Exclusive: Big Freedia's Hurricane Katrina Survival Story From Her Memoir

FUSE TV - Exclusive: Big Freedia's Hurricane Katrina Survival Story From Her Memoir

Between the rise of twerking, New Orleans Bounce music and her own hit series here on Fuse, music icon Big Freedia's star has rocketed in the past three years. On the verge of becoming a household name, the New Orleans native just released a new autobiography, Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva!, written by Freedia with co-author Nicole Balin.

While Freedia's popular docuseries have covered the rapper-singer's recent personal and professional struggles and successes over three TV seasons (a fourth season premieres this fall), the Queen of Bounce has rarely talked about her childhood or early years in the New Orleans music scene. God Save the Queen Diva! lets Freedia tell her story on her terms.

Next month marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in American history and one of the nation's deadliest hurricanes on record. In 2005, Freedia and some of her family decided to stick it out and got trapped in the heart of the storm and its tragic aftermath. In this exclusive excerpt from her book, Freedia recounts the first terrifying night. Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva! is available now.

Big Freedia & Adie Share Their Resilience Following Hurricane Katrina

3m

Big Freedia & Adie Share Their Resilience Following Hurricane Katrina

Big Freedia

21m

Big Freedia

The Exclusive Premiere of Big Freedia's New Music Video, "BigFoot"

3m

The Exclusive Premiere of Big Freedia's New Music Video, "BigFoot"

Big Freedia Means Business

21m

Big Freedia Means Business

Big Freedia Means Business

Big Freedia Means Business

Big Freedia Goes Gospel

20m

Big Freedia Goes Gospel

Big Freedia Highlights Her Biggest Career Moments: Girl Down

5m

Big Freedia Highlights Her Biggest Career Moments: Girl Down

Big Freedia: Queen Of Bounce

Big Freedia: Queen Of Bounce

Big Freedia and Her Favorite Divas Link Up: Girl Down

2m

Big Freedia and Her Favorite Divas Link Up: Girl Down

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

20m

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

Freedia Gets Her Groove Back

21m

Freedia Gets Her Groove Back

Amanda Cerny and Big Freedia Sh!tshow

20m

Amanda Cerny and Big Freedia Sh!tshow

Big Freedia Means Business S2 Pre-Launch

53s

Big Freedia Means Business S2 Pre-Launch

Big Freedia Hits New York City's Pride Parade

1m

Big Freedia Hits New York City's Pride Parade

Freedia's Woes

21m

Freedia's Woes

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

3m

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

Azz Everywhere: NOLA's Queen Diva Big Freedia's Almost Famous

4m

Azz Everywhere: NOLA's Queen Diva Big Freedia's Almost Famous

Fuse+ is the Home for Big Freedia Means Business, Sex Sells, Made From Scratch & More!

30s

Fuse+ is the Home for Big Freedia Means Business, Sex Sells, Made From Scratch & More!

Project Hotel Freedia

20m

Project Hotel Freedia

Freedia Takes Manhattan

20m

Freedia Takes Manhattan

Big Freedia Talks Just Be Free Debut Album: Girl Down

7m

Big Freedia Talks Just Be Free Debut Album: Girl Down

Who Will be Cut from Team Freedia to Save Finances?

2m

Who Will be Cut from Team Freedia to Save Finances?

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

21m

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: JAMNOLA

1m

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: JAMNOLA

Big Freedia's DJ & Dancers Form Rap Trio: Mile Hi's 'Y U Jumpin?' Music Video

3m

Big Freedia's DJ & Dancers Form Rap Trio: Mile Hi's 'Y U Jumpin?' Music Video

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: Morrow Steak

1m

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: Morrow Steak

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

3m

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: Cartinas Eyecatching Nailz

1m

Freedia's Small Business Spotlight: Cartinas Eyecatching Nailz

Will Devon Joining Team Freedia be an Issue?

2m

Will Devon Joining Team Freedia be an Issue?

The Dolly Parton Story: From Rags to Rhinestones

41m

The Dolly Parton Story: From Rags to Rhinestones

Melanie Martinez Shares The Stories Behind Her Coolest Tattoos

2m

Melanie Martinez Shares The Stories Behind Her Coolest Tattoos

Shenseea Shares Her Rags to Riches Story & Cooks A Native Jamaican Dish

8m

Shenseea Shares Her Rags to Riches Story & Cooks A Native Jamaican Dish

Big Boi

20m

Big Boi

A Big Splash

21m

A Big Splash

Operation Big Bear

23m

Operation Big Bear

True Dating Stories

True Dating Stories

A Soldiers Story

24m

A Soldiers Story

Embarassing Sex Stories

1h 3m

Embarassing Sex Stories

The Big Sex Talk

The Big Sex Talk

Big Bad Voodoo Finale

21m

Big Bad Voodoo Finale

The Big Break-Up

21m

The Big Break-Up

Our Transgender Love Story

40m

Our Transgender Love Story

A Sex Toy Story

20m

A Sex Toy Story

Which Drum Corps Section Would Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

1m

Which Drum Corps Section Would Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story

1h 22m

Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story

The Canvas LA: Spotlight How Rhianna Went From Flea Markets to Her Jewelry Line, Vidakush

9m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight How Rhianna Went From Flea Markets to Her Jewelry Line, Vidakush

Nicole Scherzinger & Her Sister Cook Her Family's Favorite Meal

2m

Nicole Scherzinger & Her Sister Cook Her Family's Favorite Meal

The Big Sex Talk: First Look

30s

The Big Sex Talk: First Look

Big Trouble In Little Chinese Restaurant

9m

Big Trouble In Little Chinese Restaurant

Big Bear 2: The Wrath of Tito

23m

Big Bear 2: The Wrath of Tito

Made From Scratch

Made From Scratch

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

7m

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

A Sign From Above

22m

A Sign From Above

Bone-jour from Paris!

41m

Bone-jour from Paris!

JLO: From the Block

59m

JLO: From the Block

King Keraun Learns To Make Bread From Scratch From A Baker

8m

King Keraun Learns To Make Bread From Scratch From A Baker

Ari Lennox Shares Her Shadiest DM's

3m

Ari Lennox Shares Her Shadiest DM's

Bambiana & Her Mom Practice Positive Affirmations

1m

Bambiana & Her Mom Practice Positive Affirmations

Grilling Tips From G Fella

4m

Grilling Tips From G Fella

Tina Shows Off Her Most Glamorous Looks

46s

Tina Shows Off Her Most Glamorous Looks

Bishop Briggs On Her First American Dating Experience

2m

Bishop Briggs On Her First American Dating Experience

Tina Shows Off Her Impressive Ear-Piercing Technique

1m

Tina Shows Off Her Impressive Ear-Piercing Technique

Casey Gives Her Girlfriend A Motorcycle Riding Rundown

3m

Casey Gives Her Girlfriend A Motorcycle Riding Rundown

Marissa Challenges Her Mom To A $50 Bet

1m

Marissa Challenges Her Mom To A $50 Bet

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

14m

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

Melanie Martinez Was Babysitting During Her Debut Performance

1m

Melanie Martinez Was Babysitting During Her Debut Performance

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

3m

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

It’s Soul Food

20m

It’s Soul Food

What Do I Do

41m

What Do I Do

Bionka's Wild Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

Bionka's Wild Favorite Moment From Season 1

Nya's Twerktastic Favorite Moment From Season 1

54s

Nya's Twerktastic Favorite Moment From Season 1

Xristina's Hilarious Favorite Moment From Season 1

41s

Xristina's Hilarious Favorite Moment From Season 1

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

Bambiana's Touching Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

Bambiana's Touching Favorite Moment From Season 1

Kash Doll & Her Mom Recreate Their Great-Grandmothers Recipe

2m

Kash Doll & Her Mom Recreate Their Great-Grandmothers Recipe

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

1m

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

The King and Queen of  Bounce

21m

The King and Queen of Bounce

Facing The Truth

20m

Facing The Truth

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow First Date: Amber Rose Meets Her Puppet

1m

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow First Date: Amber Rose Meets Her Puppet

Rico Nasty Shares Her First Time In the Studio & Meeting Rihanna

4m

Rico Nasty Shares Her First Time In the Studio & Meeting Rihanna

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

1m

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

Weezy Shares Her First Reaction with Charlamagne Tha God’s Wife

3m

Weezy Shares Her First Reaction with Charlamagne Tha God’s Wife

Get In Formation

20m

Get In Formation

Sin City Shakedown

41m

Sin City Shakedown

School House Bounce

21m

School House Bounce

Just Be Free

21m

Just Be Free

Alaina Castillo Does ASMR with Her Nails, Talks the Power of Vulnerability

16m

Alaina Castillo Does ASMR with Her Nails, Talks the Power of Vulnerability

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

1m

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

Manager Shake Up

20m

Manager Shake Up

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow First Date: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes Meets Her Puppet

1m

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow First Date: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes Meets Her Puppet

Chapter 3 Goes From Tagging Graffiti to An Artist & Producer

9m

Chapter 3 Goes From Tagging Graffiti to An Artist & Producer

Old School Bounce

20m

Old School Bounce

Trouble In Paradise

21m

Trouble In Paradise

Clandestine Meeting

21m

Clandestine Meeting

World Meets Bounce

21m

World Meets Bounce

Maggie Lindemann Does ASMR with Foam Beads, Talks "Pretty Girl" & Her New EP

5m

Maggie Lindemann Does ASMR with Foam Beads, Talks "Pretty Girl" & Her New EP

Paloma Ford & Her Brother Take A Lie Detector Test: Do Most Musicians Lie?

16m

Paloma Ford & Her Brother Take A Lie Detector Test: Do Most Musicians Lie?

Dream Team of Bounce

21m

Dream Team of Bounce

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

16m

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

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