Chappell Roan's transformation from a "trailer park" background to a self-styled "Midwest Princess"

After a year of rapid ascent to pop superstardom, Chappell Roan's "The Midwest Princess Tour" is coming to an end.

Her final scheduled tour stop is her headlining performance on Oct. 13 during weekend two of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which took place when she was 26 years old.

In September 2023, Roan began her 89-date tour promoting her debut album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess," which was released the same month. Although she had a dedicated fan base and a strong online presence, Roan was not yet a widely recognized celebrity.

Roan's career took a significant turn in the first few months of 2024, as she gained recognition through her performances as an opening act on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts tour from February to April.

Roan released her single "Good Luck, Babe!" on April 5, which she described as the "first song of the next chapter." Despite not being included on her debut album, "Good Luck, Babe!" became her breakthrough hit and one of summer 2024's hottest songs.

Roan gained mainstream fame after her viral performance at Coachella 2024 in April, and her daytime performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago in August drew the biggest crowd in the festival's history.

The Midwest Princess's album, which initially failed to chart on the Billboard Albums Chart, later reached the No. 2 spot in August with six of Roan's songs on the Billboard Hot 100.

Roan's path to fame has been years in the making and paved with obstacles, despite the appearance of almost overnight success. Roan's journey to Hollywood began with her humble upbringing in the heart of the Midwest.

Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, resided in a trailer park as a child before her family relocated to a house in Willard, Missouri, a small town with a population of roughly 6,000.

Roan, who was raised in a conservative Christian household and attended church three times a week growing up, felt out of place in her hometown and later embraced her queer identity after moving to Los Angeles.

"But the Midwest remains a very big part of who I am. It's where I grew up, and I do love certain parts of it — the peace and growing up in a trailer park, four wheeling, the farm and bonfires." — Chappell Roan

"The Bible Belt is where I come from," she stated. "It's a place with numerous churches and many straight people with families. There's a strong emphasis on being a wife and mother, and women are often expected to be treated like princesses while also taking on roles such as cooks, cleaners, and drivers."

Roan stated, "I never conformed to that standard. Despite my efforts, I truly tried my best. I believed I would get married and have a child right after high school at the age of 18 or 19. However, my attempts to fit into that mold were unsuccessful. It resulted in a unique relationship with the Midwest."

POP STAR CHAPPELL ROAN ACCUSES FANS OF STALKING, HARASSMENT IN SCATHING VIDEOS"

"Although the Midwest is a significant part of my identity, I have grown to appreciate it even more now that I can reflect on it with a sense of nostalgia."

"I am grateful for my conservative Christian background because it has given me insight into the communities I come from and their perspectives. It is easy to judge communities that we do not understand, but because I am familiar with their inner workings, I see them in a different light."

At a young age, Roan began playing piano and later started uploading videos of herself singing covers on YouTube. In 2014, she caught the attention of music labels with a clip of her singing her original song "Die Young." Roan signed with Atlantic Records in 2015 at the age of 17.

In 2016, the singer adopted the stage name Chappell Roan as a tribute to her late grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, and his favorite song, "The Strawberry Roan" by Curley Fletcher.

In 2018, after relocating to L.A., Roan released her debut EP, "School Nights," and subsequently joined the concert tours of Vance Joy and Declan McKenna as an opening act.

"I'm very grateful now looking back that I am from such a conservative Christian background, because I understand the communities there, and I understand where they're coming from." — Chappell Roan

In 2023, Roan stated to Variety that she didn't feel that "School Nights" accurately represented the artist she wanted to become, as she "hated all that music" on the EP.

In 2018, she collaborated with songwriter and producer Dan Nigro, who later produced her hit album "Sour." In 2020, Roan released the single "Pink Pony Club," which she said was inspired by a night out at The Abbey.

However, "Pink Pony Club" was rejected by Atlantic Records.

Roan told Variety that they literally delivered the item to the label, but they responded with a "No." Despite this, Roan believed them and felt defeated for a year.

Roan's two other 2020 releases, "Love Me Anyway" and "California," did not gain enough traction, leading to her being dropped by Atlantic Records. Additionally, her boyfriend of four years ended their relationship that same week.

Roan returned to her parents' home in Willard and took a job at a drive-through coffee shop after leaving L.A.

Roan persisted in her music endeavors during that period, with her family urging her to persevere in pursuing her aspirations.

"She shared with Variety that she's grateful for her Midwestern roots, as it allows her to understand and connect with people. Despite having family members with differing views and values, they still support her project. She believes that people on the coasts have a different perspective on the people there, but she understands where they're coming from. It's not as straightforward as it seems."

In October 2020, the singer decided to give her music career another chance and moved back to L.A. For the next two years, Roan worked as a barista, a nanny, a movie set production assistant, and a doughnut shop employee to support herself.

Roan, while residing in L.A., created her distinctive sound and stage identity, which she claims was influenced by her admiration for drag queens. Roan has acknowledged '80s legends Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, and Cyndi Lauper, as well as 2000s pop sensations Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, and Lorde, as her musical inspirations.

Roan landed a publishing deal with Sony and quit her side gigs to focus on her music full time. She reconnected with Nigro in 2022 and started collaborating with him again on independent songs.

In 2023, Nigro established Amusement Records, an independent record label under Island Records. Roan was the first artist signed by Nigro, and they collaborated to produce "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess."

The album includes "Pink Pony Club," "California," and several of Roan's independently released singles, such as "Hot to Go!," "My Kink Is Karma," "Red Wine Supernova," "Femininomenon," "Casual," and "Kaleidoscope."

"Roan revealed to Variety that the music he loves is what sets his EP apart from his current situation. He shared how he rose from the ashes of losing all his money and moving back in with his parents and working the drive-through, and how this beautiful project came to life from the deep pits of hell."

Roan's "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" album reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales and he topped the Billboard Artist 100 for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his seven-year struggle.

In August, Roan accused "entitled" fans of stalking and harassing her in a series of TikTok videos.

Roan accused some fans of "predatory behavior," which she claimed was "disguised as 'superfan' behavior" on Instagram a few days later.

"Over the past decade, I have been relentlessly working on my project. Now, I feel the need to establish limits and prioritize my time as I aspire to become an artist for a lifetime," she stated in a post.

Roan requested her followers to maintain her privacy in her personal sphere and stated that she would not tolerate any form of harassment.

"Please cease touching me. Please refrain from behaving strangely towards my loved ones and acquaintances. Please desist from making assumptions about me," she implored.

""I feel the most unsafe I have ever felt in my life, and I am scared and tired. Please don't call me Kayleigh, as it is my legal first name. I have never felt more love in my life," she stated."

I keep a part of myself reserved for my project and for all of you. However, there is another part of myself that is solely mine, and I do not wish to share it with anyone.

At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Roan had a confrontation with a photographer on the red carpet.

During a photo shoot, the pop star engaged in a heated argument with a photographer who shouted, "Be quiet."

After the photographer made a crass comment, she turned around, pointed her finger at him, and said, "Shut up."

"No way, not me!" Roan exclaimed. A voice in the background cheered her on, saying, "Go for it, girl!"

In the evening, Roan delivered a spectacular and highly praised rendition of "Good Luck, Babe!" and was awarded the best new artist.

Roan, who came out as a lesbian this year, dedicated her acceptance speech to queer and trans people who fuel pop culture. In her speech, she said, "To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love — or hate."

"I thank the listeners who appreciate me, hear me when I express my happiness and fears. To the queer kids in the Midwest, I acknowledge you and assure you that you are not alone. I understand your struggles because I share them, and never let anyone make you doubt your true self."

Roan has publicly struggled with her sudden fame despite the high points, stating that she might quit the music industry if it becomes dangerous.

In September, Roan faced criticism from some fans online after she declined to support Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.

"Our government has numerous issues in every aspect, and I would like to see changes. I am not pressured to endorse anyone because of the problems on both sides. I urge people to use their critical thinking skills and vote for what they believe in, whether it's a small change or a significant issue affecting their city."

Roan later posted two TikTok videos addressing the controversy. She stated that she would be voting for Harris but expressed concerns about both parties and was unable to support either.

The hitmaker withdrew from the All Things Go festival, which was scheduled to take place in New York City on Sept. 28 and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29.

Roan apologized on Instagram the day before her first performance, stating that she would not be able to perform at All Things Go in NYC & DC that weekend.

"Over the past few weeks, things have become overwhelming and I am feeling the pressure to prioritize many tasks. I need a few days to focus on my health and be present when I perform to give the best shows possible."

"Be back soon xox," she added, "Thank you for understanding."

Roan has been open about her struggles with her mental health. She previously revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in 2022. During her September interview with The Guardian, Roan said she sees a therapist twice a week and that a psychiatrist recently diagnosed her with severe depression, which the singer attributed to the ways in which her life changed due to fame.

Last weekend, Roan made her debut at ACL Fest, attracting a huge audience.

Roan's last show for a while may be this upcoming weekend, but fans can anticipate new music from the singer in the future.

During an interview with BBC Radio, Roan was queried about the inclusion of "Good Luck, Babe!" in an album release.

"It's not the first chapter of a new book," she said. "It's the first chapter of the new book I'm writing. And I just am going to follow what I did for the last record, which is just to write music that I love and put it out and with no other agenda than to have a great time onstage and like make something that I'm proud of."

"I'll release an album by putting out songs and eventually collecting them."