Brace yourself, mainstream pop, Chappell Roan has arrived to shake things up. The rising star is dominating the music industry with infectious hits like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOT TO GO!” Based on what we’ve seen so far, it looks like Chappell’s got the pop girl formula down pat: Charisma, catchy tunes, a unique voice, and an arresting aesthetic. We know you want to learn more about this intriguing artist, so here are eight facts about Chappell Roan you can brag to your friends about.

It’s pronounced “Chappell Roan”

With a name as unique as hers, it’s understandable some folks won’t get the pronunciation right the first time. If you’ve been saying /sha-pelle ro-wan/, you might want to correct that. The proper pronunciation is actually /chapel rown/. “Chappell” as in the church, “chapel.” And now you know.

Her real name is Kayleigh Amstutz

Chappell’s real name is Kayleigh Amstutz. She was born on February 19, 1998, making her 26 years old. Chappell grew up in what she describes as a “trailer park” in Missouri. After performing for a while as Kayleigh Rose, she decided it was time for a stage name. “The picking of the name was the hardest part of this entire thing,” Chappell said in an interview. “It was the most stressful part.”

Ultimately, she chose her stage name to honor her cancer-warrior grandfather, Dennis Chappell, and his favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan.”

She’s the only musical person in her family

“We’re just a very normal household,” said Chappell in an interview. “No one in my family is musical, none of my cousins, no one in my immediate family is musical.”

That’s why it was a pleasant surprise for Chappell to find out she could sing and was good at it, too. She started piano lessons at 12 and went on to perform in public for the first time at a talent show in middle school, where she won.

About her sexuality

Chappell uses she/her pronouns and identifies as a queer female. She has always been open about her sexuality in her music. In her latest hit, “Good Luck, Babe!”, she sings about a secret relationship with a woman who didn’t want to admit the truth about their relationship.

We don’t know her current relationship status, but back in 2023, she confirmed that she was dating a woman.

Chappell Roan moved to LA in 2018

In 2018, Chappell signed with Atlantic Records and moved to LA to pursue her music dream. Unfortunately, her work didn’t make an impact, which prompted Atlantic to cut her off. So Chappell decided to try again in 2020 when she released the catchy pop anthem “Pink Pony Club.” But the timing couldn’t have been worse, with the pandemic crushing everything in sight. The setbacks would’ve been a fatal death blow for the young singer’s career.

“I was so close to giving up. If I wasn’t going to do music, then I would probably just go back home and be an aesthetician and a drag queen,” Roan said. “When you’ve been poor, you’re not really scared of anything,” she said in an interview.

She’s good friends with Olivia Rodrigo

The “Vampire” singer definitely took part in Chappell’s meteoric rise to fame (32.7 monthly listeners on Spotify!). They’ve been friends since 2018, when Chappell started working with Olivia’s producer, Dan Nigro, on “Pink Pony Club.” In between her gigs, Chappell has also opened for Olivia’s SOUR and GUTS tours in 2022 and 2023. They still attend each other’s concerts when they can.

She is a drag artist

In her early years as a performer, Chappell’s aesthetic involved shiny dresses, boots, and her signature auburn hair flowing wild. But as her confidence as an artist blossomed, so did her self-expression. Fast-forward to 2024, and she proudly calls herself a drag artist.

“I’m a drag queen,” she explained in a TikTok video. “Very campy artist that makes really anthemic pop… I am a queer, girly artist.”

Chappell Roan invites local drag queens to open for her shows

Chappell is currently on “The Midwest Princess Tour” across America. At each stop, she shines a spotlight on the local drag scene by inviting phenomenal queens to open the show. Whether it’s her vibrant personality onstage or the diverse performers she showcases, Chappell’s world celebrates inclusivity, making everyone feel welcome.

What do you love most about Chappell Roan?

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