I’ll never forget that night, many years ago, when I was a newly out-of-the-closet gay boy, and my then boyfriend dragged me out of the house to Southern Nights (before it was Revolution, before it was Southern Nights).
There was a drag show on the dance floor and the final entertainer of the night was a biological woman named Baby Blue. The minute she hit the stage, I was floored. Baby Blue was diminutive in stature, but giant in stage presence.
She performed an exciting and sexy lip-synch to Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” — complete with dripping candle wax — then took the microphone and spent the next five minutes entertaining the crowd in her thick Georgia accent. I’d never seen a performer with such confidence and total control over the rowdy bar crowd. I was impressed and perhaps a bit obsessed.
Today, I can’t believe Baby Blue — now known as Blue Star — has become one of my closest friends. Her fans know that Blue is a trained dancer, an incredible performer, a shrewd businesswoman and a community leader, but the lucky few who get to be a part of her personal world know that she’s so much more than that.
She’s a champion for homegrown artists, a relentless creator and a genuinely caring human being who is always ready to lend a hand, give a hug and maybe even bake up a warm plate of delicious southern biscuits to friends in need. Blue has a laugh that is infectious and a mischievous smile that instantly lights up any room she’s in.
No matter how busy Blue is, she has a talent for making everyone she talks to feel like they are the most important person in the room every time.
I’m so thankful that I went to Southern Nights all those years ago, and met the unforgettable (Baby) Blue Star and in truth, all these years later, I’m still impressed (and yes, still a bit obsessed.)
To view the full list of Watermark’s Most Remarkable People of 2020, click here.
