Chappell Roan took home the Best New Artist award at the 2025 Grammys, beating nominees like Sabrina Carpenter. Overcome with emotion, she accepted the award in drag-inspired makeup and a bold yellow cone hat.
“I told myself that if I ever got to stand here, I would demand that labels and the industry, profiting millions, offer a livable wage,” Roan said. She shared her struggles as a former minor signed by a label, later dropped and unable to afford health insurance. “We (artists) got you, but do you got us?” she asked.
Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz in Missouri, Roan was nominated in six categories, including Song of the Year for Good Luck, Babe! She gained attention for her disco-infused track Pink Pony Club, inspired by a West Hollywood bar, The Abbey. Though released in 2020, the song gained mainstream traction four years later.
Her 2023 album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, earned Album of the Year recognition and a devoted fanbase. Roan’s high-energy 1980s-inspired pop sound made her a standout at festivals like Lollapalooza 2024 and Kentuckiana Pride Festival. She also opened for Olivia Rodrigo on the Guts World Tour.
Roan’s journey wasn’t easy. She auditioned for America’s Got Talent but wasn’t selected, later gaining traction through YouTube covers. In 2015, Atlantic Records signed her after she performed her original song Die Young.
At 26, the openly queer artist champions LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and drag culture in her music. Following past winners like Adele (2009) and Dua Lipa (2019), her win cements her place as a rising pop star.
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