Patti LaBelle (born Patricia Louise Holte; May 24, 1944)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman with a career spanning 60 years. LaBelle began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer and front woman of the vocal group, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Following the group's name change to Labelle in the early 1970s, they released the iconic disco song "Lady Marmalade" which later was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. As a result, the group later became the first African-American vocal group to land the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and they became the first pop group to play at the Metropolitan Opera House.[1] LaBelle is commonly identified as the "Godmother of Soul". Also the "Queen of Rock and Soul" [2]
Patti LaBelle has been described as "the greatest gay icon of all time and a prime example of the intersection of the LGBT community and black female artists".[41] In a 2017 interview, she said: "when I think about it, the gay fans are some of the reason – one big reason – I'm still standing, 'cause they loved me when other people tried not to. Everybody always says, "What makes gay men like you?" "I have no clue," I say. I still don't. But I know that love has lifted me up for many, many years."[42]

LaBelle made some headlines in late 2015 when a vlogger known as James Wright (No Chanel) spoke enthusiastically on YouTube of her brand of sweet potato pies. The video quickly went viral and for a time, one pie sold every second at Walmart, selling out at stores across the country. She also appeared in two Walmart commercials.[43] LaBelle is the primary character on the popular web parody Got 2B Real.[44]