Signed as a minor and later dropped by her label, Chappell Roan revealed the struggles she faced when she found herself without job experience, health care, or a safety net, all at the height of the pandemic.
Chappell Roan was awarded The Grammy for Best New Artist in 2025 . (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Chappell Roan’s Grammy win for Best New Artist in 2025 was more than just a career milestone, it became a powerful platform for a call to action. The night was filled with applause, but Roan’s words, delivered with a clear and unapologetic conviction, echoed long after the ceremony ended. After Victoria Monet, the previous year’s winner presented the award to Roan, the Hot to Go! singer-songwriter gave a thank-you to her fellow nominees. “Your music got me through this past year,” she said, showing gratitude to the incredibly talented artists who had shared the spotlight. But it was what came next that grabbed everyone’s attention.
Roan, clutching a notebook in hand, looked out at the sea of influential figures in the room and made a promise to herself that she had held onto for years.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), She said, “I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage in healthcare, especially to developing artists.” Her bold statement was met with cheers from the crowd, but Roan wasn’t done yet.
Her speech continued with an emotional recount of her own journey. Signed as a minor and later dropped by her label, Roan revealed the struggles she faced when she found herself without job experience, health care, or a safety net, all at the height of the pandemic. “It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and so dehumanised to not have help,” she said, a vulnerable moment that struck a chord with many.
“Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” she asked, the room erupting in applause. The camera caught fellow nominee Sabrina Carpenter, her eyes brimming with tears, as the gravity of Roan’s words settled in.
Here’s A Glimpse Of Her Speech:
The race for Best New Artist was fierce, with names like Benson Boone, Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims all vying for the honour. The night’s performances, which included a stunning medley by most of the nominees, showed the diversity of talent in the industry. Carpenter and Roan, both up for Album of the Year, had their own moments to shine with separate performances.
Roan’s performance at the Grammys was as electrifying as her speech. Bringing the audience into her Pink Pony Club, she shared a piece of her soul through her music. Speaking of Los Angeles, the city that inspired the song, Roan said, “‘Pink Pony Club’ is my love letter to L.A. I love this city. L.A. gave me the courage to be myself because ultimately it is where I feel the most free,” reports THR.
The 2025 Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah, were broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, celebrating music and the artists who shape it.
