxing than doing drag.
- Cory is the First U.S. Senator to Ever Testify Against Another Senator. In 2017, he testified against Jeff Sessions during his confirmation hearing as Attorney General.
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Nishan Dahal writes sports with a human touch, covering breaking news, athlete lives, and the stories that stats can't tell. Nishan believes every athlete has a story worth telling. With the goal of bringing those stories to life with honesty, heart, and a touch of curiosity, he shares his insights through PlayerBio.
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