Chappell Roan, born on February 19, 1998, is a rising American pop star known for her bold style and emotional songs. At 27 years old, she’s already made a big name in the music world with her unique mix of confidence and creativity. Standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, she proves that real power comes from talent, not size.
She first gained attention with hits like “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe!”, songs that blend fun pop sounds with deep feelings. Fans love her mix of honesty and drama on stage, which shows her true personality.
Today, Chappell Roan is known as the “Midwest Princess” — a symbol of self-expression, courage, and staying true to who you are. Her journey from a small town in Missouri to global fame shows that being yourself can lead to something truly special. Let’s take a closer look at Chappell Roan’s life, career, and inspiring rise to fame.
Quick Facts About Chappell Roan
| Bio/Wiki | Details |
| Full Name | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz |
| Stage Name | Chappell Roan |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1998 |
| Age | 27 years old (as of 2025) |
| Height | 5’2″ (157 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 59 kg (130 lbs) |
| Birthplace | Willard, Missouri, USA |
| Current Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (English, Scottish, Irish, Swiss, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Welsh, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish) |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Pop Artist |
| Genres | Synth-pop, Queer Pop, Country |
| Record Labels | Atlantic Records (2015–2020), Amusement Records/Island Records (2023–present) |
| Net Worth | $10 million (estimated, 2025) |
| Notable Awards | Grammy Award for Best New Artist (2025), MTV VMA Best New Artist (2024) |
| Debut Album | “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” (2023) |
| Hit Singles | “Good Luck, Babe!”, “Pink Pony Club”, “Hot to Go!”, “The Giver” |
| Parents | Kara Amstutz (veterinarian), Dwight Amstutz (registered nurse, Naval Reservist) |
Origins and Early Life (1998-2015)
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz grew up as the oldest of four children in Willard, Missouri — a small town with about 6,000 people. Her parents, Kara and Dwight Amstutz, ran a family veterinary clinic in Springfield. Kara worked as a vet, while Dwight was a registered nurse and Navy Reservist.
The family attended church often, and Kayleigh spent summers at Christian camps. Before music, she was a dedicated cross-country runner who made it to the Missouri State Championships. That early discipline helped her later with her high-energy stage shows.
Music entered her life at age 12 when she started piano lessons. At 13, she won her school’s talent show singing Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song.” By 14, she was writing original songs and uploading covers to YouTube, catching the attention of industry scouts.
Her stage name honors her maternal grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, who died of brain cancer in 2016. She combined his surname with his favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan” by Curley Fletcher. That name would become her armor, her alter ego, and eventually her ticket to pop stardom.
Chappell Roan: The Atlantic Records Era (2015-2020)
At just 17 years old, Atlantic Records signed Chappell Roan after her song “Die Young” caught industry attention. She graduated early from Willard High School, taking online classes through Brigham Young University to complete her diploma. She missed typical teenage experiences like prom, diving headfirst into what she hoped would be her breakthrough moment.
Her debut EP, “School Nights,” dropped in September 2017 with a dark, moody sound influenced by Lana Del Rey and Lorde. The five-track project included “Good Hurt” as the lead single, but it failed to establish her artistically. She later described the sound as ‘really dark, angsty pop that was pretty boring,’ in a NME interview. The turning point came after moving to Los Angeles in 2018.
The turning point came after moving to Los Angeles in 2018. Her first visit to The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood, profoundly shaped her creative direction. This experience inspired “Pink Pony Club,” a song imagining herself as a go-go dancer and how her religious mother would react.
Atlantic Records resisted releasing “Pink Pony Club” for two years, then dropped Roan in August 2020 during pandemic-era cost-cutting. The same week, she ended a four-year relationship with her boyfriend. “I was so devastated. It made me second-guess myself,” she told Rolling Stone in October 2022.
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Rebuilding from Ground Zero (2020-2022)
At 22, Roan moved back to Missouri, working at a drive-through coffee shop in Springfield while reassessing her career. She returned to Los Angeles in 2021, working as a production assistant on an HBO show, a nanny, and at a donut shop.
She gave herself one year to succeed independently. Through therapy focused on inner-child work, she developed her “tacky pop star” aesthetic—the theatrical, drag-influenced persona that would define her success.
Her partnership with producer Dan Nigro, who also works with Olivia Rodrigo, proved transformative. Signing with Nigro’s Amusement Records (an Island Records imprint) in May 2023, she finally had creative freedom. Between 2022 and 2023, she released increasingly confident queer anthems: “Naked in Manhattan,” “My Kink is Karma,” “Casual,” and “Femininomenon.”
The Midwest Princess Rises (2023)
Her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” arrived September 22, 2023, to critical acclaim. The synth-pop record showcased her theatrical style and bold queer lyrics. Olivia Rodrigo’s invitation to open her Sour Tour in 2022 and later the Guts World Tour in 2024 exposed Roan to larger audiences.
Rodrigo revealed in December 2023 that Roan was her most-streamed artist on Spotify Wrapped. Roan also provided backing vocals on Rodrigo’s second album “Guts,” strengthening their professional bond. Her Naked in North America tour launched in February 2023, featuring campy theme nights with local drag queens performing.
BBC Radio 1 named her their Sound of 2025, recognizing her rising influence. Billboard listed her among their top 10 Emerging Artists in October 2023. Her album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Breakthrough and Stardom (2024)
Roan’s breakthrough moment came at Coachella in April 2024. Her performance in the Gobi tent—wearing a PVC crop top reading “Eat Me”—went viral. She stared directly into a camera and dedicated “My Kink is Karma” to her ex, and the clip catalyzed explosive growth.
Her April 2024 single “Good Luck, Babe!” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a global top-five hit. The song was originally titled “Good Luck, Jane,” she revealed to the BBC, about falling for her best friend who didn’t reciprocate. By summer 2024, festivals continually upgraded her to bigger stages.
At Lollapalooza in August, she drew the event’s largest-ever daytime crowd, performing in a boxing ring set with bodybuilders. Songs like “Hot to Go!” (with its viral TikTok dance) and “Pink Pony Club” both reached the UK top five. Her TikTok dance tutorial video for “Hot To Go!” amassed over 6 million views on YouTube.
She made her late-night television debut on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in February 2024. Her NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance in March 2024 showcased her vocal range. She made her Saturday Night Live debut as musical guest in November 2024, where she first performed “The Giver” before its official release.
Chappell Roan Fame, Boundaries, and Advocacy (2024-2025)
At the 67th Grammy Awards, Roan became only the 15th artist nominated for all “Big Four” awards in one night. She won Best New Artist and used her platform to advocate for artist welfare. “When I got dropped, I had zero job experience under my belt, and like most people, I had quite a difficult time finding a job in the pandemic,” she said in her Grammy acceptance speech.
Roan has been vocal about fame’s darker aspects. In August 2024, she posted TikTok videos condemning fans’ “creepy” and “invasive” behavior, including stalking her parents’ home. Someone showed up at her New York City hotel room, and a stranger grabbed and kissed her on the street without consent.
She turned down a White House Pride celebration invitation, telling the Governors Ball crowd in June 2024: “We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all.” At Governors Ball, she dressed as the Statue of Liberty when making this public statement. She canceled tour dates to protect her well-being, crediting her grandfather’s wisdom about always having options.
She appeared on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast in March 2025, discussing feeling pressure to share political opinions. At the MTV Video Music Awards, where she won Best New Artist, she dedicated the award to drag artists and queer kids in the Midwest. She’s particularly outspoken about trans rights, stating that trans joy must be protected above all else.
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Musical Evolution and “The Giver” (2025)
In March 2025, Roan released “The Giver,” her first country song. It debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and number five on the Hot 100. She became only the third woman (after Beyoncé and Bebe Rexha) to top the country chart with her first entry.
She told Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast that she wrote it not to “invade country music” but because “I just think a lesbian country song is really funny.” The track topped Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales charts. Her crossover into country music demonstrated her versatility and willingness to explore new genres.
“Good Luck, Babe!” was one of the most streamed songs on Spotify in 2024. The album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” ranked in the top five streamed records of the year.
Artistry and Identity
Roan’s soprano vocal range and synth-heavy pop production draw from diverse influences including Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, Lady Gaga, Kesha, and Britney Spears. Her aesthetic combines drag culture’s theatrical excess with 1980s glam—bright red lipstick, curly red hair, white face paint, and colorful outfits. Her stylist Genesis Webb reminded her to work out in heeled boots to prepare for performing in heels.
She views “Chappell Roan” as her drag persona, likening it to Hannah Montana—a character “more open and confident, especially regarding sex” than her real self. Offstage, she’s a self-described Fortnite-playing introvert who keeps her costumes in storage. She loves alone time and maintains clear boundaries between her stage persona and personal life.
Her shows feature local drag queens as opening acts, with ticket proceeds supporting Gworls, a Black trans-led charity. She told The Face in September 2024, “I feel like fame is just abusive.” She stopped reading comments and DMs, hiring someone to manage her social media accounts as of October 2023.
Chappell Roan Personal Life
Roan currently lives in Los Angeles and identifies as a lesbian. In August 2023, she confirmed she was in a relationship with a woman, though she felt scared to show affection publicly due to internalized homophobia. By September 2024, she mentioned meeting someone outside the music industry but remained hesitant to commit amid rapid life changes.
She recently adopted a rescue cat named Cherub Lou, who she describes as “super tiny, her breath smells so bad, and she doesn’t have a meow.” Her current relationship with religion is “evolving” after being raised Christian. She told the Washington Post she has a “pretty toxic relationship” with social media. Her uncle, Darin Chappell, is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives, though she maintains her own distinct political views.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Roan’s success represents a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream pop. As the first openly lesbian artist to achieve pop stardom without closeting herself early in her career, she’s created space for authentic queer storytelling. Her shows celebrate queer joy and drag culture, making her concerts safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.
She’s reshaping conversations about what sustainable pop stardom looks like by openly discussing boundaries with fans and media. Her advocacy for systemic change in how labels treat developing artists challenges industry norms. She comes from a family of mixed European descent.
Her advice to aspiring artists reflects her decade-long journey: “It just takes a decade. If you’re OK with it taking 10 years, then you’re good.” Her late grandfather Dennis Chappell told her, “You don’t need a plan B. Just do it,” wisdom she carries forward. From Willard High School to Grammy-winning artist, she’s proven that authenticity and persistence pay off.
Key Achievements
Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025. She was nominated for all “Big Four” Grammy awards in one night, joining only 14 other artists in history. Her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” topped charts in multiple countries.
“Good Luck, Babe!” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. “The Giver” made her the third woman to debut at number one on Hot Country Songs. She drew Lollapalooza’s largest-ever daytime crowd in August 2024.
She won Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2024. BBC Radio 1 named her their Sound of 2025. Billboard recognized her as a top 10 Emerging Artist in October 2023.
Philosophy and Outlook
Roan believes in setting firm boundaries to protect her well-being. She’s willing to sacrifice commercial success for self-preservation, as shown when she canceled tour dates. Her grandfather’s teaching that “there are always options” guides her decision-making in the face of industry pressures.
She’s transparent about the challenges of fame while advocating for better treatment of developing artists. Her willingness to speak out about artist welfare and demand livable wages and health insurance from record labels sets her apart. She maintains that authenticity matters more than conforming to industry expectations.
Looking forward, she continues to evolve as an artist while staying true to her Midwest roots and queer identity. Her trajectory from a failed major label artist to Grammy-winning pop phenomenon took nearly a decade. She’s reshaping what it means to be a pop star on her own unapologetically queer, theatrically excessive, and boundary-setting terms.
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Conclusion
Chappell Roan has transformed from a small-town Missouri girl into a Grammy-winning force in queer pop music. Her journey through label rejection and service jobs to mainstream success proves that persistence and authenticity create lasting impact. With her theatrical performances, drag-inspired aesthetic, and unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ representation, she’s not just making music—she’s changing the industry.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, her net worth of $10 million, chart-topping hits, and sold-out shows reflect commercial success, but her real legacy lies in the doors she’s opening. Young queer artists now see a path forward that doesn’t require hiding who they are. As she continues to release music, advocate for change, and set boundaries, Chappell Roan proves that the Midwest Princess has become pop royalty.
Chappell Roan’s story isn’t just about fame — it’s about freedom. She turned rejection and doubt into art that gives others the courage to be themselves. Her rise shows that staying true to your identity can be the most powerful success of all.
FAQ’s About Chappell Roan
How tall is Chappell Roan?
Chappell Roan stands approximately 5’2″ (157 cm) tall.
What is Chappell Roan’s real name?
Her real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, with her stage name honoring her late grandfather Dennis K. Chappell.
What is Chappell Roan’s net worth?
As of 2025, her estimated net worth is approximately $10 million (per Celebrity Net Worth).
Is Chappell Roan in a relationship?
She identifies as a lesbian and mentioned meeting someone outside the music industry as of September 2024.
What are Chappell Roan’s biggest songs?
Her biggest hits include “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Pink Pony Club,” “Hot to Go!,” and “The Giver.”
Where is Chappell Roan from?
She’s from Willard, Missouri, a small town near Springfield, and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Did Chappell Roan win a Grammy?
Yes, she won Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025.
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