Chappell Roan Says She Doesn't Care About the Charting Success of Her Music: 'This Is Giving Valedictorian'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chappell Roan performs during 2024 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in June 2024.Photo:Erika Goldring/Getty

Chappell Roan performs during 2024 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

Erika Goldring/Getty

Chappell Roandoesn’t feel any differently about her art now that she’s becoming a household name.

The 26-year-old “Hot to Go” singer — who over the summer has commandedbigger crowds than ever beforeand watched her music climb theBillboardcharts for the first time — shared in a newInterview Magazineconversation withSaturday Night LivestarBowen Yangon Monday, Aug. 19 that even with her newfound fame, she’s “never given a f— about the charts or being on the radio.”

“The biggest thing has been getting recognized, and just feeling not myself. And touring, it’s all-consuming,” Roan (real name Kayleigh Amstutz) said. “I’ve never given a f— about the charts or being on the radio, but it’s so crazy how industry people are taking me more seriously than before. I’m like, ‘I’ve been doing this the whole time, bitch.'”

Chappell Roan attends the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards at The Houdini Estate on May 08, 2024.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Chappell Roan attends the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards at The Houdini Estate on May 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Roan’s 2023 albumThe Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princessis currently sitting at No. 3 on theBillboard200, while her latest single, “Good Luck, Babe!” hit recently hit a peak of No. 6 on the Hot 100 songs chart. Additionally, her tracks “Hot to Go!,” “Pink Pony Club,” “Red Wine Supernova,” “Casual,” “Femininomenon” and “My Kink Is Karma” have all appeared on the Hot 100 in recent weeks.

Speaking with Yang, Roan explained that her career “doesn’t mean anything more now that I have a charting album and song.”

“If anything, I’m just like, ‘F— you guys for not seeing what actually matters.’ A chart is so fleeting,” she added. “Everyone leaves the charts. I’m just like, ‘This is giving valedictorian.'”

As for how much things have changed for Roan’s career in recent months, the pop star explained in theInterviewchat that she ultimately “never really expected it to grow this big.”

“I feel like I peaked a couple of years ago. Back then, I was like, ‘I sold out Bowery Ballroom and that’s crazy.’ It’s been amazing to do bigger shows, and open forOlivia [Rodrigo], but everything right now is truly icing on the cake,” she said, adding that she feels “very supported” while “trying to navigate” her rising star. “Because I’ve never not been myself. I’m really glad the persona that I have, the drag version, is still very much me.”

“My career has worked because I’ve done it my way, and I’ve not compromised morals and time,” she later shared. “I have not succumbed to the pressure. Like, ‘Bitch! I’m not doing a brand deal if it doesn’t feel right. I don’t care how much you’re paying me.’ That’s why I can sleep at night.”

Chappell Roan performs during Governors Ball in New York City in June 2024.Marleen Moise/Getty

Chappell Roan performs during the 2024 Governors Ball

Marleen Moise/Getty

“Anyway, that’s all I’ve done this week is discover Chappell Roan."

Throughout the next two months, Roan is set to continue her “Femininomenon” as she performs in Germany, France, Manchester, London, Forest Hills (New York) and beyond.

source: people.com