Women's Lifestyle September 25, 2025 0 Comments

Inside Chappell Roan’s NYC Return: How This Pop Queen’s Fierce Comeback Shook the Scene and Redefined Stardom

Ever wonder what it feels like to watch a star being born right before your eyes? Well, Chappell Roan’s recent Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour wasn’t just another series of gigs; it was a masterclass in transformation at the iconic Forest Hills Stadium—a venue that’s crammed with legendary vibes from The Beatles to Dolly Parton. She could’ve sold out any massive arena in the Tri-state area, but instead, she opted for an intimate showdown that felt like a hypnotic dance party with destiny itself. Imagine 13,000 sparkling fans decked out in cowboy hats and sequins, all drawn into the magnetic pull of a Grammy-winning queer pop sensation whose rise is as electric as Lady Gaga’s or Madonna’s. From buttery yellow PVC cloaks to onyx thrones and her beloved tour pet Shigella, Roan’s performances are dripping with theatrical flair and unapologetic humor—making you question if you’re witnessing a moment in pop history or just a really good night out. If you’ve ever doubted how the music biz magic happens, her story—and her setlist—might just change your mind. LEARN MORE

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Chappell Roan probably could have sold out any venue within the Tri-state area for her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour—a series of pop-up shows marking her first U.S. performances in a year—but she chose Forest Hills Stadium. The revered yet teensy Queens establishment is no stranger to hosting generational talents, The Beatles, Dolly Parton, and Diana Ross among them. History will tell whether or not Roan’s entry into the stadium’s canon can be counted amongst those greats, but it’s hard to watch her perform live and not feel like you’re witnessing the becoming of a once-in-a-lifetime star.

The tour’s New York City leg included four back-to-back shows at the historic stadium, where 13,000 fans dressed in bedazzled cowboy hats, feather boas, and sequined corsets dutifully filed in every single night. Given the intimacy of the venue compared to, say, somewhere like Madison Square Garden, the shows could be seen as a sort of private dance party to Roan’s greatest hits (AKA every single track from her 2023 debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), as if Roan herself wanted to personally thank her fans for their unwavering allegiance amid a whirlwind career shift. “Stratospheric” is a term often used to describe Roan’s ascent into super stardom, and for good reason. The past year alone saw the Missouri-born singer go from an underrated indie up-and-comer to a Grammy-winning queer pop supernova, with critics comparing her to the likes of Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, and Madonna.

Ragan Henderson

Harper’s Bazaar has the exclusive photos from Roan’s final New York City show on September 24, where she first emerged onstage in a buttery yellow PVC cloak trimmed with blood-red lace and a matching maroon head scarf. As she recited the opening monologue to “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” the first drops of rain began to sprinkle from the sky—whether by divine anointment or witchy intervention, I can’t say. No matter. Fans pulled rain ponchos over their monochromatic pink outfits and shielded their faces with supersized fans and camo Midwest Princess baseball caps. Nothing could dampen the night’s undeniable pomp and energy. The set stage design of a Gothic fairytale castle made Roan appear as a pop queen and we her willing, hypnotized subjects.

Ragan Henderson

In between powerhouse vocal performances, Roan showed glimpses of the unapologetic sense of humor fans have come to know and love. “I wrote this song and did the exact opposite,” she noted after performing “Coffee,” a song about denying a casual hangout invitation from an ex. To introduce “My Kink Is Karma,” a track about getting off on the misfortune of a former lover, Roan bluntly stated the obvious: “I dedicate this song to my ex.” At one point, she sat upon an onyx throne with Shigella—the reptilian dog-like doll that frequently makes cameos with her onstage, and whom Roan affectionately refers to as her “tour pet”—planted comfortably on her lap.

Ragan Henderson

The rest of the stops on the Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour closely align with locations significant to Roan’s discography. She will next head to Kansas City, Missouri—her home state that undergirded the ethos of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—and, later, Pasadena, California—the state that represents the object of her desires (and ire) in songs like “California” and “Pink Pony Club.” Come November, Roan will break new ground as she tours across South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ragan Henderson

“I never really expected it to grow this big,” Roan reflected during a conversation with Bowen Yang for Interview last year. “I feel like I peaked a couple of years ago. Back then, I was like, ‘I sold out Bowery Ballroom and that’s crazy.’ It’s been amazing to do bigger shows, and open for Olivia [Rodrigo], but everything right now is truly icing on the cake. Me trying to navigate this, I feel very supported. Because I’ve never not been myself. I’m really glad the persona that I have, the drag version, is still very much me.”