Chappell Roan, the 26-year-old “Pink Pony Club” sensation, is riding the glittery unicorn of fame straight to the top! Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—which sounds like a Disney movie but is actually a sonic rollercoaster—has galloped up the Billboard 200 to a cozy No. 2 as of Sunday (August 18).
But wait, you ask, who’s hogging the No. 1 spot? None other than Taylor Swift, because of course. The Queen of Breakups and Blank Spaces, with her latest opus The Tortured Poets Department (a title that screams, “I need a hug”), has been clutching the top spot for 15 non-consecutive weeks. She’s clearly been squatting there long enough to redecorate.
Chappell’s album, which dropped back in September 2023 (yes, it’s been out so long that it could have grown its own mullet by now), has been sneaking up the charts like a cat burglar in platform boots. Thanks to bangers like “HOT TO GO!”—which sounds like a party anthem for your inner firecracker—and “Red Wine Supernova”—a title that’s basically your Friday night plans—Chappell’s been taking over social media faster than a cat video in a sea of dog memes.
And if that wasn’t enough to make you feel like you’re slacking, Chappell’s also up for Best New Artist at this year’s VMAs. You know, that little award show where people dress like they’ve raided a Vegas costume shop and the performances are just as subtle as a glitter bomb? Chappell’s set to hit the main stage, and we can only hope it’s going to be a show so epic that even Taylor might glance up from her throne.
So, buckle up, world. Chappell Roan isn’t just rising; she’s blasting off—and it’s going to be one wild ride!