Our Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan has been nominated for six Grammys at the 2025 event this year. Throughout 2024, the star has garnered so much popularity so quickly that she’s sitting alongside names like Beyonce and Taylor Swift. You may have noticed that just a year ago, Roan wasn’t the superstar she is now. So, how did she become ‘your favorite artist’s favorite artist’? Let’s dive deep into the Midwest Princess lore and discuss why this hardworking icon deserves all the hype and more.
A Legend Is Born
Chappell Roan grew up in a small town in Missouri. Her conservative household often felt restrictive for her, and she frequently struggled with self-confidence. Roan was required to attend church three times a week and frequently felt trapped. She needed an outlet. When she was 10 years old, she got into music for the first time by playing piano. She tried out for the US television show America’s Got Talent but wasn’t accepted. Eventually, she found the magic of YouTube and began uploading her original songs to the platform. The young singer was discovered for her original song, “Die Young”. Shortly after, she was signed to Atlantic Records.
After moving to Los Angeles, CA, in 2018, Chappell Roan met producer and songwriter Dan Nigro, who changed her life. Together, they wrote Roan’s now beloved hit, “Pink Pony Club”, which was surprisingly released in 2020. The song was a massive shift in style for the artist, but it wasn’t profitable enough for Atlantic. They let her go from the label soon after. However, this didn’t stop the ‘Femininomenon’ from charging on. “Pink Pony Club” slowly amassed a cult following, landing on several major publications. By 2022, the song had garnered more than 10 million streams on Spotify.
Six Grammys Isn’t Enough
Recently, Chappell Roan became a household name thanks to her 2024 single, “Good Luck, Babe!”. The track peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gained even more popularity through social media. The song’s spiteful lyrics showed up in countless TikToks, as listeners resonated with being scorned. After finding Roan through her single, most fans shifted to her full-length 2023 album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It unveiled 14 exquisitely-written songs that hit them even harder than “Good Luck, Babe!” did. Quickly, the news of Roan’s talent spread like wildfire.
Throughout 2024, Chappell Roan hasn’t stopped building rapport with fans. She has constantly been touring, playing festivals, and appearing at events. 110,000 people were there for her performance at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago, IL. The coolest part of all of this is that Roan plays fair. She didn’t step on others to get to the top. She is simply an incredible writer and singer. Roan is also a fantastic role model for LGBTQIA+ individuals. She has expressed her struggles with hiding her identity for years and can finally be herself inside and out. She makes her statement with her loud, flamboyant outfits inspired by drag artists and her heartfelt messages to fans.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to Chappell Roan’s talent, her success knows no bounds. She is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year for 2025. While other acts found their fame through having connections or an abundance of money, Roan started small. Her genuine personality and insane dedication to her craft contribute to her explosion in popularity. Beyond that, the music itself is incredible. Roan has created lyrics that we can all resonate with performed with finely tuned, outstanding vocals. It’s safe to say six Grammys aren’t enough recognition for this ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.’
