Thank you for explaining my 16-year old granddaughter’s favorite singer. She and friends adored Chappell Roan at Lollapalooza, but she was surprised that Chappell performed at the smaller venue of Hinterland. You have helped me feel closer to her and understand her a little better. When I send this to her, a light bulb may turn on in her head, too. Or maybe she had already figured it out. Thank you again.
Thanks for lifting up Chappell Roan! She's certainly been the joy of my summer. I won't pretend that this 68-yr old grandpa actually understands the queer perspective, but I do know that she makes really good, really fun music. For instance, for just about 48 hours now, I've had her "Naked in Manhattan" stuck in my head (the German "ohrwurm"), and even in bed with a broken back, I find myself waving my arms to "Hot to Go." I'm also parochial enough to support another proud Midwesterner (who's not doing Country) just on that basis. Oh, and as a genealogy nerd, I also figured out that she and I are 8th cousins, whatever that means. I love her!
Loved this essay as much as I love Chappell Roan (which is a fuckton).
And the imagery of being birthed from a cake as a queer Midwesterner was just *chef's kiss.* But it's so true—coming to terms with (and embracing!) identity never happens in one beautiful ah-ha moment, but is rather the culmination of many micro-moments. Thanks for sharing your journey here.
This was a fantastic piece! I will have to give Chappell Roan a legit listen. My best music buddy has shown me a couple of videos to demonstrate her fast rise to stardom, but I appreciate this better understanding of her.
I’m from Davenport and have been to Clinton quite a bit. My ex was from Clinton and has a lot of family there.
My mother lived for a time in Clinton, though I've never been there. I believe she was confirmed there and graduated junior high before / while her parents split and she moved to Nebraska. Her father's family were Iowans, and I believe her grandfather is buried in Clinton. Her mother's family were Nebraskans.
Keaton you're amazing and this is a brilliant essay. I first heard of Chappell Roan last September. I was at a boygenius concert and before the opening act there was a digital billboard rotating advertisements, one of which was promotion for the midwest princess tour that was stopping in New Haven on April 3, 2024. I looked up the album the next day and listened through and liked it but not enough to buy a ticket that far in advance. I could have seen her play a small venue for like $30! Big mistake. Huge.
I can't even with how many of my queer friends have told me that Chappell Roan is giving them life. I am not a MidWest 'Merican, but I am the Canadian equivalent - A Prairie kid who grew up in a city known for Cowboy Culture. Gotta say, between Beyoncé and Roan, the queerness of cowboy culture is truly being reclaimed these days and I LOVE it.
I really enjoyed reading this. I’m old. I’ve heard of Chappell Roan but didn’t know anything about her. I love that she’s making being who you are easier.
Keaton is a Midwest treasure! I was super excited to see his name as the writer of my morning read today.
He dropped some great glitter bomb nuggets in there for everyone. This especially grabbed me “…no place is ever going to feel like home if you are holding back from being your full self.”
Thanks lyz and Keaton for this, and I can’t wait until friendly faces gets to be shown to the world!
Great essay, really enjoyed this one! Not that anyone should ever feel they need to leave their hometowns if they want to stay, but if someone should find themselves longing for both the midwest and the queer life a major metro offers, Chicago is riiiiight here :).
This was such a great essay! Coincidentally I also grew up in Clinton and think back a lot about my friends who couldn't publicly be themselves back then, how hard that must have been, and how now they are thriving across the country. I know it's very tempting to leave, but I appreciate those who have stayed here and do the work to make Iowa home for every person.
What a beautiful piece of writing, Keaton! I mean, "no place is ever going to feel like home if you are holding back from being your full self" ?? Come on...
Huge thanks to Lyz for sharing this incredible writer with us all, too!
Nailed it! I love it when an essay reveals something I felt but didn’t know I what it was. You do not have to move to Greenwich Village or the Castro to spangle yourself in queerness. And the Midwest is having a moment, between Roan and Walz. Long may it last!
Thank you for explaining my 16-year old granddaughter’s favorite singer. She and friends adored Chappell Roan at Lollapalooza, but she was surprised that Chappell performed at the smaller venue of Hinterland. You have helped me feel closer to her and understand her a little better. When I send this to her, a light bulb may turn on in her head, too. Or maybe she had already figured it out. Thank you again.
Thanks for lifting up Chappell Roan! She's certainly been the joy of my summer. I won't pretend that this 68-yr old grandpa actually understands the queer perspective, but I do know that she makes really good, really fun music. For instance, for just about 48 hours now, I've had her "Naked in Manhattan" stuck in my head (the German "ohrwurm"), and even in bed with a broken back, I find myself waving my arms to "Hot to Go." I'm also parochial enough to support another proud Midwesterner (who's not doing Country) just on that basis. Oh, and as a genealogy nerd, I also figured out that she and I are 8th cousins, whatever that means. I love her!
As a lesbian who left Iowa years ago for the East Coast, I'm crying reading this. Thank you, Keaton, for bringing us all home again.
Loved this essay as much as I love Chappell Roan (which is a fuckton).
And the imagery of being birthed from a cake as a queer Midwesterner was just *chef's kiss.* But it's so true—coming to terms with (and embracing!) identity never happens in one beautiful ah-ha moment, but is rather the culmination of many micro-moments. Thanks for sharing your journey here.
This was a fantastic piece! I will have to give Chappell Roan a legit listen. My best music buddy has shown me a couple of videos to demonstrate her fast rise to stardom, but I appreciate this better understanding of her.
I’m from Davenport and have been to Clinton quite a bit. My ex was from Clinton and has a lot of family there.
My mother lived for a time in Clinton, though I've never been there. I believe she was confirmed there and graduated junior high before / while her parents split and she moved to Nebraska. Her father's family were Iowans, and I believe her grandfather is buried in Clinton. Her mother's family were Nebraskans.
Keaton you're amazing and this is a brilliant essay. I first heard of Chappell Roan last September. I was at a boygenius concert and before the opening act there was a digital billboard rotating advertisements, one of which was promotion for the midwest princess tour that was stopping in New Haven on April 3, 2024. I looked up the album the next day and listened through and liked it but not enough to buy a ticket that far in advance. I could have seen her play a small venue for like $30! Big mistake. Huge.
I can't even with how many of my queer friends have told me that Chappell Roan is giving them life. I am not a MidWest 'Merican, but I am the Canadian equivalent - A Prairie kid who grew up in a city known for Cowboy Culture. Gotta say, between Beyoncé and Roan, the queerness of cowboy culture is truly being reclaimed these days and I LOVE it.
I really enjoyed reading this. I’m old. I’ve heard of Chappell Roan but didn’t know anything about her. I love that she’s making being who you are easier.
Keaton is a Midwest treasure! I was super excited to see his name as the writer of my morning read today.
He dropped some great glitter bomb nuggets in there for everyone. This especially grabbed me “…no place is ever going to feel like home if you are holding back from being your full self.”
Thanks lyz and Keaton for this, and I can’t wait until friendly faces gets to be shown to the world!
Keaton is a treasure! I've so enjoyed having him as a friend.
This was so lovely, and the ending made me tear up. Thank you Keaton, and thank you for featuring, Lyz!
This is one I'll come back to! Lots of good thoughts here.
Great essay, really enjoyed this one! Not that anyone should ever feel they need to leave their hometowns if they want to stay, but if someone should find themselves longing for both the midwest and the queer life a major metro offers, Chicago is riiiiight here :).
Iowa was not ready for me in the 1970s. It sounds like I‘d have more company there now. Thank you for this lovely piece of writing, Keaton and Lyz.
This was such a great essay! Coincidentally I also grew up in Clinton and think back a lot about my friends who couldn't publicly be themselves back then, how hard that must have been, and how now they are thriving across the country. I know it's very tempting to leave, but I appreciate those who have stayed here and do the work to make Iowa home for every person.
What a beautiful piece of writing, Keaton! I mean, "no place is ever going to feel like home if you are holding back from being your full self" ?? Come on...
Huge thanks to Lyz for sharing this incredible writer with us all, too!
Nailed it! I love it when an essay reveals something I felt but didn’t know I what it was. You do not have to move to Greenwich Village or the Castro to spangle yourself in queerness. And the Midwest is having a moment, between Roan and Walz. Long may it last!