Chappell Roan, who shot to fame with viral hits like Hot to Go and Good Luck, Babe, has shared the meaning behind her stage name as fans continue to debate the correct pronunciation
Grammy Award-winning artist Chappell Roan has taken to social media to set the record straight on the pronunciation of her name.
The 27-year-old singer, known for viral tracks like “Hot to Go” and “Good Luck, Babe,” faced some confusion among fans over how to say her name correctly.
During a performance in West Des Moines, USA, on 17 March 2024, the Red Wine Supernova vocalist took a moment to clarify the pronunciation. A video from the gig was posted on Instagram, quickly going viral with over 120,000 likes, captioned: “Chappell Roan teaching you how to properly pronounce her name. March 17th, 2024.”
In the clip, Roan is heard instructing: “If you’ve been saying ‘shappell rowe-anne,’ this is your final warning. It’s ‘Chappell Roan,’ babe.”
The issue has divided public opinion, with some fans expressing relief that Roan clarified her stage name pronunciation. One supporter commented: “I don’t see anything wrong with her correcting the way people pronounce her stage name.”
However, not everyone agreed with Roan’s stance on the matter. A critic remarked: “She actually cares about the pronunciation of her made up name.”
It was later highlighted by a fan that Roan’s “made up name” is actually a tribute to her grandfather, David K. Chappell, whose legacy lives on through her stage name. Another commented: “Why wouldn’t she? People get mad when other people mispronounce their usernames or their pet names.”
A different person remarked: “It’s not made up, she named herself after her grandparent. Please don’t be disrespectful. Regardless of where a name comes from, it’s important that people know who you are as an artist.”
Chappell, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, talked about the significance of her chosen name in a Cherwell interview in 2022.
She said: “I have never felt super connected to my real name Kayleigh. My grandfather’s name was Dennis K. Chappell, so I took Chappell in his honour. Before he passed away in 2016 due to brain cancer, I told him that I was going to be Chappell for him.”
Other internet users admitted they formerly mispronounced her name as “Shapelle”. During a candid Reddit discussion, members of the public who recognised their error in pronunciation shared anecdotes about how they had mistakenly called her before.
One individual confessed: “I pronounced her name like Shapelle for so long and I don’t want to blame myself so I’ll blame my grade school French classes.”
Another spoke up adding: “I hate how much I love when the masses pronounce a celebrity’s name wrong. Like when people say Timothée Chalamet like Timothy but he’s said it’s like Tim-oh-tay (sorry if I can’t break down phonetics). And we’ve all been saying Taylor Lautner wrong for decades.”
One fan admitted a concert visit opened their eyes to a two-year-long error with the singer’s name: “I got the Roan part right but I am trying to train myself out of saying Shappell lol. I’ve been calling her that for two years. I didn’t even know I was pronouncing her name wrong until I went to the Columbus concert a few weeks ago lol.”
