Why Chappell Roan Chose Her Stage Name (Plus, Her Real Name)

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Learn the full story behind the Midwest princess’s stage name
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In 2023, Chappell Roan took the pop world by storm with her enthralling debut studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess . You probably know all the lyrics to her songs, but did you know that’s not her real name? Yep, Chappell Roan is a stage name, and it has a touching backstory. Keep reading to learn what Roan has shared about her name’s meaning, why she doesn’t like her real name, and which name she prefers for fans to call her by.

Chappell Roan Stage Name Explained

Chappell Roan’s real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. She adopted the stage name Chappell Roan in 2016 as a tribute to her grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, who passed from brain cancer that year. The name combines his last name with a word from the title of his favorite song, Curley Fletcher’s “The Strawberry Roan.”

Section 1 of 3:

Chappell Roan Name Meaning

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  1. As the singer shared with Oxford student newspaper Cherwell in 2022, she chose the first name “Chappell” as a tribute to her grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell. [1] He died of brain cancer in 2016, the year she changed her name, but she had the chance to share the stage name with him before his passing. [2] “Roan” references his favorite Western song, “The Strawberry Roan” by Curley Fletcher.
    • Roan has explained in several interviews and social media posts that “Chappell Roan” isn’t just a stage name but an alter ego, similar to a drag persona—a character she plays that isn’t necessarily who she is in daily life. [3]
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Section 2 of 3:

Chappell Roan’s Real Name

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  1. 1
    Chappell Roan’s legal name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. She went by the name until 2016, when she decided to adopt a stage name to honor her grandfather who was dying of cancer. In 2017, she released her debut single “Good Hurt” under the name Chappell Roan, making the change official. [4]
    • She wouldn’t begin crafting her present-day, drag-queen-inspired persona until 2018 when she moved to Los Angeles and embraced her queer identity. [5]
    • When her career was taking off, Roan would open shows saying “Don’t call me baby, and don’t call me Kayleigh.”
  2. 2
    Roan asked fans not to call her by her real name. In an Instagram post uploaded in August 2024, Roan told fans “[P]lease—don’t call me Kayleigh.” She explained that she wants her professional persona (the “Chappell Roan” character) and her private life to feel separate, which means not allowing fans to call her by her real name.
    • In the post, Roan also asked fans not to stalk or harass her, her family, or her friends and to respect her boundaries without assuming they know her through her music.
    • The post sparked discourse online, with many fans and fellow artists supporting Roan’s desire to maintain boundaries when dealing with parasocial fans. [6]
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Section 3 of 3:

Why doesn’t Chappell Roan like her real name?

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  1. In an interview with Cherwell, a student newspaper, in 2022, she explained, “I have never felt super connected to my real name Kayleigh.” [7] Her affinity for drag culture is another possible explanation for why she chose to use a stage name. She’s said in various interviews that when she sings, she becomes Chappell, someone who’s more fearless than Kayleigh. [8]
    • Roan often introduces herself before a performance as “Your favorite artist’s favorite artist,” an homage to how drag queen Sasha Colby introduces herself as “Your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” [9]

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      References

      1. ↑ https://cherwell.org/2022/08/12/slumber-party-pop-a-new-authenticity-with-chappell-roan/
      2. ↑ https://www.news-leader.com/story/entertainment/2017/08/17/chappell-roan-singer-willard-she-just-made-big-time/548315001/
      3. ↑ https://vmagazine.com/article/at-the-altar-of-chappell/
      4. ↑ https://www.news-leader.com/story/entertainment/2017/08/17/chappell-roan-singer-willard-she-just-made-big-time/548315001/
      5. ↑ https://www.vox.com/culture/358464/chappell-roan-rise-and-fall
      6. ↑ https://www.autostraddle.com/chappell-roan-hayley-williams-fan-boundaries/
      7. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/chapell-roan-name-meaning_uk_66e15c38e4b02be061c6dd13
      8. ↑ https://www.vox.com/culture/358464/chappell-roan-rise-and-fall
      9. ↑ https://ew.com/drag-race-sasha-colby-praises-chappell-roan-referencing-her-8679201

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