An ode to the pink pony princess
Chappell Roan has ensured that the future of pop music is sexually liberating, campy, and glitter-filled
I take pride in my eclectic music tastes. Just a few shuffles on one of my many Spotify playlists features songs ranging from the Bee Gees, Ice Cube, Alice in Chains, Kendrick Lamar, Pale Jay, Electric Light Orchestra, Chris Stapleton, Ocean Alley, and thousands of other equally talented musicians. Despite this, I’ve found myself hyper-fixated on one name in particular these last six months.
Chappell Roan.
Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, the 26-year-old American singer and songwriter’s music is a mixture of camp, glitter, sexual liberation, and queer celebration. And while Roan addresses current social issues throughout her songs — queerphobia, sexuality, paternalism, performative gender roles, and life as an adult (to name a few) — she has managed to weave together a nostalgic early 2000s pop music feel with sounds of disco, country, 80’s synth, and 90’s pop.
Roan performing in Denver, Colorado in 2023. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
Although Roan’s career appears to have taken off overnight, the artist has been in the music industry for nearly a decade. In 2017, Roan signed her first major label deal with Atlantic Records. However, she was dropped just three years later.
Roan then began releasing music as an independent artist during the pandemic. In 2023, she was signed to another major label: Amusement Records/Island Records — owned by Grammy-winning producer Dan Nigro.
Nigro is widely known for his work with pop-singer Olivia Rodrigo, whom Roan opened for during select gigs during Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ tour.
Roan’s debut full-length album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ was later released in September 2023, followed by a headline 33-date run tour across the United States.
Roan’s album cover for ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,’ which she styled herself. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
The album features soulful songs that touch on Roan’s lived experiences of discovering and celebrating her lesbian sexuality with tracks such as ‘Casual’, ‘Kaleidoscope’, and ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ While others — ‘Femininomen’, ‘HOT TO GO!’, ‘Red Wine Supernova”, and ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’ are upbeat love letters to the LGBTQ+ community.
Relatedly, much of Roan’s music is heavily influenced by drag queens. Not only are her lyrics raunchy (for example, “Knee deep in the passenger seat, and you're eating me out/ Is it casual now?), they’re also colorful and uplifting to those struggling to find inclusive spaces. Her personal style and makeup also invoke drag culture. From her red hair, bright-colored accessories, over-the-top glam, and rinestoned outfits, it’s no wonder the artist is known for having fun.
Roan’s Coachella weekend two hot pink butterfly costume inspired by American Singer, Songwriter, and DJ Lady Miss Kier Kirby. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
Roan’s concerts are filled with choreographed dancing. And although it’s common for singers to dance alongside backup dancers, Roan has specific choreographed dances that her audience members participate in.
Many have coined her choreographed dance for ‘HOT TO GO!’ the new generation’s ‘YMCA.’
One of Roan’s most popular songs ‘Pink Pony Club’ tells the story of a small-town girl who leaves home to dance at a West Hollywood club inspired by the historic queer venue, The Abbey. Having been born in Willard, Missouri (a town with a little over 6,500 people) and moving to Los Angeles, it is clear that Roan has drawn from her own life as inspiration.
Roan wearing a pink-bejeweled outfit in honor of her ‘Pink Pony Girl’ song for the 2024 Pride on the Shore festival. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
Moreover, the pop artist has publicly said on numerous occasions that she feels strongly about continuing to perform in red states and areas where queer persons often lack representation and resources.
Roan performing in a camo-princess outfit in her home state, Missouri. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
More recently, Roan performed at the 2024 Governors Ball Music Festival held in Randall’s Island, New York City. It was no shock that the singer dressed in a campy outfit, but many were not expecting Roan to enter from an apple bong (used to smoke weed and other herbal substances) while dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
Roan in her apple bong for Gov Ball. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
And yes, she was even painted Lady Liberty’s same green shade.
Lady Liberty. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan on Instagram.
While opening her performance (and in the midst of coming out of the apple bong) the screen behind roan displayed a Google browser showing search results for “Am I gay?” and “girls kissing.”
She additionally shared during the set that she turned down an invitation to perform at this year’s Pride celebrations at the White House. In fact, she dedicated her performance of ‘My Kink is Karma’ to the administration before stating that “The White House, who asked me to perform for Pride: we want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come.”
She was met with loud cheers from the crowd, many waving pride flags.
Roan also recited part of activist and poet Emma Lazarus’s poem ‘The New Colossus,’ which is engraved on the Statue of Liberty. “I am in drag of the biggest queen of all,” she said while on stage. “But in case you had forgotten what’s etched on my pretty little toes, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ That means freedom in trans rights. That means freedom in women’s rights. And it especially means freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories.”
Many in attendance waved Palestine’s flag in response.
During her Raleigh, North Carolina set, just days ago, Roan also broke down on stage, expressing that her career’s recent acceleration has been difficult to keep up with. “This is all I’ve ever wanted,” she said. “It’s just so heavy at times.”
As a result, her crowd cheered, applauded, chanted “Chappell”, and gave the singer the space and time to express all she wanted.
Now, having explained just a brief portion of Chappell Roan’s alluring talent, it’s also her love and representation for the LGBTQ+ community that has had me replaying her songs time and time again.
More specifically, a portion of her ticket sales are donated to LGBTQ+ suicide prevention non-profit The Trevor Project, fundraising organization for Black trans peoples’ rent and affirmative surgeries For the Gworls, and the Ozark’s LGBTQ+ community center The Glo. Roan also regularly has drag queens as the opening act for her concerts.
And lastly, there is something so liberating about a young woman proudly proclaiming her love for other female-bodied individuals.
Chappell Roan is a reminder that being queer is beautiful, brave, fun, and above all else, human.