A guest star of season 18 of reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has sadly passed away. He was just 60.
Per The U.S. Sun, Terry Covington, who appeared on the show as a guest mentor to star Jane Don’t, passed away on December 26, 2025. His death came following the filming of his episode, which aired this past Friday, March 20.
In said episode, the show’s cast of drag queens were each paired with LGBTQ+ cowboy mentors. Retired rodeo judge Covington was tasked with working alongside Don’t. Per IMDb, the show is Covington’s only television credit.
Following the airing of the episode, Don’t — who hails from Seattle, Washington, and whose real name is Sam Chapman — took to her Instagram account on March 21 to share her thoughts on Covington’s passing with her 117,000 followers.
Jane Don’t Remembers ‘Lovely and Sweet’ Terry Covington
Jane Don’t’s Instagram tribute to Terry Covington features a single photograph of him. In it, he’s smiling, and wearing a cowboy hat with a feather boa. Text overlayed on the image reads, “In Memory: Terry Covington.”
Don’t’s caption on the post begins, “I feel extremely lucky to have gotten to meet Terry, and to have hopefully given him the Drag Race experience he wanted. We didn’t know each other for long, but what I did know of him was lovely and sweet and extremely patient and positive in a moment of extreme stress for all of us.”
The caption concludes, “We talked about how much we both loved our pets and our grandmas, and he reminded me how much my generation takes for granted as queer people navigating a world our elders had to really fight for. He was dead set on doing well and working hard—a real cowboy through and through. Endless love to Terry’s family and friends. Rest easy, my Queen💕.”
It was a lovely heartfelt tribute and one that we’re sure will resonate with those closest to Covington.
‘Drag Race’ Fans Commented on Don’t’s Sad Post
Jane Don’t’s followers and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fans rushed to the comments to express their feelings and pay their own respects to Covington.
Fellow season 18 contestant Mia Starr wrote, “You have such a beautiful heart❤️. I love you so much. 😍”
Another contestant, Ciara Myst, said, “You created a moment of magic together ♥️.”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” producer Kate Espejo commented, “I had a conversation with him outside after the runway. He told me that he truly loved every moment of filming and that it was one of the “highlights of his life” – and that was absolutely because of you.”
Another of Don’t’s followers stated, “I remember hearing on Untucked when Terry told you it was the best experience of her [sic] life (it broke my heart). Terry looked so happy and beautiful, and that’s how we’ll remember him. You didn’t deserve the criticism last night; you two were amazing 🧡👏.”
Someone else wrote, “The endless smile on his face was all the world needed!”
Finally, another Instagram user noted, “This was one of the best episodes ever of drag race. All of the cowboys were so genuine and beautiful souls.”
Covington’s obituary states that “Terry’s greatest love was for his family, his friends, and his beloved dogs, Merle—affectionately known as “Little Man”—and Oreo.” No cause of death has been revealed.
We’d like to send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Terry Covington’s family and friends. May he rest in eternal peace.
