Chappell Roan and the celebrity balancing act

I'm not really a music guy. I don't really follow musical artists, and to be honest, I much prefer listening to podcasts than music. But musical artists do make for fascinating studies in celebrity and stardom. Taylor Swift's overwhelming dominance, Charli xcx's brat summer, Sabrina Carpenter's crafty wordplay--these viral moments crossed over to my own bubble of media consumption. One story this year has really captured my attention: the rise of Chappell Roan. The lesbian singer songwriter rose to prominence this spring after a number of key appearances at Coachella and opening for Olivia Rodrigo. Her music became an instant sensation, as she blended 2000s pop sounds with an unquestionably queer thematic pursuit.

Chappell Roan had been plugging away at her music for years, and she seemed to find her sound in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. This led to her career not exactly taking off as one might like. But this year her music found its audience. Vox did a much more thorough explanation of Chappell Roan's rise to fame, and how she is not at all an overnight success.

Chappell Roan's relationship to her own fame is something to ponder over. While she is making her appearances, doing interviews, and performing at high-visibility events like the VMAs, her quotes suggest that she does not want to be famous. Chappell Roan made headlines this summer for her discomfort around fans harassing her and asking for hugs. She touched on fans' entitlement to her time, her body, and her affection. And it makes sense that this invasive behavior makes her uncomfortable. Fans, but music fans in particular, form a parasocial relationship with their celebrity idols and feel an intimacy with them that is certainly not reciprocated (how could it be?). Music is so universal, and artists often share their innermost feelings through their work that it feels like they are sharing something just for you.

Chappell Roan is so unique in that she isn't quite like the other pop stars of her era. Her queerness and drag influence are one thing. But also she doesn't come from the pop star machine like many of her contemporaries do. Chappell Roan is walking the tightrope of doing the celebrity thing while also being unquestionably herself.

I first took notice of Chappell Roan when she declined to perform at the White House during Pride month because of the administration's support for Israel. Her support for Palestine has made headlines again as she has refused to endorse a candidate for the 2024 election and has spoken out against the genocide consistently. It's still rather unpopular for celebrities to speak out in support of Palestine, and many have faced backlash and blacklisting for their protests. But Chappell Roan is among the brave few who have stood by the victims of the horrific events.

In some ways, Chappell Roan's rise to fame is still happening. I'm not sure she's a household name the way Lady Gaga is. She might get there, but she's not there yet. I am really impressed with how much she is holding to her beliefs, even if her relative anonymity protects her in a way that a big platform like Taylor Swift's doesn't. Hers is a really intriguing media study and she is rewriting the playbook for what it means to be a celebrity.