How Chappell Roan Became "Hot to Go"

Chappell Roan came onto the scene in 2014, but fame did not immediately follow. She started posting songs on YouTube and performing in her hometown of Willard, Missouri. Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, she chose her stage name in 2016 to honor her late grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, and his favorite song, "The Strawberry Roan." She was signed to Atlantic Records ahead of her debut album, School Nights, which received positive critical reception. She toured with Vance Joy and Declan McKenna, beginning to find herself as a young artist.

She then released her famous single "Pink Pony Club," centered around themes of self-expression. However, her work up until that point was not profitable enough for Atlantic Records, which dropped her in 2020. What's more, her collaborator, Dan Nigro, pivoted to working more with Olivia Rodrigo after the release of her massively successful song "Driver's License." Chappell Roan returned home to Missouri to work on her music independently.

In a turn of events, Roan signed a publishing deal with Sony in 2022, began to write with Dan Nigro again, and opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her Guts World Tour. Roan had just recently released her debut full-length album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess." Around the same time, her singles "Casual," "Red Wine Supernova," and "Hot to Go!" started to gain popularity.

In 2024, Chappell released "Good Luck, Babe!" which she called "the first song of the next chapter." This song made it to 6th on the Billboard chart. By summer of 2024, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" made it to #2 on the Billboard albums chart. Her performance at Lollapalooza marked the highest attendance the festival had ever seen.

Chappell Roan calls Kate Bush her biggest musical influence, along with Stevie Nicks, Ellie Goulding, Lorde, Lana Del Rey. Her onstage performance, makeup, and costume is heavily inspired by the art of drag. This Midwest Princess is certainly on the rise!