Coachella 2024, the widely popular music festival held in California each April, was an event filled with big names. Headliners included Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, Tyler, the Creator and a No Doubt reunion performance, where Olivia Rodrigo did a guest duet with Gwen Stefani. It is no shock that last year’s festival was extremely popular online, mainly filled with videos of Lana Del Rey’s motorcycle entrance and Billie Eilish’s guest performance during Del Rey’s set. Yet surprisingly, the most viral moment of the festival came from a less established artist than those previously named: Chappell Roan.
Prior to Coachella, Roan released her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in September 2023. Notably, this album did not crack the Billboard 200 anytime near its release and produced 7,000 album units upon debut. After its release, Roan opened on tour for Olivia Rodrigo from February to April 2024, which started to produce momentum around Roan as an artist and raised her streams. On April 5, 2024, Roan released her first song since her debut album, titled “Good Luck, Babe!” This powerful, anthemic pop song explores themes of compulsory heterosexuality and being in love with a woman who denies her feelings and identity.
The next weekend came her Coachella performance, in which she looked directly into the camera and shouted her famous monologue: “My name is Chappell Roan. I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist. I’m your dream girl’s dream girl. And I’m going to serve exactly what you are: cunt!” This monologue went viral online, alongside clips of her songs and performances on stage. The general public began to deeply care about Roan, primarily due to her mastery of the live performance. On stage, Roan takes on a pop-star persona. She is not afraid to call audiences out or discuss how she is feeling. Most of all, Roan’s excitement to be on stage always comes across; she is noticeably having a blast performing the art she created.
After Coachella, Roan’s streams drastically increased, and her debut album finally appeared on Billboard’s list. In mere months, Roan’s weekly streams increased 20 times over upon the release of her album. She continued to appear at festivals, and videos of her performances flooded the internet. Her set at Lollapalooza, originally scheduled for a smaller stage, had an audience of 110,000—the largest crowd ever for the festival. “Good Luck, Babe!” became her highest charting song on Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four. Six songs from her debut album also entered the chart; fans were so compelled by Roan that her entire discography quickly became popular. Her song, “Pink Pony Club,” which she performed at the Grammys in February 2025, reached number seven, while her other song, “Hot To Go!,” peaked at number 15. At the 2025 Grammys, she took home the award for Best New Artist, cementing her as the newest industry superstar.
On Nov. 3, 2024, Roan took the stage at Saturday Night Live for the first time in her career, where she performed her smash pop song, “Pink Pony Club.” Here, she was seen in her usual campy, drag-inspired aesthetic, marked by her bold style and bratty mannerisms. Later in the show, she came out to perform again, but things were noticeably different. After Roan was presented by John Mulaney, a fiddler took the screen to begin the second song. Instantly, the sound of country filled the stage as Roan jumped around in a pink plaid, southern influenced look. This was a complete shock, as Roan had never performed country music prior to this, a clear diversion from her regular, in-your-face pop sound.
This lesbian country anthem (released March 8, 2025), “The Giver,” takes the title literally, as its lyrics celebrate a woman’s ability to “please.” The song is masterful in its playful and confident southern sound contrasted by non-typical country tropes, including its candid lyrics about lesbian intimacy. “The Giver” follows a trend within the industry in recent years where pop acts dive into the country, such as Beyoncé with “Texas Hold ‘Em.” In a recent interview, Roan discussed her love for country dating back to her childhood in Missouri. “I think I have a special relationship to where I’m from because of country music… Yes I’m gay, and yes I’m ultra pop, and yes I’m a drag queen—that can also be someone who performs a country song,” she confidently explained.
Chappell Roan is only getting started, and while her second album is not expected this year, she is sure to release more singles to build anticipation. Roan is having fun, and she is going to continue to do whatever she wants. While her debut album is an audience-proclaimed pop bible, she is set to dive into other genres following the release of “The Giver.” As Coachella approaches, it is magnificent to see how much success Roan has achieved in just a year. Her presence as a queer artist—who also performs in drag—is extremely important in the present day, and her place as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community does not go unnoticed. I am endlessly excited to see where Roan takes her career, and am continuously anticipating her next album. This midwest princess is on the rise following her first country song, and luckily Roan’s fall is nowhere in sight.