Chappell Roan’s secret behind abandoning her real name

Chappell Roan rose to mainstream fame after her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess enjoyed global success.

The album was nominated for multiple Grammys and set the stage for Chappell to became a main pop girl.

Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known professionally as Chappell Roan, released a new single, The Subway on July 31, 2025.

However, there is a deeper reason why the singer refuses to go by her birth name.

“I have never felt super connected to my real name, Kayleigh”, she confessed during an interview with Cherwell in 2022.

On how her stage name was created, she said, “My grandfather's name was Dennis K. Chappell, so I took Chappell in his honor. Before he passed away in 2016 due to brain cancer, I told him that I was going to be Chappell for him.”

Chappell’s stage name’s second part, Roan is derived from her grandfather’s favourite song, Strawberry Roan.

She described Roan as, “Strawberry Roan, an old Western song about a pinkish-red horse”.

The young artist expressed her attachment with her stage name and also revealed that she wishes Kayleigh was not her name in real life.

How many Grammys does Chappell Roan has?

Chappell Roan has won 1 Grammy for for Best New Artist at the 2025 ceremony.