As I downed the Molson Canadian—not my first—I looked around in disbelief. Who is Chappell Roan anyway?! I asked myself. And why does everyone know these lyrics?!
Living in Upstate New York, conforming to your teenage daughter’s demands often involves a trip to Canada.
This one, it turns out, was for an Olivia Rodrigo concert. I pretended, of course, that I didn’t want to be there, but the rock influence in Rodrigo’s music had me intrigued.
The opening act, on the other hand, wasn’t doing it for me. The minute I heard H-O-T-T-O-G-O, I knew several more Molson Canadians were in order.
But less than a year later, the opening act has turned herself into the main event.
So I’ve had to ask myself once more, who is Chappell Roan?
And as I’ve learned, she’s just what pop music needed.
***
Good artists come out of nowhere, as in the middle of nowhere.
In the case of the US, it’s also called middle America—and Chappell Roan grew up quite literally near the middle.
The place is called Willard, Missouri, located a mere six hours from Lebanon, Kansas, the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.
The closest city is Springfield, which sports a feel not all that dissimilar from the Anytown, USA, vibe of the one in the Simpsons.
In other words, on the surface, the town doesn’t scream pop star.
It does, however, have all the elements—both uplifting and soul-sucking—to make one.
Born in 1998 as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Roan was raised Christian and conservative. Neither was a great fit, particularly when it became apparent that heterosexuality wasn’t either.
Throw in a wildly creative mind, and a life in southwest Missouri grew increasingly unlikely.
By 2014, Roan had uploaded an original song to YouTube that caught the attention of Atlantic Records and ultimately landed her a deal. Unfortunately, the dopamine surge was relatively short-lived, as a few years and zero hits later, she was dropped and back to working odd jobs.
Thankfully, as a songwriter, the DIY thing fit well, and she managed to move onward. Along the way, she, like Rodrigo, had established a working relationship with co-writer and producer Daniel Nigro, one that was able to continue.
With patience came another record deal, and on September 22, 2023 came Roan’s first full-length studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
There was initially little fanfare, but a series of actions led to her “discovery” in 2024, including wowing fans (if not middle-aged men) with the opening act above.
Suddenly, after a decade of relative anonymity, she became the queer pop star with the drag queen aesthetic, the one with a superb voice and a refreshing authenticity that eschewed the cookbook, and the one whose synth-infused anthems were worthy of a Grammy for Best “New” Artist.
***
I’ve learned that there’s nothing magical about the who is Chappell Roan question—just talent, hard work, originality, heartache, perseverance, and time.
I’ve also learned—as I suspected on that night in Canada—that I might not necessarily be in her target audience.
After all, I’m not part of a Femininomenon.
Nor am I likely to find inspiration at a Pink Pony Club.
I am, however, perfectly capable of downing Molson Canadians and finding inspiration in others finding inspiration.
