Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known professionally asChappell Roan, is an American singer and songwriter. Working with collaborator Dan Nigro, the majority of her music is inspired by 1980s synth-pop and early 2000s pop hits. Her aesthetic is heavily influenced by drag queens, and her music and performing style have been described as "campy".
When she was 17, Roan uploaded an original song, "Die Young", to YouTube. She was signed to Atlantic Records shortly thereafter. In 2017, she released her debut EP, School Nights. Her 2020 single "Pink Pony Club" was a stylistic departure from her early releases and facilitated Roan's initial rise to prominence. She was dropped from Atlantic Records that same year.
Following a short break, she released a series of songs independently in 2022. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, was released through Island Records in 2023 and was included in several best albums of 2023 year-end lists. Although not an immediate commercial success, the album garnered a cult following by early 2024, being regarded as a "sleeper hit".
The album's commercial breakthrough was largely influenced by Roan's stint as a supporting act on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour, her performances at music festivals including Coachella and Governors Ball, and the success of her follow-up single, "Good Luck, Babe!". By mid-2024, the album had climbed worldwide charts considerably, peaking at number one in Ireland, New Zealand and the UK, and within the top five on the U.S. Billboard 200 and Australia. Subsequently, several of its singles entered various charts for the first time since their release.
