Chappell Roan: Midwest Rise to Grammy Spotlight
Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Amstutz in Missouri, rose from a pandemic-era exit from Atlantic Records to win Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys and now faces two more nominations at the 2026 Grammys for Subway. After being dropped by a label in 2020, she built an independent career capped by The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023) and high-profile collaborations with Olivia Rodrigo, including opening for tours and providing backing vocals. Known for drag-inspired fashion and openness about mental health (Bipolar II) and her queer identity (publicly coming out in 2024), she has spoken out on paparazzi and politics (turning down a White House Pride performance). Roan says her next album may take years, with occasional country-leaning releases like The Giver.