Not very often, there’s an artist who comes along, and you just feel their fervor. You know and feel as if they deserve their success.
Chappell Roan’s rise to fame has been deeply interesting to watch. Her slow-burning rise to stardom rapidly ascended into burning fireball status.
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known professionally as Chappell Roan, lived in a small town in Willard, Missouri, population 6,000. She signed to Atlantic Records at 17 years old after she was scouted posting songs to YouTube.
Chappell Roan then moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and took a crack at pop music. In April of 2020, she released “Pink Pony Club” which set a template for her musical identity from then on.
In “Pink Pony Club” Roan reflects on her journey of self-discovery. The song takes place in a gay bar in West Hollywood, lamenting her Tennessee mother’s disapproval of where her life has taken “Oh mama, I’m just having fun / On the stage in my heels,” she sings.
Unfortunately for Roan, April 2020 was not the time for club music. When “Pink Pony Club” dropped in the early days of the pandemic, it sank like a stone.
Due to the failure of “Pink Pony Club,” Atlantic cut Chappell loose, instead focusing on helping Olivia Rodrigo craft and release her debut album “Sour.” Chappell moved back home to Willard, Missouri, and got a job working the drive-thru window at a coffee kiosk.
Little by little, Chappell was beginning to garner a cult following. “Pink Pony Club” was becoming a “sleeper hit” as it took off on TikTok and through word of mouth.
Roan then signed onto Amusement Records and released her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” on Sept. 22, 2023. Although not an immediate success, “Midwest Princess” garnered a cult following and also became regarded as a “sleeper hit.”
By June 2024, “Midwest Princess” had climbed the charts, peaking at number one in Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and reaching the top five of the US Billboard 200. After years of frustrated false starts, Chappell Roan got her big break, opening concerts for Olivia Rodrigo, and Roan is now seemingly everywhere.
It’s not easy to understand what makes “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” such a significant moment in pop culture. Chappell captures a generational zeitgeist and introduces the world to a refreshing new voice that resonates with young audiences.
This album’s success is remarkable given its genuine, unapologetic nature, and Chappell is one of the most organic figures to rise to this level of pop stardom in quite some time. She’s no industry plant, and her portrayal of queer self-discovery clearly comes from real experience.
Chappell appeals to a mostly young LGBTQ+ crowd by being as relatable and authentic as possible. Queer culture in general has seen a massive uptick in popularity, respect and recognition.
By openly embracing her queerness and incorporating it into her artistry, Chappell has become an icon of pop, inspiring countless fans to embrace their true selves fearlessly. Her presence in the music industry serves as a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth seeking visibility and representation in mainstream media.
But there are people who will do everything in their power to convince the world that they are wrong about their sexualities. Unfortunately there is no gay superman to save the day, but what if there were a gay superwoman to save it instead?
Chappell serves as a role model to her young fans. She gives her fan base the confidence and inspiration to be their true selves and gives them songs they can dance and cry to.
For Chappel, authenticity is paramount, and she refuses to conform to the norms of the music industry. Chappell’s music stands out in a landscape dominated by safe and predictable pop.
