In the ever-evolving world of pop music, few stories are as captivating as that of Chappell Roan. Emerging from relative obscurity to become one of the genre’s most talked-about figures. From her out-of-the-box costumes and enchanting voice, Roan has quickly become one of the most affluent artists for the modern audience. However, unlike some pop sensations, her journey to becoming one of the princesses of pop has been years in the making.
Where did Chappell Roan begin?
Born Kayleigh Rose and growing up in a small town in Missouri, Roan was signed to record label Atlantic Records at age seventeen after being discovered from the song covers she uploaded to her YouTube channel.
“I was just a YouTube girl,” she said during an interview on Q with Tom Power, “ I wrote some songs out of summer camp and posted them on YouTube, and I got discovered.”
In 2017, she debuted her first single, “Die Young,” which would later be a part of her first EP, “School Nights.” Back in 2017, in an interview with gojimmygo.net, she described the album as “very dark pop with some influences of the sixties and seventies. I really wanted to showcase a very moody vibe with his album.”
The EP is starkly different from the pop, upbeat, and colorful themes in her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” which was released in September of last year. However, her rise to superstardom wasn’t easy. During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Roan was dropped from her record label, ran out of money, and was forced to move home from LA, where she worked in a drive-thru.
She soon felt this was it for her, but she decided to move back to LA in October of that year to give music one more shot. From there, she released singles such as “California,” “Pink Pony Club,” and “Feminiomenon,” which would later be featured in “Midwest Princess.” She also sang backup vocals for Olivia Rodrigo and opened up for her during the SOUR tour in 2022.
Roan has also attributed her stage name to her Grandfather, Daniel K. Chapell, mixed with his favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan,” by Curley Fletcher. She also considered herself a drag queen after Crayola, a drag queen who opened for her for a show in London, saw her transformation and told her that this character she’s created is a drag queen.
In April of this year, she released a single to her new song Good Luck, Babe which quickly blew up on TikTok, but her performance at this year’s Governors Ball, where she entered in a big apple, dawning a Lady Liberty-inspired drag look and smoking a joint. Almost 80,000 people attended the set, and millions viewed it through their phones. And it was there that Roan wasn’t just a girl with a popular song on TikTok; she was a superstar.
Setting Boundaries with Fans
However, with that status comes setbacks, and Roan has openly spoken about struggling with becoming more recognizable to the public. In late August, she addressed overbearing fans in an Instagram post, stating she needs to set firm boundaries with them. Some have begun to take their love and appreciation for her to the next level by following her around and searching for her parents’ home address. n
“For the past 10 years, I’ve been going non-stop to build my project, and it’s come to the point that I need to draw lines and set boundaries,” she wrote. “I feel more love than I ever have in my life, I feel the most unsafe I have ever felt in my life.”
Despite the majority of her fanbase understanding her fears and need for boundaries, Roan has faced backlash for this. While one might believe a celebrity renders their privacy when they become a public figure, Roan isn’t backing down, ready to change the narrative on what society expects out of well-known public figures.
Even though she has taken some time to step back from the public, this isn’t stopping Roan from pressing on. She is set to perform at the Mtv VMAs on September 11th and is currently touring in Europe.
Roan’s journey is a testament to the power of raw talent, distinctive artistry, and the influence of the digital age. Her journey reflects a broader narrative in the pop world: the blending of traditional music pathways with new, innovative approaches. Roan’s success underscores the importance of authenticity and perseverance in the music industry, demonstrating that creating a lasting impact often involves a long, dedicated journey rather than an overnight sensation.
Stay tuned for more news on Chappell Roan here at Respect My Region.
