Chappell Roan's 10 Best Live Performances So Far, Ranked
Chappell Roanhas everything that makes for the perfect pop star. From her uniquely stunning and elaborate drag looks to an energy on stage that is completely unmatched, there is truly no other live performer quite like her. Critics have compared her style to the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry for her over-the-top, theatrical performances, and while she brings elements of each of these iconic pop stars into her act, she offers something truly unique.
Over the past year, Chappell Roan has taken her career to new heights, performing in cities she had never visited previously and making a major debut at music festivals ranging from Coachella to Lollapalooza. Out of all of her performances thus far, there are a select few that stand apart from the rest. Overall, there are 10 performances from Chappell Roan that truly stand apart from all the rest.
10 Hinterland Music Festival
The Church Of Chappell
Chappell Roan brought the church to the festival at the Hinterland Music Festival in Iowa during her Sunday performance. Dressed head to toe in a full nun's outfit along with her bandmates, she took to the stage, opening her set with the iconic track, "Femininomenon." Immediately, the performance was an immense success, fueling the energy of the festival for its final day in the plains. The crowd burst with joy seeing the artist sing her heart out on stage, and clips of her set circulated around the internet for the weeks to follow the performance.
There is no doubt that Chappell Roan played a part in putting the Hinterland Music Festival on the map, as the lineup for this year's festival includes some of the most notable names in the music industry at the current moment. Not only was this performance an incredible success for the festival, but for Roan as well, who continued to gather feedback on major festival performances to keep improving upon her live set.
9 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
She Still Loves You, Tennessee
Only weeks before she appeared at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, organizers made the decision to move Chappell Roan's performance to the main stage.The decision came following the artist's quick rise to success in only a few months' time, shocking the masses as she quickly began to take over every stage across the country. The move was incredibly strategic, and when the time came, thousands of fans rushed to the main stage to catch her performance.
Thousands of fans rushed to the main stage to catch her performance.
Styled in an elaborate yellow and blue nurse's outfit made out of a vinyl material, this drag look Chappell Roan sported at Bonnaroo caught the attention of the internet immediately. Clips of the performance, including a snippet of her fun and upbeat track, "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl," circled around social media sites, receiving praise for her highly energetic stage presence. As Bonnaroo marked the last performance of one of the legs on the Midwest Princess Tour, she gave it her all and shined for every moment of her set.
8 Kentuckiana
The Pink Pony Girl Takes Pride
Putting the Kentucky Pride Festival on the map, Chappell Roan's performance at Kentuckiana brought in the most attendees the event has ever seen. Fans crowded the Big Four Lawn and, as it filled to capacity, took to lining the bridge overlooking the grounds of the venue to catch a glimpse of the performance. In total, the festival brought over 25,000 attendees, and marked the first time this pride festival has ever sold out.
Not only was this an impressive performance based on the crowd she drew, but she also appeared in one of the most stunning drag looks she has created thus far. Paying tribute to the drag queen Divine, Roan crafted a look inspired by the queen's role in the film Pink Flamingos. Perfectly fitting for a Pride Festival, the artist shared an emotional performance honoring queer culture in every aspect of her set.
7 Saturday Night Live
She Gets The Job Done
During her Saturday Night Live debut, Chappell Roan took to performing a brand-new, unreleased song titled "The Giver." Paying homage to country artists such as Dolly Parton and Shania Twain, the track was shockingly different from anything the artist had released previously, yet still so remarkably on brand. Fans raved over the bold and unapologetic lyrics of the track, especially the line, "Ain't no country boy quitter / I get the job done."
Chappell Roan has become a modern queer icon, and the reveal of this new song only increased her status in this role. In an Apple Music interview discussing the track, she shared:
I think I have a special relationship to where I’m from because of country music, and [I] honor that part of myself by making a country song… I’m gay and yes, I am ultra pop, yes, I am a drag queen who can also perform a country song.
6 The 67th Annual Grammy Awards
The Crowning Of The Midwest Princess
While many artists opt for a medley of songs for their performance at the Grammys, Chappell Roan refused to fall victim to normalcy. Stunting an elaborate cowgirl costume, complete with a feathered hat and tasseled cowboy boots, she opted for a performance of her hit song, "Pink Pony Club," in full. Joined on stage by an ensemble of dancers dressed as rodeo clowns, the performance earned praise as one of the most memorable moments of the night.
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Some of the most notable celebrities in the crowd were spotted on their feet, dancing and singing along to the song as Roan sang her heart out. The performance came before Chappell Roan was awarded the Best New Artist of the year, and after witnessing how she owned the stage, there is no doubt that the award was entirely deserved. This appearance solidified the artist's true talent, and if someone was not locked in on her every move before that moment, it is certain they are now.
5 The Governor's Ball
She's Serving Statue
Appearing in one of her most iconic drag looks to date, Chappell Roan took the stage at The Governor's Ball dressed as The Statue of Liberty. Sparking an internet frenzy over her appearance alone, the artist went above and beyond during this festival performance in the Big Apple.
Most notably, Roan shared that the reasoning behind her choice of drag was not just an homage to the city itself. On stage in front of thousands, she spoke out:
I am in drag of the biggest queen of all. But in case you had forgotten what's etched on my pretty little toes, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'
The show came only a few short months following her festival debut at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival, and it was quickly becoming clear that she is a force to be reckoned with. Between her undeniable stage presence and her outspoken cry in support of human rights, there is no doubt why this performance is one of the most notable in her entire career.
4 MTV Video Music Awards
Her Majesty Stunts In Shining Armor
When you think of Chappell Roan's drag looks, there are a few definitives that come to mind as the most iconic styles of the bunch. Leading the pack is her outfit for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2024, in which Roan owns a full suit of medieval armor. Strutting onto the stage with a blazing bow and arrow, she kicked off the performance by lighting up the stage on fire.
While this entrance alone was enough to spark a frenzy about the performance, Roan absolutely owned the stage as she took to performing the hit, "Good Luck, Babe!" The stage production marked one of the most elaborate performances of her career thus far, and was undoubtedly the highlight of the entire night for the MTV Video Music Awards. With this performance, Chappell Roan proved that live television performances can be just as impressive as major touring productions.
3 Boston Calling
The Calm Before The Storm
Following her undeniably incredible festival performance at Coachella, Chappell Roan took to the stage at Boston Calling Music Festival for yet another massive set. At this event specifically, fans were waiting for the artist like they never had before. This set was particularly theatrical, seeing Roan styled in an elaborate red coat with black fur details with a striking red one-piece to be revealed underneath.
This set was particularly theatrical.
Perhaps the most notable moment of this set was the highly interactive and energetic "HOT TO GO!" During this moment in her set, Roan is known for teaching audiences a dance, spelling out the title of the song in a way reminiscent of the classic tune "Y.M.C.A." Clips of Roan performing this track brought a swarm of virality, and that only marked the beginning of what was still to come. Thousands gathered on the festival grounds to watch her performance, and in an overhead drone video shared by the festival, it is clear just how popular the artist had become.
2 Coachella Weekend 1
Babe, She Broke The Internet
Believe it or not, before her Coachella debut in 2024, Chappell Roan had never performed at a music festival before.It was only fitting that her first appearance in this setting would be mesmerizing, but it's safe to say that she absolutely outdid herself on that stage. Sporting a bold graphic tank top reading "EAT ME" and a bedazzled statement choker, she strutted the stage with confidence unlike any other.
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During her set on the first weekend of the festival, the artist took the opportunity to perform her new song, "Good Luck, Babe!" The crowd was blown away by her effortlessly powerful vocals and impressive range. Between the surfacing of fan videos from the performance and the official live stream broadcast across the internet, Chappell Roan became a hot topic in the music industry. From that moment forward, all eyes were on Chappell in greater anticipation than ever, just waiting to see what tricks she had up her sleeve next.
1 Lollapallooza
A Record-Breaking Femininomenon
There is no doubt that the most notable performance of Chappell Roan's entire career was none other than Lollapalooza.Breaking the festival record for the most attendees at one performance, specifically during the day, Roan owned the stage in Chicago's Grant Park. As with many festival appearances leading up to this moment, the festival's organizers made the last-minute decision to switch Chappell Roan's set to the main stage, and the success that followed could not have happened without this strategic move. In an interview with CNN, a spokesperson for Lollapalooza shared:
Chappell’s performance was the biggest daytime set we’ve ever seen. It was a magical moment added to Lolla’s DNA.
Dressed in a bright pink and blue wrestling bodysuit, fitted with gloves and a mask to match, Chappell Roan conquered the stage with the most confidence seen from the pop star in any performance yet. The set appeared to be an emotional, groundbreaking moment for Chappell Roan, and her gratitude did not go unrecognized for the success she garnered after this appearance.
