Chappell Roan on 'Pink Pony Club' Turning Six: Writing It 'Scared the Hell Out of Me'
Chappell Roan celebrated the sixth anniversary of writing "Pink Pony Club," reminding her fans to "follow your wicked dreams."
Six years ago today, Chappell Roan made magic. On Friday, the 2025 Grammysâ Best New Artist celebrated the sixth anniversary of writing âPink Pony Club,â the single that would spark the ascent of her stardom just a few years later.
âIt was quite confusing because I had never written a song like it. Where did it come from? I swear to god it was spiritual, it had to be,â Roan wrote about penning âPink Pony Club,â sharing that it took her two days to write the track. âThank you for lifting her up all these years. Thank god I wrote a song that scared the hell out of me, she had my back the whole time, still to this very day.â
âWelcome to the pink pony club where boys and girls can all be queens every single day bitch,â she added, quoting the songâs lyrics. âThis is so corny but literally follow your wicked dreams ok Tootles!â
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While speaking for a Rolling Stone cover story late last year, Roan reflected on how her old label, Atlantic Records, did not want her to release the now-iconic song. She co-wrote the track with producer Dan Nigro and both of them believed it could reach a wide audience, but Roan revealed that Atlantic tried to discourage her from even releasing it.Â
âI was so devastated,â Roan said in the interview. âIt made me second-guess myself.â
âIt feels so good to prove them wrong because they werenât just a little wrong,â Roan later added. âThey were really, really, really wrong. To know that my gut instinct was right is the best feeling in the world. Purposeful revenge does not feel good, but revenge by accident feels awesome.â
Nigro also told Rolling Stoneâs Music Now podcast that her label wanted Roan to choose between fun and emotive music. âWe had âPink Pony Clubâ and then we had made âNaked in Manhattanââ he said. âAnd I remember they were like, âShe canât be both â she has to be pop music, or it has to be this sad, singer-songwriter pensive music. It canât be both things.ââ
âAnd I remember getting so mad because I know her personality, and it is both! Not only can she be both, but she sounds great being both,â Nigro added.
Earlier this month, Roan won the trophy for Best New Artist shortly after taking the stage to perform the LGBTQ-celebrating track that kicked off her Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album. It has since been covered by everyone from Kacey Musgraves to Kelly Clarkson.