Chappell Roan just transformed the MTV Video Music Awards into the pink pony club — but make it the 1430s. In her highly anticipated awards show performance debut, the best new artist nominee brought the fire — literally — while singing an impassioned rendition of her breakthrough hit “Good Luck, Babe!” in front of her new A-list peers in the music industry, giving the track a historical twist.
After being introduced by one her own heroes, drag queen Sasha Colby, the 26-year-old pop tastemaker appeared on New York’s UBS Arena stage in a suit of armor and aimed a crossbow at a magnificent castle erected behind her, setting it ablaze with a fiery arrow. Joined by a fleet of knights, Roan danced around the stage while serving up powerful vocals.
“When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night with your head in your hands, you’re nothing more than his wife,” she sang, moments before nailing the track’s sustained, belted high note. “You know I hate to say it, but, I told you so!”
The entire night was a Joan of Arc theme for the “Hot to Go!” musician — or Roan of Arc, one could say. Before she stepped out in her knight’s uniform during her performance, she took to the red carpet in a sheer medieval gown, escorted by a man in a period costume and posing atop her own ancient-looking decorative rug.
In addition to the best new artist category — in which she’s competing against Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams — Roan is up for MTV push performance of the year thanks to her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Red Wine Supernova.” The honors come amid a whirlwind rise for the Missouri native, who in a matter of months has drawn in millions of new fans thanks to her viral performances at festivals such as Coachella and Gov Ball, and the success of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which reached a new peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in August.
The 2024 VMAs kicked off at 8 p.m. Wednesday at New York’s UBS Arena, with Megan Thee Stallion helming the program as host, show opener Eminem, Vanguard honoree Katy Perry and several more artists tapped to perform. Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of 12 nods, while her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone followed right behind with 11.