If you’ve spent even a mere minute on TikTok over the last month, you’ll likely know the name Chappell Roan.
Even if don't know the name it is very likely that her songs Pink Pony Club and HOT TO GO! have been repeatedly playing in your head for weeks without consent.
The 26-year-old Missouri-born singer has skyrocketed to stardom in the music, fashion and social media sphere, but who is she?
Who is Chappell Roan?
© GettyThe American singer was born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. She grew up in Springfield, Missouri and was raised in a trailer park with her family. She is the oldest of their four children.
The star is known worldwide by her artist persona Chappell Roan, a name inspired by her grandfather Dennis Chappell and his love for the song The Strawberry Roan by Marty Robbins.
In November 2014, she uploaded an original song titled Die Young to YouTube. She wrote the song during a music and art summer camp, where she encountered other creative kids for the first time - a transformative experience that she said "changed [her] trajectory forever." Determined to a career in music, she toured New York's showcases, landing a deal with Atlantic Records in May 2015 at 17. She released her debut EP, School Nights, in 2017.
© GettyChappell’s success came on quickly after the release of her hit songs Pink Pony Club and Good Luck Babe, which topped the playlists of Gen Zs across the globe.
It was only last year that the young budding musician was working as a summer camp counsellor. Now, she’s selling out stadiums, headlining the 2024 Governors Ball festival and curating a die-hard fandom on TikTok.
What awards has Chappell Roan won?
Chappell has scooped up several accolades during her musical career. She won the BBC's Sound of 2025 award, highlighting her as a leading new talent. At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, she secured the Best New Artist title, dedicating her win to drag artists and the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, she received the Best New Artist award at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, earned six Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.
Why is Chappell Roan so popular?
© Instagram / @chappellroanIt's not unusual for a new notable name to take over the radio waves. Earlier this year Sabrina Carpenter did exactly that, with Charli XCX and her epic Brat Girl Summer quickly following suit.
In Chappell's case, her popularity has flourished for multiple reasons outside of her musical talent, securing her a space amongst those who love the weird, the wacky and the avant-garde.
© GettyIf you follow the star on Instagram, you’ll notice that her aesthetic is far from being mainstream. Describing her own look as "campy," Chappell is heavily inspired by the drag community and 1980s synth-pop stars, which a bold makeup look or over-the-top on-stage ensemble is always on the sartorial menu.
It’s that delightfully bizarre 'cybergoth' aesthetic which fans have gravitated toward, with some describing her as a "refreshing" breath of air in today's music world, especially when paired with her overly contagious pop bangers and strong political opinions for LGBTQ+ rights.
Currently sitting at six million Instagram followers and having witnessed album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess soar up the charts, Chappell is set to be one of the most influential artists of our generation - and with fashion taste like hers, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
