Pop sensation Chappell Roan has been named BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2025, after skyrocketing to the top of the charts in 2024.
Her fun, unique persona that saw her in elaborate drag outfits on stage, captured the world’s attention last year, making her a household name in a matter of months.
She was named the winner by a panel of over 180 musicians and experts that includes Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, and Sound of 2014 winner Sam Smith.
The award was presented to the 26-year-old by Radio 1’s New Music host Jack Saunders, who said: “No one deserves this accolade more than Chappell Roan. She was the most exciting artist of the last 12 months and is now set to be the artist of the next 12 months.”
Born Kayleigh Amstutz, she was brought up in Missouri where she regularly attended church and was taught that being gay was a sin.
The singer was originally signed to a label in 2017 after being spotted for her song ‘Die Young’ that garnered attention on YouTube at the time. But she was eventually dropped by her label during the pandemic after failing to make an impact.
However, it was during that time that she wrote the song that would help propel her into stardom: Pink Pony Club. The song is about visiting an gay club in LA, inspired by her visit to a gay bar in West Hollywood, which she described as “the first time I could truly be myself and not be judged.”
After finding a new record label, she released her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in September 2023.
Whilst only selling a few thousand copies in its first week of release, it wasn’t long until it became one of the biggest records of 2024.
One of the catalyst moments for her success was back in April 2024, where Roan attracted one of the biggest crowds at Coachella, creating a viral moment, when she looked into the camera’s and said: “I’m your favourite artist’s favourite artist.”
Around the same time she released a stand-alone single ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ that discussed the experience of falling in love with your best friend.
Speaking to the BBC in a previous interview, Roan explained: “It’s very common in queer relationships, when someone is still coming to terms with their queerness, [that] they’ll kiss 100 boys to ‘stop the feeling’, as the song says.
“And it’s like, ‘Sure, OK. Your time will come.'”
The single reached number two in the UK charts, and The Rise And Fall Of The Midwest Princess became a number one album after it was re-released on vinyl last summer.
Roan has been nominated for six Grammy awards, and won best new artist at the Billboard Music Awards in December.
Previous winners of the BBC’s Sound of list include Adele, Ellie Goulding, 50 Cent, PinkPantheress, Flo, and The Last Dinner Party.