Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Chappell Roan

Discover the career path of Chappell Roan, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is an American singer and songwriter recognized for her camp aesthetic and drag queen influences. She initially signed with Atlantic Records, releasing her debut EP, School Nights, in 2017. After the EP's commercial underperformance, she was dropped from the label. Roan later signed with Island Records and released her debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in 2023. The album was critically acclaimed and cultivated a dedicated following, eventually becoming a sleeper hit.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2012: Local Performances Begin

From 2012 to 2015, Chappell Roan performed around her hometown and in Springfield, Missouri, showcasing her talent locally.

2013: Comparisons to Lorde and Billie Eilish

Concerts from the Naked in North America tour received positive reviews, with Jem Aswad describing it as a concert where "you recognize when a new-ish artist's career is about to blast off" similar to Lorde in 2013 and Billie Eilish in 2019.

2013: YouTube Channel Launch

In 2013, Chappell Roan began uploading content to her YouTube channel, primarily focusing on covers and occasional original pieces.

November 2014: Upload of 'Die Young'

In November 2014, Chappell Roan uploaded her original song "Die Young" to YouTube under the name Kayleigh Rose. She wrote the song while attending summer camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts, which she said significantly impacted her future.

Loading Video...

2014: Praised by Troye Sivan and Connor Franta

In 2014, Troye Sivan and Connor Franta commended the then-16-year-old Chappell Roan's singing. Sivan said that he had not heard a voice like Roan's since Adele, and Franta called her a "vocally gifted goddess".

May 2015: Signing with Atlantic Records

In May 2015, after traveling to New York for musical showcases, Chappell Roan signed with music label Atlantic Records, marking a significant step in her career.

August 3, 2017: Release of 'Good Hurt'

On August 3, 2017, Chappell Roan released her first single, "Good Hurt". It was reviewed favorably in Interview, praised for her "striking maturity and surprisingly deep vocals".

Loading Video...

September 22, 2017: Release of 'School Nights' EP

On September 22, 2017, Chappell Roan released an extended play (EP) titled 'School Nights' through Atlantic Records.

2017: Release of 'School Nights' EP

In 2017, Chappell Roan released her debut EP, 'School Nights', through Atlantic Records. However, it faced commercial failure and led to her being dropped from the label.

March 2018: Touring with Declan McKenna

From January to March 2018, Chappell Roan toured the United States with Declan McKenna, marking a significant step in her touring career.

2018: Musical style described as "dark pop with ballad undertones"

In 2018, Chappell Roan described her musical style as a mix of organic and electronic sounds, with a pop tone, and as "dark pop with ballad undertones".

2018: Collaboration with Dan Nigro Begins

In late 2018, Chappell Roan began working with songwriter and producer Dan Nigro, starting a significant collaboration in her music career.

2019: Comparisons to Lorde and Billie Eilish

April 2020: Release of 'Pink Pony Club'

In April 2020, Chappell Roan released "Pink Pony Club", produced by Dan Nigro. She described it as a "hard left turn" from her previous work, 'School Nights'. The song was inspired by a visit to The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood.

Loading Video...

May 2020: Release of 'Love Me Anyway' and 'California'

In May 2020, Chappell Roan released two more singles, "Love Me Anyway" and "California", expanding her discography.

Loading Video...

August 2020: Dropped by Atlantic Records

In August 2020, Atlantic Records dropped Chappell Roan from the label due to her releases not being profitable enough.

October 2020: Return to Los Angeles

In October 2020, Chappell Roan returned to Los Angeles to continue working on her music independently while taking on various odd jobs to support herself.

2020: Work on 'Casual' Begins

In 2020, Chappell Roan began working on the song "Casual" with Dan Nigro, which she later released. The song criticizes a romantic partner who refuses to commit and was inspired by Roan's relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loading Video...

2021: Shift in Nigro's Focus and Return to Missouri

In early 2021, Dan Nigro's focus shifted to working with Olivia Rodrigo on 'Sour', which impacted Chappell Roan's collaboration. She briefly moved back to Missouri and worked at a drive-through while continuing to work on her music independently.

February 2022: Publishing Deal with Sony and Release of 'Naked in Manhattan'

By February 2022, Chappell Roan had secured a publishing deal with Sony and reunited with Dan Nigro to create and release "Naked in Manhattan", her first release as an independent artist.

Loading Video...

August 2022: Release of 'Femininomenon'

In August 2022, Chappell Roan released her third independent single, "Femininomenon", which Earmilk described as "so fun and loud but so intricate". The music video was self-directed and featured Roan riding a dirt bike.

Loading Video...

August 2022: 'Pink Pony Club' Surpasses 10 Million Streams

By August 2022, Chappell Roan's song "Pink Pony Club" had been streamed more than 10 million times on Spotify, marking a significant milestone in her independent career.

Loading Video...

February 2023: Embarking on the Naked in North America Tour

In February 2023, Chappell Roan embarked on the Naked in North America Tour, her debut headlining tour. Each tour stop had a specific theme, with Roan creating camp costumes and booking drag queens as openers, inspired by Orville Peck.

March 2023: Signing with Amusement Records and Release of 'Casual'

In March 2023, Chappell Roan signed with Amusement Records, an imprint of Island Records owned by her producer, Dan Nigro. In that same month, she released "Casual".

Loading Video...

September 22, 2023: Release of 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' and Midwest Princess Tour Begins

On September 22, 2023, Chappell Roan released her debut full-length album, 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess', and began her second headlining tour, the Midwest Princess Tour. She donated $1 per ticket to For the Gworls and opened each show with drag performers.

2023: Roan names musical inspirations

In 2023, Chappell Roan cited Lorde, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding as artists she listened to in high school. In a Variety article, Roan was described as "glammy and pop and embracing her femininity and [...] very queer-positive."

2023: Release of 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' Album

In 2023, Chappell Roan released her debut studio album, 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess', through Island Records. The album received critical acclaim and garnered a cult following, eventually becoming a sleeper hit.

April 2024: Opening for Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour

From February to April 2024, Chappell Roan opened for Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour in the United States and Canada. During her first week of the tour, Roan's streams rose by 32 percent.

April 2024: Release of "Good Luck, Babe!"

In April 2024, Chappell Roan released the single "Good Luck, Babe!", which she described as "the first song of the next chapter". The song debuted at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received 7 million streams in its first week.

Loading Video...

June 2024: Increase in Weekly Streams

As reported by Billboard, Chappell Roan's weekly streams grew by more than twenty-fold from the start of the year by June 2024, demonstrating her growing popularity on Spotify.

June 2024: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Enters Billboard 200 Top Ten

In June 2024, due to the success of "Good Luck, Babe!", Chappell Roan's 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' entered the top ten on the Billboard 200 for the first time, with over 40,000 equivalent album units sold.

Loading Video...

October 2024: Reaches Number One on Billboard Artist 100

In October 2024, Chappell Roan reached number 1 for the first time on the Billboard Artist 100, coinciding with the biggest sales week ever of her debut album.

November 2, 2024: Saturday Night Live Appearance

On November 2, 2024, Chappell Roan appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live with host John Mulaney, where she performed and teased a new song titled "The Giver".

December 6, 2024: Appearance in A Nonsense Christmas Special

On December 6, 2024, Chappell Roan appeared in the Netflix special A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.

Loading Video...

2024: Continuation of Midwest Princess Tour

Chappell Roan's Midwest Princess Tour, which began in 2023, continued into the spring of 2024, traveling across North America and including shows in London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Amsterdam.

2024: Billboard describes Roan as an "innovative art-pop auteur"

In 2024, Billboard described Chappell Roan as an "innovative art-pop auteur", highlighting her innovative approach to pop music.

2024: Rise to Prominence with 'Good Luck, Babe!'

In 2024, Chappell Roan rose to prominence with her single "Good Luck, Babe!", which reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a global top-five single. This success significantly boosted her debut album, leading it to top charts in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand and reach number two on the US Billboard 200. She also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards.

Loading Video...

January 2025: Winner of BBC Sound of 2025 Poll

In January 2025, Chappell Roan was named the winner of the Sound of 2025 poll of musicians and music experts, organized annually by the BBC.

February 2025: Wins Grammy Award for Best New Artist

In February 2025 at the 67th Grammy Awards, Chappell Roan won her first Grammy Award for Best New Artist. In her acceptance speech, she advocated for record labels to provide artists with a living wage and healthcare.

March 14, 2025: Release of "The Giver"

On March 14, 2025, Chappell Roan released "The Giver" on all platforms. It's her second single intended for her new album after "Good Luck, Babe!" almost a year earlier.

Loading Video...