Chappell Roan bagged the “Best New Artist” award this year for the Grammys, grabbing the spotlight from Sabrina Carpenter. Quite a surprise for fans, the news of a queer artist winning at the 2025 Grammys was the last thing we saw coming, especially after she was dropped by her last record label – Atlantic Records.
Drag culture influenced artist Chappell Roan’s first album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” was released in 2023. It offers a bold and sassy songwriting on the pop culture. Songs like “Red White Supernova”, “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Hot To Go!” had been received quite fairly by critics.
When Roan was called on stage to receive the award, the artist took the opportunity to call out record labels. The gesture doesn’t come as a surprise after how she had been treated. “I told myself that if I ever won a Grammy and got to stand up here before the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels in the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially developing artists,” she said.
“Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage.” – Chappell Roan, Grammys 2025
As the audience continued with their tears and applause, Roan broke into tears. The artist talked about her difficult times of struggle being signed as a minor artist. She continued her talk on having to find a job with no prior experience during the pandemic after her record label dropped her. “It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized,” Roan continued. “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection.”
Also read: Grammy Showdown 2025: Who Will Claim the Coveted Trophies?
Roan finally ended her Grammy 2025 victory speech, “Labels, we got you but do you got us?” The crowd received her words with lots of cheers and admiration. Earlier in the night the singer-songwriter had performed “Pinky Pony Club”, sitting on a giant pink horse. Flanked by an army of rodeo clowns, Roan performed this ode to LA gay clubs in her fancy cowboy boots.
Signed by Atlantic Records in 2015, Roan released several singles under them including “Pinky Pony Club”. However, the company dropped her off in 2020. But this was just the beginning for Chappell Roan. The artist returned to her hometown to work as a barista, only to release her debut full-length album in 2023.
Roan had earned five other Grammy nominations for 2025. Categories include album of the year, song of the year, record of the year, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album. Other names nominated in the “Best New Artist” category included Carpenter, Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims.
