Chappell Roan triumphed over Sabrina Carpenter to secure the Grammy for Best New Artist on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in her rapid ascent to fame, especially considering her tumultuous experiences with the music industry which included being dropped by her previous record label.

Roan, who proudly identifies as queer and often draws inspiration from drag culture, became a notable figure in the pop music scene in 2024 with hits such as “Good Luck, Babe!”, “Red Wine Supernova,” and “Hot To Go!” from her critically acclaimed album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” released in 2023.

During her acceptance speech, Roan advocated for music labels to provide fair wages and health benefits, particularly for emerging artists. Describing her past experiences, she expressed, “It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized.”

Her closing remarks resonated with the audience, as she passionately asked, “Labels, we got you but do you got us?”

In addition to her win for Best New Artist, Roan received five other nominations at this year’s Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album.

In the race for Best New Artist, Roan outshone several contenders including Carpenter, Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.

Roan started her musical journey in 2015 when she signed with Atlantic Records, where she put out singles like “Pink Pony Club.” However, in 2020, the label severed ties with her, prompting Roan to return to her hometown and take a job as a barista before eventually launching her debut full-length album.

She made a major breakthrough by opening for Olivia Rodrigo during her Guts Tour and set a new record at Lollapalooza with her performance.

Additionally, Roan clinched the Best New Artist title at the 2024 MTV VMAs, surpassing competitors such as Shaboozey, Gracie Abrams, Tyla, and Teddy Swims.

Reflecting on her songwriting process, she remarked in a previous interview that many of her songs originate from daydreams, often inspired by her upbringing in Missouri, where she lacked a queer community and felt out of place.

Roan joins an esteemed list of past Best New Artist honorees, including iconic names like The Beatles, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Culture Club, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Adele, Dua Lipa, and Chance the Rapper.