© WireImage / 2024 Gary Miller
The music world is buzzing about Chappell Roan, the Missouri-born songstress whose meteoric rise to stardom has been nothing short of explosive. But behind the glitz and glamour, Roan is facing a sobering reality: the dark side of fame. In a recent podcast interview, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter revealed that she’s hitting the brakes on her career, citing a growing concern for her safety and the safety of her family.
““People have started to be freaks — like, follow me and know where my parents live, and where my sister works,” Roan confessed, describing the intensity of her newfound fame. “All this weird s–t.” Roan admitted that she’d made a pact with herself years ago: if her fans ever crossed the line, jeopardizing her loved ones, she’d walk away from music. And now, she’s facing that reality head-on.
“We’re there. We’re there! I’m just kind of in this battle” she declared to podcast host Drew Afualo on The Comment Section. “I’ve pumped the brakes on, honestly, anything to make me more known. It’s kind of a forest fire right now. I’m not trying to go do a bunch of s–t.”
Roan’s decision is a bold one, especially considering the phenomenal success of her debut album, The Rise, and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The album, which dropped last year, recently peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Roan’s place as a rising star. But as her star ascends, so too does the pressure, and for Roan, it’s a pressure she’s determined to alleviate. Roan’s story is a reminder that fame isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. While she’s enjoying the perks of her success, she’s also navigating the darker side of stardom.
