Chappell Roan made a triumphant return to the U.S. stage on Saturday, September 20th, performing to a fervent crowd of thousands at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. This concert marked the first of eight pop-up performances Roan added to her European Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour, with four dates slated for New York City. The anticipation for her performance was palpable, as many fans had awaited this moment for months, especially given Roan’s recent hiatus from her home country.

The end of 2024 had been a challenging period for the Missouri native, during which she canceled two stateside shows due to mental health reasons and faced significant backlash online. Issues ranged from her speaking out against predatory fan behaviors to criticizing Kamala Harrisduring the presidential race, leading to her largely stepping back from the internet. However, at Forest Hills, all past difficulties seemed forgotten as the audience, adorned with pink cowboy hats and Lady Liberty crowns (nods to her 2024 Governor's Ball attire), embraced her completely.

Photo Credit: The New York Times

Roan’s stage presence was stronger than ever. Dressed in a sexy Captain Hook-esque outfit, she strutted across the stage, delivering a flawless vocal performance as flames erupted behind her. She playfully attempted to teach the crowd her iconic “Hot to Go!” choreography, noting, “I think you get it,” before abandoning the tutorial amidst giggles as fans eagerly formed the letters “H-O-T-T-O-G-O.”

The setlist was packed with high-octane numbers from her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, including “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “Femininomenon,” “After Midnight,” “Naked in Manhattan,” “Guilty Pleasure,” and “Casual,” all leading up to “Hot to Go!” She also featured her new single “The Subway,” which recently earned her highest-ever peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3. Later in the show, Roan showcased her versatility by covering Heart’s “Barracuda,” sensually serenading a mic stand topped with a blonde wig for “Picture You,” and line dancing with her bandmates to her March single “The Giver.”

The stadium was filled with impressive high notes during “Good Luck, Babe!,” the breakout hit that propelled her to superstardom in spring 2024. Both “The Giver” and “Good Luck, Babe!” are expected to appear on her next LP, which she plans to begin working on after the tour concludes in October. She humorously acknowledged the potential timeline for her next album, stating, “It took me five years to write the first [album], and it’s probably going to take at least five to write the next.”

Despite her polished and magnetic stage persona, Roan maintained her signature frankness. She comically broke character to inform the crowd that she had forgotten her “a—s” was on display until seeing her rear-end on the big screens. During the vulnerable song “California,” which ironically discusses her past worries about making it in the music business, she quipped, “I just saw someone yawn — that’s crazy.”

A particularly tender moment occurred when Roan addressed her return home: “It’s been quite a year,” she told the crowd. “I can’t believe we’re here, honestly. It’s crazy. Thank you for sticking with me through it, I know it was … it’s been really hard.” She continued, expressing gratitude for creating a space where people can be themselves: “I’m so glad I can come to work like this. I just needed a place like this so bad when I was 13, 14. I just wanted to dress up however I wanted, and I wanted to wear makeup and look weird. So I hope you know that you’re welcome here, however you show up today. You are cherished.”

Photo Credit: The Independent

During “Kaleidoscope,” fans in the back rows orchestrated a stunning rainbow display with multicolored lights, a unified gesture that deeply moved Roan. “Everyone look behind you,” she instructed the rest of the crowd, momentarily forgetting lyrics due to the emotionally charged moment, calling it “so beautiful!” After her performances in Forest Hills, Roan is scheduled for two nights in Kansas City before wrapping up the Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour with two nights in Los Angeles.

The full setlist for her first NYC show included: “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “Femininomenon,” “After Midnight,” “Naked in Manhattan,” “Guilty Pleasure,” “Casual,” “The Subway,” “Hot to Go!,” “Barracuda” (Heart cover), “Picture You,” “Kaleidoscope,” “Love Me Anyway,” “The Giver,” “Red Wine Supernova,” “Coffee,” “Good Luck, Babe!,” “My Kink Is Karma,” “California,” and “Pink Pony Club.”