RuPaul did f**k it up — but it was on purpose. The drag superstar, who is currently hosting this week’s episodes of “ Jimmy Kimmel Live ,” interviewed Maya Rudolph on Monday — and he had impressions on the mind. Yet he didn’t ask Rudolph right off the bat about her highly anticipated Kamala Harris impression, which she’ll reprise on “Saturday Night Live” next month .
Rather, the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” host was more interested in sharing his own impression — of Ruldolph’s late mom, Minnie Riperton. Riperton is best known for her 1975 hit “Lovin’ You,” which she co-wrote with Rudolph’s father, songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph. The song is notorious for having an incredibly high note at its conclusion.
“You know, everyone knows that song, and we try to sing it to that high note,” RuPaul said to Rudolph nearly five minutes into the interview. Then, completely unprompted, he decided to do an impression of the song’s last few notes. “Uh, I’m going to start low,” RuPaul said.
“Yeah, you better start low,” Rudolph responded. RuPaul then proceeded to sing the tail end of “Lovin’ You” and decided to scream the final note rather than attempt to sing it. In response to the song, Rudolph lifted her hair up as if the strength of the performer’s scream had blown it back in a chaotic way.
“It’s the only way to hit the note,” she said as Rupaul enjoyed a fit of laughter. “Now, what is your father doing today?” RuPaul then asked, with sudden and complete composure. Social media users on X, formerly Twitter, loved the bit — but also joked about the strange energy shift when RuPaul asked Rudolph about her dad.
like the way he’s fully playing to an audience of himself i know the producers pitched like 30 different bits of questions to ask and Ru was like no i’m gonna scream the high note from Maya’s moms song while she watches in horror The transition to "what's your father doing" was crazy 😂 the immediate 180 to going back to asking questions 😭 This is art Why was he interviewing her like Jiminy Glick?!😂 "[Screaming for ten seconds straight]...
Now, tell me about your father." #france #fraaaannnnnce pic.twitter.
com/BcCLM0C5Ap Riperton died from breast cancer in 1979 at the age of 31, when Rudolph was only 6 — but the singer’s love for her daughter has certainly endured. “Lovin’ You” was a reworked version of a lullaby that Rudolph’s parents sang to her when she was a toddler. In the recording, after Riperton hits the famous super-high note, you can hear her softly sing, “Maya, Maya” repeatedly in the song’s outro.
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