Chappell Roan triumphed over Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for Best New Artist on Sunday, marking an extraordinary rise to fame for an artist who had been dropped by her previous record label.
Roan, an openly queer artist who embraces drag culture, gained significant attention in 2024 with songs like “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Red Wine Supernova,” and “Hot To Go!” from her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
During her acceptance speech, Roan addressed the importance of providing a livable wage and healthcare for emerging artists, urging record labels to support their talent. “It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized,” she shared.
She closed her speech with a memorable line that sparked cheers: “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”
In addition to winning Best New Artist, Roan received five other Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Chappell Roan claimed the Best New Artist Grammy, defeating competitors such as Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.
Roan began her music career in 2015 after signing with Atlantic Records, where she released several singles, including “Pink Pony Club.” However, in 2020, the label dropped her, leading Roan to return to her hometown and work as a barista. Despite the setback, she later released her debut full-length album, marking a significant turning point in her career.
Chappell Roan gained mainstream attention after opening for Olivia Rodrigo on her Guts tour and later performed to a record-breaking crowd at Lollapalooza.
She also took home the Best New Artist award at the 2024 MTV VMAs, beating out competitors such as Shaboozey, Gracie Abrams, Tyla, and Teddy Swims.
In a 2023 interview, Roan reflected on the inspiration behind her music, saying, “I think a lot of the songs come from daydreams, a lot of that daydreaming happened in Missouri, in this repressed state, not having a queer community growing up, and feeling really weird.”
Roan now joins a prestigious list of past Best New Artist winners, including The Beatles, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Culture Club, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Adele, Dua Lipa, and Chance the Rapper.
