Best known for her bold red lipstick, auburn curls, and drag-inspired style, Chappell Roan took home her first Grammy, earning her the title of Best New Artist. Her unapologetic and self-empowering artistry has undoubtedly taken hold of the pop industry. Her breakthrough is thanks to her 2023 album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which includes her hit songs “HOT TO GO” and “Pink Pony Club.” Her hit single of 2024, “Good Luck, Babe,” sent her five more Grammy nominations.
Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz in Willard, Missouri, Roan struggled to find her foothold and had no easy path in the music industry. Roan auditioned for America’s Got Talent at around fourteen but did not make it onto the show. During this time, Roan started posting song covers on YouTube when she was noticed for her first original, “Die Young.” This alternative indie piano ballad packed with emotion started gaining attention, eventually leading to her signing with Atlantic Records at just seventeen.
“Roan adopted her stage name in honor of her late grandfather, Dennis Chappell, whose favorite song was “The Strawberry Roan” by Marty Robbins,” said Biography, a website that works to publish accurate stories of celebrities.
After releasing her debut album, School Nights, she chased her growing career and moved to Los Angeles in 2018. Roan, a queer woman who was brought up in a small, conservatively Christian environment, felt a new sense of freedom and self-empowerment in LA. Here is where she released “Pink Pony Club,” inspired by a gay bar called The Abbey in West Hollywood. The lack of profit and failure to gain widespread attention led to her being dropped from the label. Many blame the label for its poor decision as the following summer, “Pink Pony Club” shot to fame with its popularity on TikTok. Without any previous job experience, being released from her label in the early months of the pandemic was devastating. However, Roan utilized this setback to reinvent herself. She picked up multiple jobs, including working in a donut shop, while continuing to make music.
“Roan began writing songs again with songwriter and producer Daniel Nigro and, by May 2022, had released two new tracks, “Naked in Manhattan” and “My Kink is Karma,” in a matter of months. The new songs and their accompanying music videos leaned more into her queer identity and drag-inspired look. They were also self-funded and produced entirely by her friends,” said Biography.
Chappell Roan began working closely with Olivia Rodrigo as she opened for her Sour tour in 2022 and Guts Tour in 2024. In her 2023 album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, songs like “Casual” and “Femininomenon” surged in popularity, and Roan gained more and more recognition. The viral dance she created for her song “HOT TO GO” became a massive trend, encouraging people to do it during her shows.
“Roan really blew up on social media, however, after performing at Coachella for the first time in April 2024. Videos of her set were posted and shared across the internet, and more and more people starting using her music in their own videos,” said Biography.
The 67th annual Grammy Awards was held on February 2, 2025. Roan walked the red carpet styled in a blue and yellow vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress from the 2003 spring couture collection. Roan and Sabrina Carpenter were the only two artists with six nominations, four of which were in the “big four” categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. After winning Best New Artist, Roan gave a pre-written speech, sharing her past story and urging record labels to support their artists in providing them with a liveable wage and healthcare.
“It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system,” said Roan at the Grammys, “So record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a liveable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”
Roan’s popularity can be credited to her catchy pop music, authenticity, and recognition for the LGBTQ+ community. Senior Alexander Renteria believes her music is worth the widespread growth she has experienced.
“I see the appeal and the reason why a lot of people listen to her,” said Renteria.
Junior Martinique Niv, who found Roan through her social media platform, enjoys listening to most of her music.
“I know of her through Tiktok. I think she has some good lyrics, and her songs are very catchy. I really like Red Wine Supernova and Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” said Niv.
