As for how Chappell became the one, or pop’s new addiction? The “Picture You” singer’s rise to fame began with the release of her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in September 2023, which featured breakout hits “Hot to Go,” “Pink Pony Club” and “Red Wine Supernova” among others.
However, the song that arguably drove Chappell (real name Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) to the mainstream was her 2024 single “Good Luck, Babe!” The track—which peaked at four on the Billboard Hot 100—became one of the most played songs of the summer. As fans began filling their social media with lyrics like “You’re standing face to face with ‘I told you so,’” Chappel went from performing for crowds of hundreds to tens of thousands.
And though she’s undoubtedly a guilty pleasure for even more fans, a driving force behind her popularity is her connection to her queer audience, with the “Casual” singer sharing how the LGBTQ+ community gave her a sense of belonging after she distanced herself from her religious upbringing.
“A love letter doesn’t seem enough to you,” Chappell wrote in a heartfelt letter published in Billboard in June 2023. “Sitting down racking my brain, trying to shove love into a few paragraphs doesn’t do you justice. The appreciation doesn’t fit into my vocabulary. The best I can do is offer you my project, my songs, my tears, & my eternal love for queerness.”
Aside from advocating for the queer community, the 26-year-old has also used her suddenly enormous platform to fight for better treatment for those in the entertainment industry—including by their own fans.
