With so many seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race around the globe, it can be easy to forget a competitor. But when your name is Acacia Forgot, it’ll be impossible to ever forget her. Her journey on Season 17 may not have ended the way she wanted to but the Los Angeles-based queen showed the world what she’s got. Bringing country music to the stage, Acacia Forgot hopes to use the momentum she’s gained on the series to her advantage. With sights set on the Grand Ole Opry, this queen already has a foot in the door, having released original music.
When this season’s Rusical took the queens over the rainbow and into the audition room in “The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical,” Acacia’s ambition to take the central role proved to not be the right fit for the country diva. Between the anniversary of a difficult day to feeling her fate in the game was running short, Acacia’s final encore was an emotional one. “So going into it was a lot of one moment I’d be like, ‘Yep, I’m good, I’m good,’ and the next moment I’m like, ‘Oh, I think I’m gonna be in the bottom.’ And so it was just like quite the roller coaster of emotions,” Acacia revealed.
Acacia Forgot Has Country Music Aspirations
She is a queen we will never forget. It is Acacia Forgot. I am so proud of you, congratulations.
ACACIA FORGOT: Thank you so much, Michael.
If you could describe your Drag Race journey in three words, what would they be?
ACACIA: Three words. Let’s see. I would say robbed. I don’t know. Oh, that’s hard. I’m a wordy bitch. I would say robbed, fulfilled, and inspired.
Okay, I’m here for those words. How has your life changed since getting the call to now becoming this big reality star?
ACACIA: I mean, my life has completely done a 180. I’ve always wanted to live a life of touring and stuff. When I got the call, it was the day before my last show of a West Coast tour I was doing. And I was so depressed going into it because I was going into the show, I was like, “Oh, I have to go home. I have to go back to my day job.” And I was just so sad. All I want to do is just tour and just live my life as a performer and entertainer. And now here I am sitting in a hotel room off of one hour sleep, drinking room temperature coffee in Nashville before the gig. And I could not be happier. This is truly where I thrive, I feel.
What has shocked you the most now that you’ve been able to watch the season?
ACACIA: I would say the thing that has shocked me the most is just seeing just how much I get myself in my own in my own head. I feel when I was there, I knew I was getting in my own head, but then seeing it back, I could see my gears turning, and I could see myself struggling at times. I was like, “Oh, wow, I really was struggling.”
Let’s start from the very beginning. Let’s talk about the talent show. Why were your sisters so hateful? What didn’t resonate about your live singing country music number?
ACACIA: I think they just are upset because they didn’t have something like that to show. I think if I would have done a split at the end of it, I’m sure I would have been in the top. I’ve said before, they’re gonna be lip syncing for their talent. They’re gonna be showing that in when they’re in the bottom. So, why not show something different? I feel like they want to get their life as if it’s a drag show in a club. But that’s not really what a talent show is about. I don’t think they understand what a talent show really is.
Now, I know, obviously you’ve put music out before. You have some incredible songs. You put out this new single. I’m assuming we’re going to have more music down the pipeline.
ACACIA: Yes, I do have a new song coming out on Saturday, which is very exciting. And then I’ve released a few songs from my new EP previously, but I have
the rest of that coming out later, in a couple months. I’m going to be starting soon working on my first full-length debut album, so that’ll be exciting. But yeah, so much more music to come.
I hope there’s a collab with Dolly Parton.
ACACIA: I hope I get a collab with Dolly Parton. I’m putting this out here, so make sure you tag them. I want to collab with Dolly Parton. I want to collab with Trixie Mattel. I want to collab with Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, and Orville Peck. Those are like my tops.
Hey, you’re in Nashville right now. Go call them up. I’m sure they’re ready.
ACACIA: Oh, and Sierra Ferrell. Sierra Ferrell is my all-time favorite girl. I need to collab with her.
No One Will Forget Acacia Forgot On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
You certainly ensured that no one would forget you by showing your bare bottom for the world to see. What was it like seeing the internet’s reaction?
ACACIA: I mean, I’ve honestly loved it. I’ve never, like, my whole life, when I was like, younger, I was kind of like an ugly duckling kid. I was always the funny one. I was never the attractive one, especially being on a swim team and stuff. It was all these hot people, and I’m just the chubby, funny one. And so I never really felt hot or attractive or desirable for most of my life. So to have so much love and attention for it, it makes me feel very like, maybe I’m not ugly. I like that.
I loved it. It was wild seeing everybody react to it. Now, I know you have a love for Trisha Paytas. We didn’t get to see much of your impersonation during Snatch Game, but we did get to see you collaborate with the YouTube sensation in real life. Talk to me about your connection and what it’s like working with her.
ACACIA: Oh, I could cry talking about her, so I’ll try to keep it together. Being that kind of outsider kid, she was one of the first people I found online who, I felt I resonated with and helped me navigate who I was. Even through into college and moving to New York when I had no friends. I would eat dinner with her every night. Watching her videos, and we would eat together. I found so much inspiration in her with her comedy and all this stuff. And I was just like, “I hope one day I can meet her.” I’ll be her friend or something. And so to have this moment happen. I sent her an email, and she was just so receptive and so excited and just so kind and down for whatever. And she just is such a dream to work with. And I absolutely just love her even more, if that’s even possible.
“The Wicked Wiz of Oz: the Rusical” had some drama. Kansas Dorothy Gate. Suzie Toot was hella pressed, but you ended up getting the role. Are you happy that you got the role?
ACACIA: I’m very happy that I got the role. I don’t like it when I fight for something and I don’t get it. I feel like that’s embarrassing. So, I’m really glad I got it.
Talk to me about what was going through your mind during the Rusical. What were the emotions, because I know it was a very emotional day for you?
ACACIA: Yeah, it was like quite the roller coaster, because obviously, I’m a musical person, I’m a musically inclined person, but I’m not musical theater person. And so going into that and, doing choreography and doing all these things, I was outside of my comfort zone. I was a little nervous, but I feel like I was picking everything up. And I was like, “Oh, I’m like, doing pretty good. I think I have a good shot.” But then everyone was doing good, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be a tough week.” So going into it was a lot of one moment I’d be like, “Yep, I’m good, I’m good,” and the next moment I’m like, “Oh, I think I’m gonna be in the bottom.” And so it was just like quite the roller coaster of emotions.
Acacia Is Proud To Be Able To Discuss Her Backstory on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
We did get to learn a lot more about your backstory. You talked about having cystic fibrosis. We learned more about your family. By the way, your mom is still amazing. Talk to me about being able to open up about your past on this platform.
ACACIA: I feel like I have a very unique upbringing when it comes to being homeschooled because of cystic fibrosis and just all the different things I’ve dealt with. And so it makes me feel great that I had this opportunity and platform to share that. I think, especially with cystic fibrosis, it is something that has inherently completely formed who I am and the trajectory of my life just because of the homeschooling and the doctor visits and the treatments, and all the things that held me back because of it. But because I’m so healthy and because of all the hard work of my parents to keep me healthy, you would never know that I would have something like this, or I have this looming life expectancy, or anything on my mind. And I think it’s important to remember that when talking to anybody. If you don’t know, they might seem fine, but you don’t know what they’re going through. You don’t know what is happening inside their body, inside their mind, or anything like that.
You met my hero, Adam Lambert. Tell me everything. Is he as handsome in person?
ACACIA: He was even more handsome in person. He was so hot, so sweet, just such a doll to work with.
We’re going to play a round of Tea Time. I’m going to give you a name of one of your sisters, and you are going to give me the first word or phrase that comes to mind. Are you ready to play?
ACACIA: Oof, yes.
Let’s start with Crystal Envy.
ACACIA: A sweetheart.
Onya Nuve.
ACACIA: High maintenance.
Lexi Love.
ACACIA: Gargoyle, surprisingly, I don’t know why that came to my mind. So sorry, Lexi!
Jewels Sparkles.
ACACIA: Young.
Suzie Toot.
ACACIA: Annoying.
Kori King.
ACACIA: Annoying.
Lydia B Kollins.
ACACIA: Sweetheart.
Lucky Starzzz.
ACACIA: Too soon.
Sam Star.
ACACIA: Accent,
Lana Ja’Rae.
ACACIA: Legs.
Hormonal Lisa.
ACACIA: Diabolical.
Joella.
ACACIA: Bestie!
Arrietty.
ACACIA: Wifey.
And Acacia Forgot.
ACACIA: Winner of season 17 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Now I want to ask you a little bit about Arrietty because on the show, we don’t see you getting that close, but in real life, you two are like as thick as thieves.
ACACIA: Yeah, we started to get close the last couple episodes, and we realized that our birthdays are literally a day apart. And I feel like I always knew she didn’t like me. And then during the Pink runway, after RDR Live, she looked at my outfit, she’s like, “I actually like this one. Hate the hair.” And that little kernel of, maybe she doesn’t hate me, she likes something I did, really is what kind of like started our relationship. And then we just after the show, we got to know each other, and we realized how similar we are. She just makes me laugh so hard, and I make her laugh, and we literally like FaceTime like every single day.
Now that you’ve been on Drag Race, what is the next dream for Acacia?
ACACIA: The next dream is to record and release, and write more music. I want to collab with some more of my idols. I want to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. I want to go to the Grammys. I want to win a Grammy, CMAs, the whole nine.
I’m here for it. I also would like to see you and Austie do The Amazing Race together. So I’m putting that out into the universe.
ACACIA: That would be so fun. We would literally, it would probably end in a divorce. I’m not gonna lie.
It would be excellent television. Acacia, I really am so proud of you. I love you to death. Congratulations.
ACACIA Thank you so much. Love you, Michael.