History of Chappell Roan in Timeline

Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is an American singer-songwriter celebrated for her camp and drag queen-inspired artistry. She began her career with the EP 'School Nights' (2017) under Atlantic Records, but was later dropped. Roan achieved critical acclaim with her debut studio album, 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' (2023), released via Island Records. The album's unique style resonated with listeners, earning her a devoted following and establishing the album as a sleeper hit in the music scene.

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

February 19, 1998: Kayleigh Rose Amstutz Born

On February 19, 1998, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, who is professionally known as Chappell Roan, was born. She is an American singer and songwriter known for her unique aesthetic.

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2012: Early Performances

From 2012 to 2015, Chappell Roan performed around her hometown and in Springfield, Missouri, gaining experience as a performer.

2013: Started Uploading to YouTube

In 2013, Chappell Roan started uploading content to her YouTube channel, posting covers and original pieces.

November 2014: Uploaded "Die Young" to YouTube

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

2014: Praised by Troye Sivan and Connor Franta

In 2014, Troye Sivan and Connor Franta praised the then-16-year-old Chappell Roan's singing abilities. Sivan compared her voice to Adele's, while Franta called her a "vocally gifted goddess."

May 2015: Signed with Atlantic Records

In May 2015, after traveling to New York for several musical showcases, Chappell Roan signed with music label Atlantic Records.

2016: Adoption of Stage Name Chappell Roan

In 2016, Kayleigh Rose adopted the stage name Chappell Roan, in honor of her grandfather Dennis K. Chappell, who died of brain cancer that same year. The name combines his last name with a word from his favorite song, "The Strawberry Roan."

August 3, 2017: Released First Single "Good Hurt"

On August 3, 2017, Chappell Roan released her first single, "Good Hurt". The song received favorable reviews, with praise for her maturity and deep vocals.

September 22, 2017: Released 'School Nights' EP

On September 22, 2017, Chappell Roan released her 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. Despite the release, she was later dropped from the label after the EP's commercial underperformance.

March 2018: Toured the United States with Declan McKenna

From January to March 2018, Chappell Roan toured the United States with Declan McKenna, expanding her reach and experience.

2018: Describes musical style 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, defining it as "dark pop with ballad undertones."

2018: Began working with Dan Nigro

In late 2018, Chappell Roan began collaborating with songwriter and producer Dan Nigro, marking a significant step in her musical development.

April 2020: Released "Pink Pony Club"

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

May 2020: Released "Love Me Anyway" and "California"

In May 2020, Chappell Roan released two more singles, "Love Me Anyway" and "California", continuing her musical releases.

August 2020: Dropped by Atlantic Records

In August 2020, due to releases not being profitable enough, Atlantic Records dropped Chappell Roan from their label, presenting a challenge in her career.

October 2020: Returned to Los Angeles

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

2020: Started working on Casual

In 2020, Chappell Roan started working on the single "Casual" with Dan Nigro, which criticizes a romantic partner's refusal to commit. The song was inspired by Roan's brief relationship that ended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Shift in Collaboration and Independent Work

In early 2021, Dan Nigro's focus shifted to Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License", leading Chappell Roan to work independently on her music and briefly move back to Missouri, working at a drive-through.

February 2022: Publishing Deal and Release of "Naked in Manhattan"

In February 2022, Chappell Roan earned a publishing deal with Sony and reunited with Dan Nigro to release "Naked in Manhattan" as an independent artist.

August 2022: Released "Femininomenon"

In August 2022, Chappell Roan released her third independent single, "Femininomenon". The song was described as different from her past releases and featured a self-directed music video with Roan riding a dirt bike.

August 2022: 10 Million Streams of Pink Pony Club

By August 2022, "Pink Pony Club" had been streamed more than 10 million times on Spotify, showcasing its growing popularity.

December 2022: Took First Vocal Lesson

In December 2022, Chappell Roan had her first "proper" vocal lesson after singing incorrectly for 10 years.

February 2023: Embarked on the Naked in North America Tour

In February 2023, Chappell Roan embarked on the Naked in North America Tour, her debut headlining tour, featuring themed stops and drag queen openers.

March 2023: Signed with Amusement Records

In March 2023, Chappell Roan signed with Amusement Records, an imprint of Island Records owned by her producer, Dan Nigro, after meeting with nine labels.

September 22, 2023: Released 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' and Began Midwest Princess Tour

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.

2023: Cites musical influences

In 2023, Chappell Roan cited a variety of musical influences including Lorde, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding whom she listened to throughout high school. She also stated that Rihanna's song "Stay" inspired her to begin writing music.

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

In 2023, Chappell Roan released her debut studio album, 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' through Island Records. The album was critically acclaimed and developed a cult following, becoming a sleeper hit.

2023: Reflection on Upbringing

In a 2023 Variety interview, Chappell Roan described her conservative and Christian upbringing and how she struggled with it, often sneaking out as a child to escape.

April 2024: Opened 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, resulting in a significant rise in her streams.

April 2024: Released "Good Luck, Babe!"

In April 2024, Chappell Roan released the single "Good Luck, Babe!", which became her breakthrough hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The song addresses compulsory heterosexuality.

June 2024: Spotify Growth

As reported by Billboard, by June 2024, Chappell Roan's weekly streams had grown by more than twenty-fold from the start of the year. Also in June, her monthly listeners had increased more than 500% from February to April.

June 2024: 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' entered Top Ten

In June 2024, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" entered the top ten on the Billboard 200 for the first time, selling over 40,000 equivalent album units.

July 2024: Met Sasha Colby and was invited to join the House of Colby

In July 2024, Chappell Roan met Sasha Colby while performing at Capitol Hill Block Party. Colby invited Roan to join the House of Colby as her daughter.

August 2024: Responds to Kamala Harris campaign's merchandise

In August 2024, after the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign released a baseball cap similar to Roan's "Midwest Princess" merchandise baseball cap, Roan responded on Twitter with "is this real". While refusing to endorse the Harris campaign, Roan confirmed she would vote for Harris.

September 2024: In a relationship with an undisclosed woman

As of September 2024, Chappell Roan was in a relationship with an undisclosed woman who is not involved in the music industry and identifies as a lesbian.

October 2024: Reached Number 1 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: Musical Guest on Saturday Night Live

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".

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December 6, 2024: Appeared in Netflix Special

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

2024: Continued Midwest Princess Tour

Chappell Roan's Midwest Princess Tour continued in 2024, traveling across North America and having shows internationally.

2024: Described as an 'innovative art-pop auteur' by Billboard

In 2024, Billboard described Chappell Roan as an "innovative art-pop auteur,"

2024: Declined White House Invitation and Continued Work on New Music

In 2024, Chappell Roan declined an invitation from the White House to perform for that year's Pride celebration, citing the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and transgender rights. She debuted an unreleased song titled "The Subway" at the Governors Ball Music Festival and spoke about the challenges of her rapid increase in popularity.

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. The song drove the success of her debut album. She also received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards.

January 2025: Named Winner of BBC Sound of 2025

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, Chappell Roan won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards. During her acceptance speech, she advocated for record labels to provide artists with a living wage and healthcare. Her album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, received nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while her song "Good Luck, Babe!" was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Following the speech, Jeff Rabhan criticized Roan's views, sparking a viral debate, to which Roan responded by challenging him to donate to artists in need.

March 14, 2025: Release of "The Giver"

On March 14, 2025, Chappell Roan released her song "The Giver" on all platforms. This marked her first song release since "Good Luck, Babe!" which was released a year earlier.