Chappell Roan has won the career-defining VMA for Best New Artist. She joins legendary past winners including Nirvana, Eminem, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish.
“Can you believe it? We’re at the VMAs. I’m going to read from here, I wrote a speech for my diary,” Roan said at the start of her speech. She thanked MTV, her friends and family, her team and her label Island Records. The dedications that followed were met with cheers throughout the UBS Arena on Long Island and probably by some at home as well.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and I dedicate this to the queers and trans people who fuel pop music,” Roan said with a big smile. “To the gay people who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who listen to me share my joy and my fears. Thank you for listening.”
She concluded, “And to all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now: I see you. I understand you, because I’m one of you. And don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitch.”
Roan took the stage in a chain-link dress, continuing the medieval theme she started when she brought a sword to the red carpet and set a castle on fire during her performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” earlier in the evening.
This year has been a huge one for Roan, and winning Best New Artist is just her latest achievement. Since the release of “Good Luck, Babe!”, Roan has “experienced a rise that makes words like ‘meteoric’ seem old-fashioned,” as Brittany Spanos put it in her recent Rolling Stone cover story with the pop star. Roan was also nominated for song of the summer and best trending video for her “HOT TO GO!” video, which features the popular dance synonymous with the song. The singer joins 28 other first-time VMA nominees, including artists she competed against in the best new artist category. This is her first MTV Video Music Award.
This year, the Best New Artist category featured a high-profile contender, including Benson Boone, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and finalists Gracie Abrams and Tyla. Last year, Ice Spice won the VMA for Best New Artist.
