"I’m so grateful"— Chappell Roan talks about falling in love with her best friend in coming out story

Chappell Roan, the American singer, opened up about her personal life and career journey during a recent Grammy Museum event. Speaking candidly with musician Brandi Carlile and her producer Daniel Nigro, Roan delved into topics ranging from mental health to the story behind her song Kaleidoscope.

During the conversation, Roan revealed the emotional journey of falling in love with her best friend and how it shaped her identity and music.

The 26-year-old also reassured fans that her newly debuted country song from Saturday Night Live (SNL) would soon be available, saying, "It'll come out, don't worry."

Chappell Roan's debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, has been a monumental success, spending 32 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. However, Roan explained that the journey to its release was far from easy.

"It just took a lot of years to convince people," she reflected on the challenges she faced, including limited resources and support.

The album, which dropped in September 2023, took five years to complete. Roan recalled how she lacked the backing often necessary to succeed:

"I had no money. I had no numbers backing me up. I had an EP that did not do well by music standards. I had toured, but no headlines. There was nothing backing me up."

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Chappell Roan reflects on embracing her stage persona

Chappel Roan highlighted how her song Pink Pony Club, released in April 2020, marked a turning point in her musical style and performance persona. Initially hesitant to embrace a more flamboyant stage presence, Roan said:

"I wore only black onstage. It was very serious. The second that I took myself not seriously is when things started working."

Clarifying her stage identity, she noted, "Chappell is a character. I just can't be here all the time. It's just too much."

Chappell Roan also addressed the mental toll of her rapid rise to fame.

"My life is completely different now. Everything is out of whack right now," she admitted.

"This type of year does something to people. Every big thing that happens in someone's career happened in five months for me," she said.

Chappell Roan expressed uncertainty about maintaining a mental health routine amid the chaos but remained open about her struggles.

Roan's song Kaleidoscope explores the vulnerability of falling in love with her best friend—a real-life experience for her.

"I think that it's specific to queer relationships because it is about falling in love with a friend," she explained.

Recalling the moment she confessed her feelings, Roan said:

"I told my friend that I was in love with her. She was like, 'Can you just give me a day to think about this?'" During that tense period, Roan channeled her emotions into songwriting.

Despite the emotional intensity, Roan expressed gratitude for the experience:

"I'm so grateful that that happened because, one, for the first time I got confirmation that yeah, I am not a fraud for saying I'm gay. Two, what an incredible person to fall in love with for the first time."

Chappell Roan recently made her SNL debut, performing Pink Pony Club and introducing fans to her new track The Giver, which she described as a "fun queer country anthem. As she transitions into what she calls her "next chapter," Roan hinted at more music on the horizon, though she is cautious about defining her next steps.

"I did not want to make a deluxe of the album. I only want one! I was like, 'Let's just move on. We'll just put out a song that I love.'"

With her growing fanbase and a string of sold-out performances, including touring with Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan's journey is just beginning. Fans can expect more music and performances from her as she continues to evolve.