Meet Gen Z’s Madonna: Pop’s new superstar Chappell Roan speaks out about ‘overtly sexual’ songs

What set Roan apart was how unapologetically fun and silly her music was; there’s not another pop musician right now on any level of fame that will open an album with a song called “Femininomenon” and include the line “get it hot like Papa John” in the chorus. Her lyrics were frank about her sexuality, particularly in a viral line from Midwest Prin... See more

She also intentionally dictates how her community should engage—for example, by suggesting “themes” for different tour dates to bring the fanbase together. She both expresses herself and pulls self-expression out of her fans.

Chappell Roan is one of the most interesting new celebrities to study because she embodies so much of what the younger gener... See more

To understand how we got here, it’s important to know Roan’s perilous journey, encompassing all big three major labels. Born in Missouri and raised in a conservative Christian household, she was signed to Warner’s Atlantic Records and positioned as the next Lorde after a video of her 2017 single “Die Young” went viral, and moved to L.A. to pursue h... See more