Chappell Roan: Your Favorite Artists’ Favorite Artist
by Frederic Vervaecke
- Who Is Chappell Roan?
- Breakthrough Artist Moments
- Viral TikTok Success
- Artists' Collaborations and Industry Recognition
- Chappell Roan's Favorite Appearances
- NPR Tiny Desk Concert
- Harvard Lecture
- Late Night Show Performances
- Her Personal Life and Relationships
- Impact on the Music Industry
- What's Next for Chappell Roan?
- Upcoming Projects for Your Favorite Artist
- Midwest Princess Tour and Concert Plans
- Future Collaborations and Aspirations
Thumbnail: Chappell Roan at The Vogue Theatre in 2022 by Jason Martin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Out of the way, pop princesses – there's a new monarch in town. Chappell Roan, hailed as "Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist," is a 25-year-old artist from Willard, Missouri, who is causing a stir with her catchy synth-pop tunes and fearless queer character. From performing at Coachella to NPR's Tiny Desk, the story of Roan is an inspiring tale of sheer talent and spirit. Now, let us enter the life of this Midwestern queen turned queer pop star.
Who Is Chappell Roan?
Chappell Roan (also known as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz; born on February 19, 1998) is a little lady with a big voice who will make you green with envy. Her stage name, pronounced CHAP-el ROHN, is a tribute to her late grandfather.
Despite having a relatively short height of 5'2", Roan shows that big things come in small packages.
Born and raised in a Christian family, Roan's career in pop is quite a contrast to her early life. She cut her teeth on Christian rock and country before discovering her true pop icons: Britney Spears, P!nk, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey.
Roan's music is a mix of synth-pop from the 80s and early 2000s pop with a twist of her yodel-like singing. She is the life of the party, and her outrageous costumes and make-up are simply stunning; any drag queen would be proud of her.
Vocally, Roan isn't afraid to tell it like it is. The content of her songs is related to queer life, love, and identity, and many lyrics are related to her Midwest origin. It is unapologetic, it is sensual, and it is resonating with Generation Z audiences across the globe.
Breakthrough Artist Moments
Chappell Roan's journey to stardom has been marked by several pivotal moments that have catapulted her into the mainstream spotlight.
Viral TikTok Success
Can you recall a time when the TikTok platform was limited to dance challenges and lip-syncing videos only? Well, Roan made it into her personal launch pad. Her track "Pink Pony Club" became an instant hit, and she was trending faster than TikTok's swipe-up feature.
But Roan is not just a one-hit wonder. Songs like "Casual" and "My Kink is Karma" are already on the playlists of Gen Z listeners and have become quite popular. She's like the queen of TikTok because whatever she does, she gets it trending and goes viral.
Artists' Collaborations and Industry Recognition
It is hard even to fathom just how prominent the link between Roan and pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo has been. The two first met during Rodrigo's SOUR Tour in 2022 when Roan was an opening act for the tour. That is what you call a big break!
This was not the final nail in the coffin of the Roan-Rodrigo partnership, though. Roan lent her vocal talents to several tracks on Rodrigo's GUTS album, including "Bad Idea Right?", "Lacy," and "Obsessed." When Rodrigo revealed Roan as her top artist on Spotify, Wrapped in 2023, it was clear: this friendship was music to everyone's ears.
The cherry on top? It preceded Roan's first entry into the Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Good Luck, Babe!" released in April 2024. Supported by the opening act of Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour, a timely release of an NPR Tiny Desk concert, and an amazing Coachella performance, Roan had shown the public that she was not just a gay icon but a pop star in the making.
Chappell Roan's Favorite Appearances
Chappell Roan's rise to fame has been marked by several high-profile appearances that have showcased her talent and charisma. These notable performances have helped cement her status as a rising star in the music industry.
NPR Tiny Desk Concert
On March 21, 2024, Roan transformed NPR's Tiny Desk into her playground. Roan presented five songs from her first studio album entitled The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and the audience watched her with great interest and admiration.
The setlist was a rollercoaster of emotions: "Casual," "Pink Pony Club," "Picture You," "California," and "Red Wine Supernova." Each of the songs depicted a certain side of Roan's musical artistry.
However, it was not all about the music. Roan's theatricality was on point, and we had the pink-attired band and the towering wig that now resides permanently at the Tiny Desk.
Harvard Lecture
Who said that pop stars can't be intellectuals? Roan left her microphone and went to stand behind the lectern at Harvard Medical School on April 2, 2024. Her lecture, titled "Becoming a Queer Icon," focused on the topics of music, mental health, and the LGBTQ+ representation of the queer population.
Musing to the class of future doctors, Roan stressed the role of music in the healing process and for the promotion of mental health. It was a session that was full of the real deal, and people left feeling encouraged and informed.
Late Night Show Performances
Interviews of Roan on late-night TV have become something people can't afford to miss. On February 16, 2024, she brought the stage of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to life, performing "Red Wine Supernova."
But it was her show on June 20, 2024, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that raised more eyebrows. With the performance of "Good Luck, Babe," Roan dressed up as Swan Lake's Princess Odette and gave a theatrical performance that saw her crawl towards the camera in what has to be one of the most creative and bizarre ways.
Her Personal Life and Relationships
Roan's personal evolution is ingrained in the music she creates as a part of her artistry. Being queer and lesbian, she has been very vocal about her sexual orientation and her relationships. Growing up in a conservative Christian environment in Missouri, she initially struggled with her identity but has since embraced it fully.
It was not easy to be a young queer woman in conservative Missouri, but Roan has accepted herself fully. Some of the things she has gone through in her life include coming out, relationships, and combating internalized homophobia, as expressed in her songs such as "Good Luck, Babe!"
As for her current status, Roan is quite coy, but she has revealed that she is in a relationship with a woman, and the latter makes her nervous when it comes to PDA. These personal experiences and emotions make her music and turn it into the LGBTQ+ community's anthems.
Impact on the Music Industry
Roan's reach does not end at the music she sings. Being an openly queer artist in the music industry, the pop singer has become a voice and a pride for people who do not fit the typical mold.
This is more than wearing a pink T-shirt and saying, "Yaaas, drag!" She actually supports drag culture. Roan has thus ensured that the opening acts of the concerts are local drag queens while also ensuring that a certain percentage of the proceeds from the sales is donated to LGBTQ+ charities.
What's Next for Chappell Roan?
Upcoming Projects for Your Favorite Artist
Roan's sophomore album is already in the making, and people have high hopes for the album following her successful 2023 debut, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. She is again collaborating with the producer Dan Nigro, who has worked on Olivia Rodrigo's songs.
The fans had a taste of some of the upcoming music when Roan performed another song that has not been released yet, titled "Subway," in June 2024 at the Governors Ball. If that performance is anything to go by, we are in for a treat.
Midwest Princess Tour and Concert Plans
Roan Chappell is practically living the life of a celebrity because her tour schedule is filled to the brim, much like her suitcase. Since touring with Olivia Rodrigo for the GUTS Tour, she has been performing her own shows.
The Midwest Princess Tour is all set to perform at big music festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Governors Ball. Roan will also be performing at world-renowned stages, including the Vic Theatre in Chicago and O2 Academy Brixton in London.
Given that Roan has 15 upcoming performances in seven different countries, performing at the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal and at the All Things Go Music Festival in Queens, New York, Roan is surely an artist to watch in the near future.
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Future Collaborations and Aspirations
Although concrete information as to what the two worked on is withheld from the public, the fact that Roan is close friends with Olivia Rodrigo raises the possibility of the two working together in the future. Her further collaboration with the producer Dan Nigro points to future hits on the music charts.
In the near future, we may expect that Roan will be working with other music artists and producers since her star is on the rise now. Chappell Roan may be a new artist in the pop music scene, but she is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
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