6 ways Chappell Roan is making an impact as an LGBTQ+ pop star

When it comes to pop music, Chappell Roan is the sweet spot right now. While the singer has been making music and playing shows for years, this summer the artist experienced one of the most meteoric rises in popularity the industry has seen in some time when her single “Good Luck, Babe!” became a verified chart-topping hit and bop. But not only is Roan your favorite artist’s favorite artist (with people like Olivia Rodrigo call it magicaland Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson recently covered her big hit), she is an incredible talent and is already establishing herself as a voice in the LGBTQ+ community that we need to take the time to celebrate.

Ahead of Roan is about to be the musical guest of one of the SNL hosts in season 50, let’s talk about the singer’s significant impact as a rising LGBTQ+ icon.

Chappell Roan kisses a mermaid underwater in the Casual music video — (Image credit: Island Records)

Chappell Roan’s music is explicitly queer (and it’s a joy to sing and dance to)

As we saw in the best LGBTQ+ movies Over the years, stories about queer people are often ones of struggle and sadness, as much of the world still doesn’t always make room for the community to fully be themselves and live loudly. But when it comes to Roan’s music, she’s not only explicitly herself in her sexuality with her smart, singable lyrics, she’s also created a celebratory album for the community with her 2023 album. The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess.

In record opener “Femininomenon,” Chappell Roan explains how her relationships with men have been “the same old story” before launching into an anthemic tune about how exploring romances with women through a “feminomenon” was much more satisfying for them. her. Or in “Red Wine Supernova,” where she describes a woman in love as a “playboy, Brigette Bardot,” and says her guy has “long hair (no bra).” With her music, she normalizes woman/woman romance without an ounce of shame, and the songs are so fiery that everyone sings along.

Chappell Roan in chainmail singing Good Luck Baby at the 2024 VMAs with fans' hands reaching out to him

(Image credit: YouTube/Chappell Roan/MTV)

His biggest hit is about a partner’s struggle for gay acceptance

While Chappell Roan has seen a surge in popularity with its 2023 record, The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princessit was the release of her single “Good Luck, Babe!” in April of this year, it really helped make her a verified mainstream pop star. It is especially beautiful that this song brought him mass fame, because it talks about a partner’s struggle against compulsory heterosexuality.

As the song details, she is in a relationship with a woman who says they “are nothing” as a couple, before saying she can “kiss 100 boys in bars” but that she “should stop the world just to stop the feeling.” “. Roan basically tells her ex-lover that she can ignore his homosexuality, but “good luck” with that because it’s part of his identity. It’s a topic rarely discussed in songs, and it’s one of the most important songs of 2024.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Chappell Roan performs during the 2024 Lollapalooza festival at Grant Park on August 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

(Image credit: Erika Goldring/WireImage)

Chappell Roan regularly gives credit to the Drag Queens who inspire him

Chappell Roan itself is a drag character the artist created based on his grandfather’s last name, “Chappell”, and his favorite song “The Strawberry Roan” by Curley Fletcher. Drag queens are an important part of the LGBTQ+ community that the artist can channel on such a scale, but because Chappell borrows from drag queens with her fashion, she always makes it a point to credit them as often as she can. Take a look at this tribute to Divine:

For another example, when she went viral for her set at Coachella, where she said, “I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist, she went out of her way to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon saying it was a “reference to Sasha Colby”, who is a former winner of the RuPaul’s Drag Race who said “I’m your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” Regarding appearance, she also shared that she and her team draw inspiration from drag, horror films, burlesque and theater.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 26: Chappell Roan performs during the 2024 Boston Calling Music Festival at the Harvard Athletic Complex on May 26, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

(Image credit: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

In addition to Chappell Roan frequently dressing in her drag queen style, she also inspires others to join her at her concerts. Before her shows, she uses social media to let fans know what the themes of each show will be. Here are some examples of its upcoming dates:

The themes are of course inspired by his hit songs! The fact that the audience is all wearing the same themed clothing really builds a community among their fans enjoying the show which is truly refreshing and rare. For those who go to the concert and imitate “Sirens”, it’s an easy way to start a conversation to talk about your outfits.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Chappell Roan attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

She opens up about her rising fame and mental health struggles

While fame and big hits are plenty exciting, Chappell Roan’s crazy-quick rise to popularity hasn’t been without its downsides, and the pop star has gone viral for talking about it. While many people in his position might attribute his run-ins with harassers and inappropriate behavior to on-field privilege, Chappell has recently taken the time to set boundaries with fans. Look at her Instagram job:

In addition to starting this conversation with the audience, Roan explained that she suffered from bipolar II disorder and how her mental health disorder affected her life and fame. In her rolling stone On the cover, the singer said her diagnosis “saved” her family. And before hitting the road again, the 26-year-old said The guardian that he was recently diagnosed with “severe depression”. Roan’s openness about his mental health issues only makes his fans love him more.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Chappell Roan accepts the award for Best New Artist on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

Chappell dedicated his first VMA to “Gays”

Chappell Roan just won her first music award earlier this month at the 2024 VMAs when she won the Moonman for Best New Artist. She accepted the award on stage while also addressing the LGBTQ+ community. In his words:

I dedicate it to all the drag artists who have inspired me. And I dedicate this to the queer and trans people who fuel pop music everywhere. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love… or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and my fears. Thanks for listening. And for all the gay kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you, because I’m one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitch.

So well said. Chappell Roan has established himself as an important and celebratory voice within the LGBTQ+ community. We will protect her at all costs and look forward to seeing her career continue to flourish – coming soon with her fall tour and Saturday evening live concert with John Mulaney on November 2.