Tired of the usual pop suspects like Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Beyoncé? There’s a new pop star on the rise who’s ready to shake things up. Get ready to welcome Chappell Roan, the Lady Gaga of the 2020s.
“Your favourite artist’s favourite artist.” That’s what Google suggests you mean when you search for Chappell Roan’s name. This viral wink from Google perfectly captures the 26-year-old singer’s meteoric rise from obscurity to become a pop star titan. But who is Chappell Roan, and why should you care?
Born Kayleigh Amstutz in Missouri, Roan grew up as a religious Christian in a trailer park. With no industry connections to rely on, she taught herself piano, auditioned unsuccessfully for America’s Got Talent, and started posting covers and original songs on YouTube. Her talent caught the attention of record labels, and she signed with Atlantic Records in 2015 at the young age of 17. It was then that she adopted the stage name Chappell Roan, inspired by her late grandfather’s name and his favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan” by Curley Fletcher.
For most artists, landing a major record deal would be a major turning point. However, it took Roan almost a decade to translate that initial boost into superstardom. This lengthy journey is a key part of Roan’s appeal. She honed her skills, earning the title of a perfectly sculpted pop star. The years leading up to her breakthrough were filled with hard work and experience. She toured extensively as a support act for artists like Vance Joy, Declan McKenna, and Olivia Rodrigo. At the same time, she built a rich discography despite not releasing a full album. Her first original song, “Die Young,” was uploaded to YouTube in 2014. In 2017, she released her debut single, “Good Hurt,” which received critical acclaim and was followed by her EP, “School Nights.” This early iteration of Chappell Roan was characterized by her deep, somber voice, reminiscent of Lorde. “School Nights” is a remarkable EP for such a young artist, showcasing spacious instrumentation and melancholic lyrics. While musically enjoyable, Roan’s debut didn’t make a huge impact. In the crowded music scene, it seemed she might be quickly forgotten.
But change was on the horizon. Roan moved to Los Angeles, leaving her family behind for the first time. In LA, she embraced her queer identity publicly and distanced herself from her religious upbringing. Living authentically in the vibrant gay clubs of Los Angeles, Roan met her future collaborator, producer Dan Nigro. Nigro, who has worked with artists like Kylie, Caroline Polachek, and Olivia Rodrigo (how Roan got connected to her tour), became a key figure in Roan’s artistic evolution. Together, they created “Pink Pony Club,” the first single that would later be featured on Roan’s 2023 album. This second phase of Roan’s music explored themes of sexual liberation and leaving the Midwest. Released at the beginning of the pandemic, “Pink Pony Club” sadly didn’t receive the attention her label hoped for. After releasing three more singles, Atlantic dropped her. This, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Nigro signed her to his label, Amusement, which is part of Island Records. With Nigro riding the wave of success from Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song “Driver’s License,” Roan needed to reinvent herself again. But this time, she retained the sonic liberation she had found with Nigro. The newly recreated Roan was a flamboyant, drag-infused glam princess. Donning theatrical blouses, extravagant wigs, and dramatic makeup, Roan embraced a stage persona that felt like a drag act rather than just a stage name. Finally, she was ready to release her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” in 2023.
The Roan who released the album was now a confident performer and a self-assured individual. However, it still took time for her meticulously crafted album to gain the recognition it deserved. That all changed when Roan appeared in several viral videos, most notably an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. The internet was captivated by her larger-than-life stage persona, barely fitting within the confines of NPR’s small office stage. Since then, Roan’s popularity has skyrocketed. Her album reached the Billboard top 10, she was invited to the White House for a Pride celebration (though she declined), and she performed at Coachella.
What’s the secret to her success? In a genre deeply embraced by the LGBTQ+ community, fans love that Roan is an openly and proudly lesbian artist who embraces queer visual and auditory culture while putting her own unique spin on it. With each public appearance, Roan transforms into a new iteration of camp, sporting outfits ranging from hilariously tacky to outrageously ostentatious. Roan is also a product of her online generation in a way that many of her peers, meticulously crafted by PR teams to be as inoffensive as possible, simply cannot match. Although she has since deleted many of her old posts on Instagram, X, and TikTok, longtime fans cherish their saved images, relishing the quirky and charming person behind the wigs and makeup.
It’s been a long journey for Chappell Roan, but by enduring such a lengthy gestation, she has emerged as a more fully formed pop star than most of her contemporaries. With her unique blend of talent, authenticity, and unbridled theatricality, Chappell Roan is poised to leave a lasting mark on the music industry.
