Why Chappell Roan’s Carpool Karaoke Appearance Is a Positive Reminder This Holiday Season
So, here’s the breakdown–Chappell’s parents joined her in the car with Zane Lowe for “Pink Pony Club.”
Like what you read? Liking posts on Substack, sharing, and subscribing are all much appreciated ways to support the work of Words From My Wits’ End. Talk soon<3
One of the main pop girls of the year, Chappell Roan, is one of three holiday guests in a revival of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke segment, now hosted by Zane Lowe for Apple TV. Chappell has had an unprecedented year, smashing streaming records, delivering memorable performances at the MTV VMAs, countless intricate drag makeup looks, and earning several Grammy nominations. But with exposure comes criticism.
Roan rose to fame for her debut album The Rise and Fall Of A Midwest Princess, released in 2023. The singer has been outspoken about her midwestern roots, as she was born and raised in rural Missouri. Her unapologetically campy aesthetic, rooted in the innovations of rural drag queens, has sparked an important discussion on LGBTQ+ representation in rural America.
Amid the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, discouraged blue voters turned their ire to the American south and parts of the Midwest, which constituted the red wave that won Donald Trump’s presidency. Roan herself revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that several of her extended family members held conservative beliefs, and that part of being a queer person in a rural community was learning to coexist with people of the like.
Roan also opened up about her Christian upbringing, and her journey to accepting herself as queer when she traded Missouri for Los Angeles, California in her 20s. As Carpool Karaoke revealed, Roan’s parents are immensely proud of her for her success and unapologetic ability to speak her mind and be authentically herself. In a heartfelt moment, Roan’s father explained how her coming out changed his views.
“What she stands for is a lot of hope. But what she has taught me as a father is respect for other people and all people. That’s what I want people to understand. Everything that is about her is about loving everybody, and she has taught me that,” he told Zane Lowe as the family drove through farmland in Missouri. Roan’s father even named a chicken after Lady Gaga, a fellow queer icon and Carpool Karaoke guest.
The wholesome moment in the holiday special offers a much needed beacon of light this season. It is a reminder that despite the extremity of conservative views present online and across the historically red states of America, there is hope for growth, acceptance, and progress. Roan faced criticism for her political comments, largely for her ability to coexist with conservative family members. This Carpool Karaoke episode is a reminder of the nuance and resilience it takes to be a person with progressive beliefs in rural America, and a warm and fuzzy Christmas watch. As people prepare to spend the holidays with complicated families, there might just be hope for the future yet.