Chappell Roan Claims 'Voice' Producer Ignored Her Audition

Chappell Roan, now a Grammy-winning artist, recently reflected on her challenging early experiences auditioning for competition shows like The Voice and America’s Got Talent. At age 15, Roan auditioned for The Voice by singing Rihanna’s 'Stay' a cappella, but recalled that the producer did not look up from his phone during her performance, which she described as 'the scariest thing ever.' Two years earlier, she auditioned for America’s Got Talent in Austin, Texas, where she sang 'True Colors' by Cyndi Lauper, but did not advance there either. Despite these early setbacks and feeling dismissed by the industry, Roan’s career surged after she opened for Olivia Rodrigo, leading to major festival appearances, Grammy nominations, and a win for best new artist. Roan has since used her platform to advocate for better treatment of developing artists in the music industry. Her story highlights the difficulties aspiring musicians can face in traditional talent competitions before achieving success on their own terms.