The Rise and Fall (and rise again...and most likely fall again) of a Midwest Princess
Featured Image Credit: JC Olivera/Wireimage via Getty Images
December 2023 was not a great time for me. Glasgow was dark, and cold, with mushrooms growing out of the wall, the ceiling was on the verge of collapsing, and I was surviving on porridge and toast because, once again, my bank account was running low. University deadlines were piling up (alarmingly fast might I add), and I was sitting through one shambolic meeting with my dissertation supervisor (and the mice in my walls) after another. I needed to escape, so firstly, I physically left Glasgow for a fortnight, and secondly, I discovered a little album entitled ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ by Chappell Roan. Heard of it?
It got me through that particular hellish fortnight (and some since). Naturally, I was hooked and bombarded all of my peers with it as well. So, it soundtracked winter '23 for me, and a word of advice for any students: if ever you find yourself needing to crank out an essay on theories of artistic expression at 2 am, just listen to Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl on repeat.
Within 6 months, everyone knew the name Chappell Roan - including my mum, who was chuffed each time she heard HOTTOGO on BBC Radio 2. Roan's rise to fame was truly astronomical, overnight yet a decade in the making.
So, how, and why did this happen?
Firstly, she was the opener for Olivia Rodrigo's 'GUTS' tour, exposing her to an entirely new fanbase as her songs went viral on social media (specifically TikTok). Secondly, in April 2024 Roan released Good Luck Babe, and combined with her stellar Coachella performance of the same year, these catapulted her to the stars.
I think more than anything, people were intrigued by Roan - her outlandish style made her instantly recognisable and noticeable. Roan often talks about how she draws inspiration for her various looks from drag artists, the LGBTQ+ community playing a pivotal role in both her own coming-of-age story and the art she creates, both musically and visually. And of course, we can't forget her NPR Tiny Desk Concert, which left audiences wondering, 'Who is this girl with a white painted face, lipstick on her teeth and a humongous auburn wig singing her heart out about the frustrations of 'Casual' relationships?'
In my opinion, what the public loves more than anything is the story of an underdog. Roan, like many, had tried, and to an extent failed, to be recognised by the industry for years before her rise. Moving to LA as a teen, signing to Atlantic Records and beginning her artistic endeavours, she was quickly dropped by the label and sent home to Missouri with empty pockets and shattered dreams. LA: the City of Dreams, or the City of Ashes? Let the Executives decide. Roan had to rebuild her career from scratch as an independent artist, grinding for years to attain the success she seemingly achieved overnight. Roan is one of the few people to accurately fit the elusive narrative of the American Dream: that hard work and unwavering self-belief can take you to where you want to be, against all odds.
Chappell Roan has become a household name, and for a moment was beloved by all. I mean she attracted a crowd of over 100,000 people for the renowned Lollapalooza festival, setting a record for the biggest daytime set in the festival's history. Finally, the recognition she deserved. Yet, how did this affect her humanity? What must it feel like to go from leading a relatively normal life, creating art you are passionate about for a small, cult following who adores you to suddenly being the most talked about pop star in America? It is an experience very few on this earth can relate to, but Roan shone a light on the intrusive nature of fan culture in a series of raw, unfiltered TikTok videos.
Roan rightly pointed out how invasive (not to mention dangerous) fan culture has become, detailing her experiences of being stalked, and feeling like her family members were in danger. These videos received major backlash online, with people instantly labelling her as a 'diva' or 'ungrateful.' Yet, Roan doubled down on her message on her Instagram - she unambiguously wants it to be known that she is not possessed by the public, she is still an autonomous person. Some people online understood, and others got defensive, struggling with Roan's contention that the parasocial relationships fans foster with their idols are weird. It is often assumed that celebrities ought to be unwaveringly grateful to their fans, after all, we are the ones who sell out shows, stream albums, and buy merch. But... does this mean we own them or de facto deserve their time, energy and space? I would agree with Roan and say no.
Ultimately, people were uncomfortable by the bluntness of her comments because it is not how we expect (female) celebrities to behave. Here, Roan is not demure, soft-spoken, or emphasising how much she loves her fans, even the weird ones. No, she is blunt, raw, and almost too human to fit into the comfortable box we have trapped celebrities in. Roan held a mirror up to us (the fans) and what reflected at us was not pretty.
Regarding the 2024 US Election, Chappell Roan said, 'There are problems on both sides,' [meaning the Republicans and Democrats when read in context] in an interview for The Guardian. Born from a moment which perhaps highlights her lack of media training, Roan's words were skewed in online spaces, with people suddenly labelling her a covert conservative because she would not wholeheartedly endorse Kamala Harris. The phrase 'there are problems on both sides,' arguably is not the best way to convey what she was trying to say. But, with a little awareness of her story and media literacy, it should be obvious that Chappell Roan leans more left than both political parties, not that she is a secret right-winger. Roan once again, took to social media to try and clear up what she meant, exhibiting the realness and rawness which was becoming her characteristic MO.
Unlike most artists, Roan has really strong principles which she holds to - she was happy to call out the Democratic party's failure on Palestine and trans issues, meaning she could not happily endorse Harris, but would be voting for her. To me, this was brave. But to many others, this was stupid. In an increasingly fraught political landscape, the general mood was 'if you're anywhere on the left and not voting for Harris, you're immoral.' This became even more pronounced when Donald Trump won. At that time, I was so immersed in post-election media, and some of the most infuriating commentary came from people who said Harris' loss was due to pro-Palestinians, third-party voters, and non-voters who were 'too woke' for the Democrats. There was even a TikTok that specifically named Chappell Roan as one of the reasons the Democrats lost, which is absurd. How can one pop star who pointed out real issues about the Democratic party be to blame for the loss of an entire election? All this to say, coming into the autumn of 2024, Chappell Roan was no longer universally beloved. It really was, 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess'.
Today, Roan is once again rising, making numerous late-night show debuts, teasing new music, and most notably, winning the Grammy for Best New Artist. She took time in her acceptance speech to advocate for artists' rights and spoke in defence of trans rights on the red carpet.
Chappell Roan is undoubtedly a force for good, re-carving the role of artists in society whilst simultaneously bringing the fun back to mainstream pop music. The advocacy Chappell Roan has done (especially for the queer community) cannot be understated. She takes her role, and her art, seriously, and that alone deserves commendation.
And so it continues... we pick a female celebrity, gleefully venerate her to an impossible position of fame, trap her there, and then tear her down when the cracks start to emerge. When confronted with the real person, rather than the idol on the pedestal, people panic. When will it stop? Sure, Roan is in the public's good graces after the Grammys, but until we begin to treat celebrities (especially female celebrities) better, my prediction is that before long, she will be discarded to the dustbin of disdain created for artists who are 'too real, too fake, and too much of a diva'.
