Emmy-nominated songwriter Gabe Lopez made his final appearance Friday night on “Drag Race.”

This week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race special guest died 1 month before episode aired

Emmy-nominated songwriter Gabe Lopez made his final appearance Friday night on "Drag Race."

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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February 27, 2026 8:35 p.m. ET

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RuPaul and Gabe Lopez on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. Credit:

Though the annual* RuPaul's Drag Race* Rusical challenge typically leads to gleeful fans each season, this year's installment was tinged with sadness, as it featured a special guest (and Emmy-nominated member of the* Drag Race* family) who died one month before Friday's episode aired.

This week's season 18 edition (which was filmed in 2025) featured the queens preparing to star in *Fannie*, a Rusical spoof of the classic *Annie* stage production. Mid-way through the episode, the queens took to the Main Stage to record vocals for the project, where they joined songwriter Leland and late producer Gabe Lopez to make music together.

Lopez died in January 2026, with his mother, Connie Howard, announcing on social media that her son died days earlier.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' guest Gabe Lopez before his death.

Howard called Lopez "loving, kind, talented," in her tribute, and added that he died following a "brief but intense battle with lymphoma."

The Mayo Clinic describes lymphoma as a form of cancer that primarily impacts the lymphatic system, and can damage "part of the body's germ-fighting immune system" in the process.

In a statement shared to social media at the time, *Drag Race* production company World of Wonder honored Lopez.

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"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Gabe Lopez. Gabe was a unique combination of musical brilliance, kindness and sharp wit. His impact — through *RuPaul’s Drag Race* & beyond — is immeasurable," the statement read. "We mourn a great talent and a greater friend. His melodies play on in all of us."

*RuPaul's Drag Race* franchise stars also paid tribute to Lopez earlier this year, after the artist received an Emmy nod for his behind-the-scenes work mixing sound for the show's "Wigloose: The Rusical!" 2023 musical episode based on the Kevin Bacon movie *Footloose.*

"Devastating to hear, sending so much love- he was a true gem," wrote *Drag Race UK vs. the World *season 1 winner Blu Hydrangea, while season 2, *All Stars 1*, and *All Stars 6* contestant Pandora Boxx commented with a tear-filled emoji and a heartbreak emoji under Howard's announcement.

Gabe Lopez and RuPaul.

Gabe Lopez/Instagram; MTV

Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren also expressed sadness over Lopez's loss, writing, "Oh no this is horrible and heartbreaking shocking news. Sending love to You."

In addition to his work with *Drag Race — *including the *Drag Race* spin-off competition series *Queen of the Universe* and TV film* The Bitch Who Stole Christmas* — Lopez launched projects with pop star Belinda Carlisle, and further contributed behind-the-scenes to *Monster High: The Movie*, *The Other Two,* and the *Las Culturistas Culture Awards *broadcast.

- RuPaul's Drag Race Fandom

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