From performing in her hometown of Willard, Missouri to sold out stadiums, Chappell Roan’s career has been the definition of perseverance. On Sept. 20, 2025, she performed her first American show for her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things pop-up tour at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York.
With a concert capacity of 13,000 people, each seat was filled with anticipating fans. From entering the ticket lottery, to traveling, to arriving at their seat, fans faced a rollercoaster of emotions.
For this tour, Roan was determined to avoid scalpers, ensuring only real fans got their hands on tickets. To do this, she partnered with AXS’s Fair AXS ticketing system. Fans would register and be randomly selected to receive an invitation to purchase tickets. This helped make the price more affordable and prevent up-charged resale prices.
A highlight of the night for fans was during Roan’s performance of “Kaleidoscope.” One fan brought multicolored sticky notes for the crowd to pass around. Fans would cover their phones’ flashlights to create multicolored lights during the song, mimicking the look of a kaleidoscope.
“Everyone look behind you,” Roan said, instructing the crowd. “You’ve got the rainbow. Look, it’s a kaleidoscope. It’s so beautiful.”
Through all of the backlash Roan has received through her rise to fame, she remains strong and holds her views deeply and unapologetically. During her show, she made it a point to tell her fans how much she appreciated their support and for them to know that they aren’t alone.
Not only has Roan been a support system for her fans, she also brings attention to local drag performers by having them open her shows. Along with this, she broadcasts a QR code on the stage screens during the show for fans to donate to the Catalyst Philanthropy Fund, with the mission “to support transgender youth and to uplift the LGBTQ+ communities through action, care and connection.” To incentivize the cause, donations during the show would enter concert-goers into a lottery to receive a signed “Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” vinyl.
“I just needed a place like this so bad whenever I was 13, 14, just because I wanted to dress up however I wanted to,” Roan said before performing “Kaleidoscope.” “I wanted to wear makeup and look weird….You are cherished. You are cherished. Thank you for being here.”
Overall, from the activism, to the sound, to the atmosphere, Roan’s first show of her tour set the stage for her future in music. She has shown more confidence in her performing, compassion for her fans and endurance through the ups and downs of careers in Hollywood. She sets an example for other artists that it’s okay to be human and be yourself, even when in the spotlight.
