Chappelle Rowan has She won the VMA for Best New Artist, an award that defined her career. She joins legendary previous winners including Nirvana, Eminem, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish.
“Can you believe it? We’re at the Video Music Awards. I’m going to read from here, I wrote a letter for my diary,” Rowan said at the start of her speech, thanking MTV, her friends, her family, her team and her record label, Island Records. The ensuing tributes drew cheers from across the UBS Arena on Long Island and there were likely even more cheers at home.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who have inspired me, and to the gay and trans people who fuel pop music,” Rowan said with a wide smile. “To the gay people who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And to the people who are my fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joys and my fears. Thank you for listening.”
“And to all the gay kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you and I understand you because I’m one of you,” she concluded. “And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, you motherfuckers.”
Rowan took to the stage in a chainmail dress, continuing the medieval theme she started when she brought a sword to the red carpet and set a castle on fire while performing “Good Luck Baby!” earlier in the night.
This year has been a big one for Rowan, and winning Best New Artist is her latest accomplishment. Since releasing “Good Luck, Baby!”, Rowan has been on “the kind of rise that makes words like ‘meteoric’ seem quaint,” as Brittany Spanos put it in her recent column. Rolling Stone The cover story features the pop star. Roan is also nominated for Song of the Summer and Best Trending Video for her video for “HOT TO GO!”, which features the song's popular dance number. 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 was packed with star-studded contenders, including Benson Boone, Shabozi, Teddy Swims, and finalists Gracie Abrams and Tila. Last year, Ice Spice won Best New Artist.
