Chappell Roan has had a whirlwind 2024, ascending from being an indie musician who struggled to pay her rent to becoming a full-on lesbian powerhouse who commands enormous crowds at music festivals across the country. It’s no surprise that the sapphic pop star was awarded Best New Artist at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday night.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop, to the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate,” she said in her VMAs acceptance speech, which she read from her diary. “For all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you because I am one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be.”
Earlier in the night, Roan put on a show-stopping performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” in which she fended off an army of knights with a crossbow — and with the sheer power of her live vocals. For her acceptance speech, Roan swapped out her look for a (slightly more comfortable) chainmail dress, complete with a hood and gold fringe.
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The 26-year-old artist’s life has completely transformed over the past year, as she has sold out arenas, served incredible performance looks, and appeared on primetime television shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Along the way, the rising lesbian pop star has lifted up other queer and trans people, hiring local drag performers to open at her shows and fundraising for LGBTQ+ rights. Not to mention Roan drew a record-breaking crowd to this year’s Lollapalooza, with an estimated 110,000 reportedly attending each day of the music festival.
This year’s VMAs win marks a special milestone in the sapphic pop star’s career, as this is her first-ever win at a significant music awards ceremony. “I’ve never won anything so I think that would be awesome [to win],” Roan told MTV during the red carpet pre-show. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, will be eligible for the 2025 Grammys, where she can likely expect to win more trophies.
But amid this historic moment for Roan, it’s important to remember her rapid rise to fame hasn’t been without its hurdles. Her quick transition from underground artist to chart-topping sapphic icon has forced Roan into the spotlight, with all of the attendant scrutiny and harassment that comes with fame. In August, Roan posted a series of Notes app screenshots in which she detailed “predatory behavior” from fans and set firm boundaries with her supporters. And in a recent Rolling Stone cover story, Roan shared that she has been dealing with a stalker.
“So now I have to have security,” she said. “It’s so lame.”
Despite these challenges Roan is remaining rooted in her values and supporting her community. In her Rolling Stone interview, the Midwest Princess explained that she didn’t attend the White House celebration in June to avoid “being a monkey for Pride.” She went on to say she’ll be casting a vote in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, but she doesn’t intend to do so without nuance, with the intent of elevating queer and trans rights above all else.
“Right now, it’s more important than ever to use your vote, and I will do whatever it takes to protect people’s civil rights, especially the LGBTQ+ community,” she told Rolling Stone.
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