CHAPPELL ROAN BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Chappell Roan — born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz — is a Missouri-born pop breakout who rose from small-town open mics to win the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2025. Dubbed pop's self-styled "Midwest Princess," she pairs 1980s synth-pop and 2000s pop maximalism with a drag-inspired theatrical persona, turning songs like "Pink Pony Club" and "Good Luck, Babe!" into era-defining anthems. This Chappell Roan biography covers her age, real name, career journey, biggest songs and the facts behind her meteoric rise.

Chappell Roan Biography & Wiki

Real Name: Kayleigh Rose Amstutz
Born: 19 February 1998
Age: 28 (as of 2026)
Birthplace: Willard, Missouri
Genre: Synth-pop / pop
Label: Island Records (Amusement)
Debut Album: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Sept 2023)
Awards: Grammy Best New Artist 2025

Early Life & Career Beginnings

Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz on 19 February 1998 in Willard, Missouri, Chappell Roan took her stage name from her late grandfather, Dennis Chappell, combining his first name with his favourite song, "The Strawberry Roan." At 17 she uploaded the song "Die Young" to YouTube (2015), which led to a record deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut EP School Nights arrived in 2017 with the single "Good Hurt," and she toured as support for Vance Joy. But Atlantic dropped her in 2020 — the same year she independently released "Pink Pony Club," her first streaming breakthrough and the song that seeded her devoted cult following.

Breakthrough — The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Roan's debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (September 2023, Island/Amusement), was a sleeper hit that climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 by mid-2024 and earned an Album of the Year Grammy nomination. Her breakout was fuelled by supporting Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour in 2024 and a barnstorming festival run that included Coachella, Governors Ball and Lollapalooza. The 2024 single "Good Luck, Babe!" reached the top 5 in the US and UK and hit No. 1 in Ireland. In February 2025 she won Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards, capping a season of multiple Grammy nominations. Follow-up singles "The Giver" and "The Subway" (2025) both reached the US top 10, while "Pink Pony Club" and "The Subway" each hit No. 1 in the UK. In October 2026 she teamed up with Olivia Rodrigo on the "Expectations" remix. Her sound — 1980s synth-pop filtered through 2000s pop, camp drag aesthetics and a larger-than-life theatrical persona — has made her one of the defining pop voices of the decade.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official music video for "The Subway" below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chappell Roan's real name and age?
Her real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. She was born on 19 February 1998 in Willard, Missouri, which makes her 28 years old as of 2026.

How did she get famous?
After being dropped by Atlantic Records in 2020, she broke through independently with "Pink Pony Club." Her 2023 debut album became a sleeper hit in 2024, boosted by supporting Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour and a string of viral festival performances, followed by the smash single "Good Luck, Babe!".

Did she win a Grammy?
Yes — Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards in February 2025, alongside multiple other Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year for her debut album.

What is her connection to Olivia Rodrigo?
Roan supported Olivia Rodrigo on the 2024 Guts World Tour, a key moment in her breakout. In October 2026, the two teamed up for the "Expectations" remix.

If you enjoyed this Chappell Roan biography, explore more artist profiles: the Olivia Rodrigo biography, the Sabrina Carpenter biography, the Lorde biography and the Florence + The Machine biography.