Pop sensation Chappell Roan defeated fierce opposition, including from current performers Shaboozey and Sabrina Carpenter, to win the Grammy for Best New Artist on Sunday.
The accolade completes a year in which Roan transformed from a struggling musician to the music industry’s It Girl.
During her acceptance speech, the 26-year-old called on the recording industry to provide more social protections and treat struggling artists with greater respect.
To cheers, she remarked, “I promised myself that if I ever won a Grammy and had the opportunity to stand in front of the most influential people in the music industry, I would demand that labels that make millions of dollars off of artists provide a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists.”
As the coronavirus pandemic swept the country, she described how hard it was to get a job after being fired by her label for having “zero job experience.”
“Being so dedicated to my art and feeling so dehumanized and betrayed by the system was devastating,” she added.
“Artists should be treated like valuable employees by record labels,” she stated. “We got you, Labels, but do you have us?”
Victoria Monét presents Chappell Roan with the Best New Artist trophy during the 67th GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, at Crypto.com Arena.
The musician, who was born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz on February 19, 1998, in a small Missouri town, started playing the piano and singing at an early age. She gained notoriety in her teens for videos she posted on YouTube.
To support herself as a barista, she relocated to Los Angeles and then back home before finally establishing herself with hits like “Pink Pony Club” and “Naked in Manhattan,” which gained newfound recognition once her debut studio album was released.
The album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” was widely praised upon its release, and several magazines listed it as one of the best releases of the year.
With a pop-forward, dance-heavy beat, the daring, emotional album covers themes of sensuality, heartbreak, and longing. Her remarkable vocals, which one critic described as “singing in cursive,” are also included.
Before Roan’s vivacious performances, notably at major festivals, catapulted her to the forefront of pop culture, the record remained largely underground for several months following its release.
Part of the appeal is her artistic identity, which often combines camp costumery and heavy makeup with inspiration from the drag industry.
Hot to Go! Became her first Top 10 hit, and other songs like “Good Luck, Babe!” went viral.
In addition to publicly supporting the Palestinian people and queer and transgender rights, Roan has also been vocal about the psychological effects of her enormous celebrity.
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