The Midwest pop sensation opens up about creative influences, newfound fame, and the thrill of live performances at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
At a special Grammy Museum event in Los Angeles, singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, often hailed as the “Midwest Princess,” took the stage alongside Grammy-nominated producer Dan Nigro and moderator Brandi Carlile. Known for her boundary-pushing pop sound and fierce onstage persona, Roan shared insights into her creative journey and the unexpected spark behind her hit single “Hot to Go!”
Roan revealed that her career-changing epiphany came while watching Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, particularly during the electrifying recreation of Queen’s Live Aid performance of “Radio Ga Ga.” The scene, she said, illuminated a new path for her artistry. “Why I even really switched so hardcore into pop was because I watched the Queen movie with Rami,” Roan shared. “That scene whenever they’re performing Live Aid and performing ‘Radio Ga Ga’… that changed my career. It pivoted and I was like, ‘I will do like whatever it takes [to recreate that].’”
As Carlile listened, she asked Roan if the scene filled her with pride as a queer artist, sensing the power and joy that comes from such authentic expression. “I wasn’t there yet,” Roan explained, reflecting on the time before she came out. Instead, she was drawn to the sheer magnitude of energy and unity Queen inspired in that moment. “I just would do anything to feel that way in a crowd,” she said. “I thought to myself, how do I do something like that? I can look out and have everyone do the same thing. It was so powerful.”
Producer Dan Nigro chimed in, noting how Queen’s influence subtly shaped Roan’s unique sound and helped cultivate her “femininomenon” brand, which celebrates unapologetic femininity and theatricality. Together, they observed how Roan’s live shows have become the heart of her artistry. “I knew the whole time I just wanted to write songs that would be amazing live,” Roan emphasized. “I genuinely think that’s why this project has caught on fire this year. It’s been my year of performing live. These songs were never meant to be hidden on an album somewhere.”
This whirlwind year has indeed been momentous for Roan, who earned six Grammy nominations earlier that day, including Album of the Year for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and Best New Artist. Reflecting on her rapid rise, Roan admitted, “My life is completely different now… Every big thing that happens in someone’s career happened in five months for me. It’s so crazy that things I never thought would happen happened times 10. I think that that just really rocked my system.”
As she steps into a new level of fame, Roan has found grounding in her stage persona, Chappell. “Chappell is a character,” she explained. “I just can’t be here all the time. It’s just too much.” Though navigating fame has been a challenge, Roan’s resilience and dedication to crafting a live experience as unforgettable as that Queen concert remain her driving force. With her Grammy-nominated album and growing acclaim, Roan is poised to lead her fans on a vibrant and powerful journey in the world of pop music.
