Who is Chappell Roan? Rising Star Went From Being a Camp Counselor to a Massive Pop Star in a Year

Chappell Roan is currently one of the biggest artists in the world. She took over the world of music by storm after her album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, made its way to the charts and was listened to by millions of fans. Despite her overnight success, many people don't seem to know her background yet; take a look at the trajectory of the pop star's career as she continues to garner a massive fanbase with her songs.

Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, the singer spent her childhood in Willard, MO. Like other artists who aspired to be a big sensation, Roan started uploading covers and original songs to her YouTube channel.

However, she wasn't fond of the music she listened to growing up, saying in an interview with the Line of Best Fit: "I grew up on Christian rock... And I will say, with my whole chest; it's the worst music I've ever heard."

But she later discovered musical icons that she looked up to as a teenager as she started to be immersed in music by Lorde, Lana del Rey, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Drake.

By 17, she signed under Atlantic Records and released her first EP, School Nights. Upon releasing her now-massive hit, "Pink Pony Club," four years ago, the musician was dropped by her label.

Fortunately, she was able to collaborate with famed songwriter Dan Nigro, who also worked with Olivia Rodrigo, and she continued releasing new music until she made her Billboard chart debut last year.

Prior to taking over the charts in 2024, the musician was juggling her work as an artist and a summer camp counselor.

"I teach at a summer camp, I'm a cabin counsellor because I love it and this job sweeps you away with the tide," she said of her work in 2023, adding, "It's so easy to feel that this is your whole world and there's nothing going on outside, but working at a summer camp where I just help with the dishes. It's just so grounded."

In 2024, the entire trajectory of her career changed after she opened for Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour and became a performer at Coachella. Since then, the musician has constantly amassed new fans, going from one million listeners on Spotify to more than 20 million.

Four of her songs, including her breakout song "Good Luck, Babe!", are now topping the Billboard Hot 100.

Despite her success, the singer seems overwhelmed, as she admitted during a performance at the Red Hat Amphitheater in North Carolina that she's having a hard time keeping up with her career.

"I just want to be honest with the crowd. I just feel a little off today 'cause I think that my career is going really fast and it's really hard to keep up," she said.

She later clarified that what she has now is what she has ever wanted, but it feels heavy sometimes.

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Chappell Roan, Career, News, Music