Meet Chappell Roan, the rising Gen Z queer pop sensation who just toured with Olivia Rodrigo: hailing from a Christian family in Missouri, she got discovered on YouTube – and is known for her bold style

May 9 , 2024

Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, better known at Chappelle Roan, poses in a 2023 Instagram post. Photos: @chapelleroan/Instagram

The up-and-coming singer grew up in Missouri, struggling with then-undiagnosed bipolar disorder, but moved to LA after her YouTube covers led to a record deal with Atlantic Records when she was just 17

Although her label dropped her due to low sales, she bounced back with debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess last September – and is set to tour the UK and Europe this year

Chappell Roan, the rising star hailing from the quaint American heartland state of Missouri, has skyrocketed to pop stardom in the past year. Hailing from humble beginnings, she went from singing covers on YouTube to sharing the stage with Olivia Rodrigo and rubbing shoulders with other members of pop royalty.

Chappell Roan shared an outtake from a photo shoot for NME in March

Sure, she’s had her ups and downs – getting dropped by her label, dealing with heartbreak and even facing tough times back home. But Roan’s not one to give up. Ever since dropping her first album in September 2023, the 26-year-old has captured the hearts of Gen Z fans with distinctive beats and fierce boundary-pushing lyrics. She’s also known for her bold, drag queen-inspired fashion looks, which have lead to comparisons to RuPaul by some UK outlets.

That’s perhaps why she’s been called LA’s “queer pop superstar in the making” by the LA Times and the “queer pop moment” by Vogue.

Roan – whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz – drew inspiration from her late grandfather, Dennis Chappell, and his love for Marty Robbins’ “The Strawberry Roan” when choosing her stage name, according to The Guardian.

Here’s everything you need to know about Chappell Roan – who recently announced she will be be touring the UK and Europe this year.

Chappell Roan had a challenging childhood

In January, Chappell Roan shared a childhood photo with her Instagram followers

Roan opened up about her childhood in a chat with Variety ahead of her debut album release, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Hailing from the tiny town of Willard, Missouri, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 22. “But as a child I think my parents just thought I was being a brat, so I had such a difficult time,” she revealed.