Chappell Roan has never cared about her music entering the charts or being played on the radio.
The 26-year-old singer released her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in September 2023, and after gaining momentum this year, it reached #1 on the U.K. album chart and #2 on the Billboard 200 in mid-August.
Speaking to actor and comedian Bowen Yang for Interview magazine, Chappell insisted her newfound fame and success hasn’t changed how she views the charts.
“I’ve never given a f**k about the charts or being on the radio, but it’s so crazy how industry people are taking me more seriously than before. I’m like, ‘I’ve been doing this the whole time, b**ch,'” she stated.
“Like, my career doesn’t mean anything more now that I have a charting album and song. If anything, I’m just like, ‘F**k you guys for not seeing what actually matters.'”
The Pink Pony Club hitmaker added, “A chart is so fleeting. Everyone leaves the charts. I’m just like, ‘This is giving valedictorian.'”
Chappell, real name Kayleigh Amstutz, then told Bowen that she thought her career had “peaked a couple of years ago”.
“I never really expected it to grow this big. I feel like I peaked a couple of years ago,” she said. “Back then, I was like, ‘I sold out Bowery Ballroom and that’s crazy.'”
“It’s been amazing to do bigger shows, and open for Olivia (Rodrigo), but everything right now is truly icing on the cake,” the musician continued. “Me trying to navigate this, I feel very supported. Because I’ve never not been myself.”
