Bradley was born on March 15, 1958, in Lexington, Kentucky. One of four children, Bradley had a happy early childhood with a father who owned a motel and cocktail lounge, a mobile home park, and a barn full of Tennessee walking horses. Bradley enjoyed dressing up in ball gowns, sequins, and other flashy outfits, and from the time he hit seventh grade, he was out exploring Lexington’s underground gay club scene. By the 1980’s, Bradley was Lexington’s leading drag queen, regularly appearing at his own and others’ bars and clubs, and performing for charity fundraisers.