Sandra Bernhard on Tina Turner, Her 'Spring Affair' & the War on Drag

"Sorry. I may not be making much sense. I am in shock," explained Sandra Bernhard. The singer/commentator/writer/actress isn't someone usually thought of being inarticulate, but just minutes before Tina Turner had died and Sandra was reacting, and went on to explain her great love for the 83-year old music icon who passed in Switzerland on Wednesday.

What prompted the interview is Bernhard's upcoming show, "Spring Affair," that she brings to New York City on May 30, followed by dates in Boston, Red Bank, NJ. San Francisco, Provincetown, and Minneapolis. (For tour information, follow this link.)

The interview came days after Bernhard received Live Out Loud Legend Honoree at Live Out Loud's 22nd Annual Young Trailblazers Gala on Monday night. The group is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth, ages 13 through 18, reads its website.

The honor caps a busy time in Bernhard's life. She appeared on last year's Season 11 of "American Horror Story," called "NYC" that set its horror scenario amongst the real-life horror of the AIDS epidemic. Prior to that she had the memorable role on Murphy's "Pose" of a New York City nurse dealing with AIDS victims during the early years of the epidemic. In addition, Sandra hosts "Sandyland" on SiriusXM Satellite Radio where she chats with celebrities and offers her unique view on culture and politics.

But the conversation began with her thoughts on Tina Turner.

Sandra Bernhard: She was gorgeous, beautiful and talented. That she was able to break away and start her own career was due to her tenacity and strength. And you know, still managed to find herself in the midst of tragedy and loneliness. Of course to be in a terrible abusive relationship for all those years would be traumatic, but she started over and she's made it all happen. I don't think this story could ever be told again. To be a Black woman in racist America and to be in a marriage with an abusive man.

Yet she rose above it. And took her unbelievable ephemeral, gorgeous beauty and talent and threw it all out there. She started over and made it all happen. I was watching the HBO special the other day and you can't believe that someone could literally survive what she went through to become one of the biggest stars on the planet. It was never easy for her. She had two sons die before her. But I think she seemed happy in the past years with her husband and her life. She was tireless, you never stopped working her entire life. Yeah. she certainly deserved a few years of happiness.

EDGE: How do you see her as having influenced you?

Sandra Bernhard: Are you kidding me? Even before "King of Comedy" I did a whole thing about her in my show. This is going back to the '70s. While we were filming that scene I improvised this thing where I did this dance across the bar and mentioned her name, and it stayed in the movie. Then I think it was in 1984 someone told her I did this little tribute to her in the film, and I was invited backstage to meet her. I remember she looked at me up and down with this sort-of jaundiced look, a little suspicious like, but she was good. I just said how much I adored her and loved her. But I was so in awe. I was sort of speechless.

But, you know, Tina is in a league of her own. And I have always paid tribute to her. A lot of times people jump on the bandwagon now when somebody dies. I try not to do that, and I wouldn't if it wasn't somebody who really affected me. But as a fellow artist, I only want to talk about people who really move the needle for me.

She was one great talent that has influenced me over the years. She was a celebrity but not just a celebrity like one of the Kardashians. Kim Kardashian is proof that anybody can be famous. But not anybody can be an absolute, shockingly fabulous artist, and Tina was one of those few people in the world.

EDGE: You call your new show, 'Spring Affair.' Are you singing the Donna Summer song by that name in the show?

Sandra Bernhard: No. I'm referring to a great thing about this time of the year, because it is a fun time. Summer. But, no, the show isn't named for that song. But I actually did get to know Donna Summer a little bit. She was another great artist, but she fell off the rails with many fans with her appearing anti-gay because we talked about that for years. But she was super-sweet.

EDGE: Will 'Spring Affair' be the same great mix of songs and comedy we've seen in the past?

Sandra Bernhard: Yes. I am working with Mitch Kaplan and the band and we've added new songs. I'm sure I'll have to announce an updated Tina Turner song to pay tribute to my lovely Tina. And, you know, new material that's keeps coming our way. There's so much to talk about.

EDGE: You mentioned the Kardashians. What do you think of her being cast on the new season of 'American Horror Story?'

Sandra Bernhard: I mean, I was all surprised to be honest with you. I thought: No. But I think at this point, you know, "American Horror Story" needs all the extra energy it can get into the show. It has been around for a long time. And I guess it needs that little hook, you know, so, whatever.

EDGE: Did you enjoy your experience on 'American Horror Story' NYC?"

Sandra Bernhard: Yeah, absolutely. Yes. Yes. Because I got to work all the actors last year were amazing -- Zachary Quinto, Russell Tovey, Patti Lupone. She's such, she's a doll. She's a wonderful person.

EDGE: And opinionated....

Sandra Bernhard: I love that about her. I mean, I just fucking love her. So talented. She is no holds barred. It's just everybody should be able to be that honest.

EDGE: This was an unusual season for 'American Horror Story' because the horror – the AIDS epidemic – proved to be real. Have you received much feedback about the season?

Sandra Bernhard: I think a lot of people were really taken by surprise, because usually, it's just kind of like, crazy. Ryan Murphy madness, but I love that I've been a part of two of his projects that really addressed that time, and the AIDS crisis, and the trans movement. I don't know, it's just, it's nice to always be able to spill over into other people's work what you do on your own. And I'm just really glad that things keep unfolding for me like that.

EDGE: Your live shows are an upbeat mix of personal anecdotes and commentary that is unique –pointed; but never hitting the audience on their heads with your views. How do you find your material and that balance?

Sandra Bernhard: People know that I'm inherently political, and I try to infuse my work with that as much as possible without beating people over the head with it. That's something that's always been important to me. And because I'm very much out in the world, like, a normal person. I go out shop and I go to the store, you know, do my laundry and I wash dishes and I just kind of walk around New York City and now I am out and about, so I'm kind of like a magnet for things that everybody sort of recognizes. And then with "SandyLand," my radio show, it's sort of an incubator. We talk about all these things happening in the world and put a spin on it. So that's, that's been a really great outlet for me.

I feel like I get more done, and I'm more effective in the way I do it then just to be blatant about it. So that's important for me to always, kind of like, as boiling under the surface as it might be for me, I can kind of rise right above it. Steam comes out. But, you know, in a fun, you know, sort of frothy (way).

EDGE: Why do you think this anti-drag meme has gotten so much traction lately?

Sandra Bernhard: Drag? That backlash is such cheap theater. I mean, it's absurd. Because there's nobody in this country who doesn't watch "Drag Race." "Drag Race" is one of the most popular shows on television. And there's only so many gay people to watch "Drag Race." I mean, every straight kid I know loves "Drag Race," and all those women in the Midwest love that shit. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend was in drag, apparently. So I mean, are we kidding? It's just some cheap theatrics.

I would also say almost 90% of the women in this country want abortion rights. And so when these men play to their base, their base is so, so minimal. And it's such cheap, cheap theater, but it affects people and hurts people and destroys people's lives. And it's just useless. Such a waste of people's time. The planet is holding on by a thread, people are trying to, make ends meet, and they're gonna waste everybody's time with these punitive laws against drag queens and women and whatever else that these men get their little sick paws on? It's just disgusting.

EDGE: Yes. And I'm afraid Pride this year is going to confrontational when it really never has been in the past.

Sandra Bernhard: Well, not everywhere. I mean, I, I don't think it will be. But I know that in Florida, a lot of the gay prides are bracing themselves, somebody's got to be safe. I mean, we can't take any chances. If we let our guard down, it inflames stupidity. That's when some people just freak out and do stupid shit and hurt people. So yeah, you're right. It's not a great time. It's not a great time.

EDGE: I want to congratulate you on your legend, Legend Award this week.

Sandra Bernhard: It was great. Because these kids are trailblazers. All these young kids graduating high school that are, you know, trans gay, or whatever – every different permeation of the LGBTQ IA banner, and they were all sitting in front of me. And I was just able to talk to them about my experiences as a person as an entertainer, as, you know, an advocate. And it was just really cool. I don't get a lot of awards. And that's what I said. I said, I've never really been in this for the awards But it was fun, man, and it was really it was really nice.

EDGE: Are you optimistic about the future?

Sandra Bernhard: Well, after seeing these kids speak, I sure was. I mean, they were brilliant. They're all on their way to changing the world, and were so calm, sophisticated, confident, well spoken. This is a good sign. So yeah, I'm always optimistic because I just think that the bulk of humanity is good people, and then the bad people, you know, the Trumpers, they got nothing else to do. So they just scream and yell and cause havoc. But the people who are busy doing good things don't normally stop and scream about how they're doing good things. So it's like, hey, guess what, you know, 'we're out here, we're working our asses off, and we're gonna keep the planet on its axis. And I feel like, you know, I know a lot of those people. I'm one of those people, and I feel like things will will pan out. Okay.

For more on Sandra Bernhard's upcoming dates, visit her website.