The 67th Annual Grammy Awards has once again proven why it’s considered the Music’s Biggest Night. From stunning red carpet looks and unforgettable performances to a touching tribute to those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles, this year’s awards show featured some of the most extraordinary moments in pop culture. Among the stars who graced the stage, and the red carpet was Chappell Roan, who is making a name for herself in the industry thanks to memorable performance and eye-catching looks.
Roan, who has been enjoying a breakthrough year in her career, has shown the world why she’s a force to be reckoned with. During this year’s Grammys, Roan once again captivated audiences with her music and unique sense of style, proving that there’s nothing casual about the Midwest Princess. Below, we take a closer look at Roan’s Grammy win, rising career, and iconic moments in fashion and music.
Grammy Win
The Missouri native received the Best New Artist award at this year’s Grammy Awards, culminating an explosive year that saw her releasing multiple hits from her studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The award is a victory lap after years of effort, particularly after Roan was dropped by her previous label in 2020. During her speech, Roan called out record labels to provide a liveable wage and health care for their developing artists, expressing how she felt “so
betrayed by the system” after her last record label dropped her. Roan joins Beyoncé (Album of the Year) and Kendrick Lamar (Record and Song of the Year) in snatching up the “big four” awards at this year’s Grammys.
Roan had six nominations at the 67th Grammys, tied with Taylor Swift and fellow Best New Artist nominee Sabrina Carpenter. Aside from Best New Artist, she was also nominated for Album of the Year (The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), Song of the Year (“Good Luck, Babe!”), Record of the Year (“Good Luck, Babe!”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Good Luck, Babe!”), and Best Pop Vocal Album (The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess).
Phenomenal Career
Roan began her music career in 2015 with Atlantic Records, where she released well-loved singles like “Pink Pony Club.” While her start was slow, after being in the industry for a decade, Roan is finally getting her flowers. Before her huge win at the Grammys, she also snatched the award for Best New Artist at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, joining the ranks of fellow iconic artists like Ice Spice, Dove Cameron, and Olivia Rodrigo, who previously won the category. Roan also embarked on her The Midwest Princess Tour from 2023 to October 2024. With hits such as “Casual,” “Good Luck, Babe!,” and “Red Wine Supernova,” Roan has captured listeners’ hearts around the world.
Aside from taking the world by storm with her music, Roan is also known for her avant-garde fashion. Here are some of her memorable fashion moments in several awards shows:
Channelling the Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl energy
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Roan’s fashion style is heavily influenced by drag culture and characterized by Midwestern motifs and a perfect balance between campy and maximalist. At the Grammys red carpet this year, Roan wore a dress from Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring 2003 couture collection. Her look featured a tulle skirt printed with Edgar Degas’ ballerina painting, sheer gloves, lace-up boots, and a feathered headpiece that made her look like a walking piece of art. When she performed “Pink Pony Club” onstage, Roan sported her signature Midwestern Princess look with jewel-toned leathers, cowgirl buckles, and fringes by LA-based designer Zana Bayne. She also wore a yellow hennin and a grey Acne Studios dress when she received her award.
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During the 2024 MTV VMAs, Roan embraced a mediaeval style for her looks. Roan wore a floor-length sheer dress on the red carpet, metal cuffs, steel-coloured nails, and porcelain-shade makeup with pencil-thin brows from MAC Essentials. Her eyes also stood out thanks to the colored contact lenses that made them heterochromic – one was hazel, the other grey. While natural-looking, coloured contact lens brands such as Freshlook and AIR OPTIX can help anyone cop the look, Roan’s execution was particularly seamless, exuding a vampire-like aura with her white mascara. When she performed “Good Luck, Babe!” on stage, Roan stayed committed to her motif by wearing heavy mediaeval pieces.
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Another unforgettable Roan ensemble is the one she wore for her Saturday Night Live promo, where the star was dressed in a burlesque-inspired outfit that featured huge dragonfly wings emerging from her hips and a wide headpiece. Project Runaway alumnus Gunnar Deatherage, who worked on the elaborate piece, said he and his team spent over 500 hours to complete the look. According to a People interview, the look was originally intended for a music festival performance, but Deatherage realized that the complex ensemble would be best “seen in a more stationary moment,” so it wouldn’t prohibit Roan from performing on stage.
Roan’s unique style and star power have proven why she is the ultimate femininomenon among her fellow pop icons. With her recent Grammy win, captivating performance, and head-turning looks, Roan has cemented her status as one of the most promising artists of her generation.
