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CHAPPELL ROAN LAUNCHES THE MIDWEST PRINCESS PROJECT NEW NON-PROFIT INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR TRANS YOUTH AND UPLIFT LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES LAUNCHING WITH OVER $400,000 RAISED FROM THE SOLD OUT VISIONS OF DAMSELS & OTHER DANGEROUS THINGS US POP-UP SHOWS |
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PHOTO CREDIT: Ragan Henderson |
“a musician who has intentionally built intimacy and trust with her fan base, largely through speaking her mind….Chappell Roan is a rock star… she has established herself as an artist who is not interested in catering to fame’s supposed demands” - NEW YORK TIMES “...a fearsomely talented purveyor of feeling and attitude whose campy sense of humor only heightens the exquisite melancholy of her music.” - LA TIMES “An unabashed proponent of queer joy, Roan is one of few artists from the Midwest who are shining a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community in this region of the country” - KANSAS CITY STAR “We often pause to appreciate once-in-a-generation athletes for their greatness as it happens. The same should be said for artists like Chappell Roan. Her artistry, presence, and impact are truly singular. In a time when the world can feel divided and heavy, she shines a bright pink light—a reminder to live authentically, care deeply, and never stop dancing.” - KANSAS CITY PITCH |
At the center of everything Chappell Roan does is her quest to bring queer joy to the world and give back to the community of fans who have lifted her up and inspired her along the way. With that, today she announces the launch of The Midwest Princess Project, a new non-profit initiative led by Chappell Roan, that will support organizations that provide resources for trans youth and uplift LGBTQ+ communities through action, care and connection. To date, The Midwest Princess Project has already raised over $400,000 with combined efforts from the sold out US Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Pop-Up Shows. $1 from every ticket sold from the 8-date run in New York, Los Angeles and Kansas City, Missouri will be donated to support organizations, including the Ali Forney Center and The LGBT Center in New York, Trans Wellness Center and TransLatin@ Coalition in Los Angeles, and The GLO Center and The Center Project in Missouri, that provide resources for trans youth. The Midwest Princess Project is a sponsored project of the Catalyst Philanthropy Fund. |
Roan also partnered with Propeller and eBay to bring bespoke activations in and around her shows that helped to raise money, in addition to donations contributed from industry, friends and show guests, to go towards The Midwest Princess Project’s efforts. From her earliest days on the road, Roan has been a fierce advocate for grass roots change and has encouraged fans to visit tables set up at her shows to learn more about mental health resources, LGBTQ+ access and rights, voter registration and community involvement in local and global aid. Roan shares, “I am so excited to announce The Midwest Princess Project! These funds will be donated to incredible organizations making a positive impact for trans youth in their communities.” Chappell Roan has cemented her status over the past two years not only as a trailblazer in pop culture but also as a fearlessly outspoken champion for marginalized voices. Her rise to fame is a story that lights the way for many as a beacon of hope, and she continually uses her platform at every opportunity to help lift up others. She capped off her breakthrough year after the release of debut album, The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess, with an iconic Grammy performance of hit single “Pink Pony Club” dedicated to the queer community and a Grammy win for Best New Artist, where she used her speech to deliver an impassioned plea for the music industry to support its most important asset, artists, with a livable wage and affordable healthcare. In the week to follow, Roan started the We Got You! Fund with the support of Backline, raising over $500k to date and helping their nonprofit grow exponentially to provide necessary and crucial resources to artists and their teams on the road. Executive Director of Backline, Hilary Gleason shares, “Chappell Roan’s courage to turn her words into action has already inspired lasting change. Her support has enabled us to extend care to everyone and support the industry as a whole, not just the names we see up in lights.” |
Roan’s commitment to mental health this year is also personal, partnering herself with Gendered Intelligence and Music Minds Matter to provide gender identity awareness training & mental health resources at tour rehearsals. She also worked with Backline to provide free therapy for her tour staff and crew during the tour and through the end of the year. A full circle moment, just this month Roan was awarded the SONA Warrior Award for her advocacy around healthcare in the entertainment industry. After years of SONA lobbying for songwriter access to affordable healthcare, Roan’s speech noticeably made a dent in their efforts and opened new pathways for that dream to become a reality. “Chappell has proven that advocacy and artistry can coexist powerfully,” said Michelle Lewis, SONA CEO & Co-Founder. “By using her platform to speak up for creators and speak out for mental health and fair treatment in our industry, she’s turning her influence into real change. SONA exists to protect creators, and Chappell’s courage reminds the world why that work matters.” Roan’s commitment to change extends beyond health care and focuses on disrupting the industry status quo in every way. With the announcement of her first US headline shows since early 2024, Roan utilized Fair AXS to make ticketing accessible and fair while weeding out scalpers and third party resellers, also partnering with Cash App to make tickets and merch more affordable for fans. A fair ticketing system ensured real fans got to see the shows at fair ticket prices. Also an ardent environmental advocate, Roan has partnered with organizations like REVERB and Musically Fed, to make her tour more green on the back end. |
The character of Chappell Roan, in all her fabulous glory, truly began to take shape with 2020’s “Pink Pony Club,” a song about a small town girl who finds belonging at a West Hollywood go-go bar that was inspired by Chappell’s real-life experiences in LA. Roan’s ascent to the top felt quick to some, but “Pink Pony Club” finally reached #1 at Pop Radio in 2025, on its five-year anniversary of release, and has become a defining part of her story. A critical smash, Roan’s debut album The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess (Amusement / Island Records) established Roan as a breakthrough singer, songwriter and performer who could combine fantasy with self-reflection, with songs like “Casual”, “Red Wine Supernova”, “HOT TO GO”, “My Kink Is Karma”, “Naked In Manhattan”, “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” and “Kaleidoscope”. It was her 2024 single “Good Luck, Babe!” that helped catapult her into an entirely new stratosphere immediately upon release, ultimately helping her earn the 2025 Grammy for Best New Artist, MTV VMA for Best New Artist, Billboard’s Top New Artist, 3 BRITS Awards including Best New Artist and BBC Sound of 2025, amongst many more. Her highly conceptual theatrics and costumes for both live shows and performances on SNL, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the 2024 MTV VMAs set the internet alight leading into a triumphant victory lap at the 2025 Grammys with a performance of “Pink Pony Club”. Roan released two new singles in 2025, “The Giver” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, and fan favorite “The Subway”, Roan’s highest chart debut yet and fourth career Top 5 hit, alongside an iconic music video shot on location in New York. A larger-than-life performer inspired by drag and burlesque, Chappell Roan has a reputation for making every show into an inclusive dance party that everyone wants to join. |
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MIDWEST PRINCESS PROJECT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE MIDWEST PRINCESS PROJECT https://givebutter.com/MidwestPrincessProject THE MIDWEST PRINCESS PROJECT INQUIRIES info@midwestprincessproject.org FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHAPPELL ROAN |
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