Chappell Roan Surprises Audience with Thrilling Cover of Heart's 'Barracuda'

There is nothing “casual” about Chappell Roan’s latest surprise on the stage!

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the MTV VMA winner took her Midwest Princess Tour to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she treated the crowd at Westfair Amphitheater to a set list oddity — a full cover of Heart’s 1977 classic “Barracuda.”

The song appeared halfway through the 26-year-old pop star’s set, between “Picture You” and “Hot to Go,” according to Setlist.fm. And while the song was unexpected, Roan’s rendition of “Barracuda” seems to have been met with a standing ovation, according to some fan recordings of the song.

During her set, Roan wore a red leotard while her stage was lit up in reds and yellows. She sang through the entire song with instrumental help from her touring band, who calmed things down at one point with a brief guitar solo.

Chappell Roan performs at the FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tenn. October 1, 2024.

Jason Kempin/Getty

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While the cover of “Barracuda” seems like a fresh addition to the live show, Roan is no stranger to covering classics. She has previously released covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” Elton John’s “Your Song” and “What’s Up?” groups 4 Non Blondes. to his official YouTube channel in 2020.

In addition, Roan covered several other hits on the tour — including “Dreams” by The Cranberries and “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. In addition, her rapid rise to stardom inspired other singers to cover several of her songs, with names such as Kelly Clarkson, Laufey and Sabrina Carpenter joining in on “Femininomenon.”

Back in June, Carpenter dropped her rendition of Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” for BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. Two months later, Roan said Rolling Stone in the cover story that her fellow pop star supported her throughout her journey. “We’re both going through something so freaking hard,” Roan told the paper. “[Carpenter] it just feels like everything is flying and she’s barely holding on.”

“It was good to know someone else felt that way,” she added.

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Chappell Roan in May 2024.

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Roan quickly became a mainstay on the charts this year following the release of her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess in September 2023, as well as some larger festival performances during the summer. In late September, the singer-songwriter pulled out of two shows (the All Things Go music festival in New York and a show in Columbia, Md.) citing the need to take care of her mental health.

“I apologize to the people who have been waiting to see me in NYC & DC this weekend at All Things Go, but I can’t perform. Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks and I can really feel it,” Roan wrote on her Instagram Stories at the time. “Right now I feel pressured to prioritize many things and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best possible performances. Thank you for your understanding. I’ll be back soon xox.”

Roan has since performed in Tennessee, Arkansas and Iowa – and her next show is scheduled for Austin City Limits on Sunday, October 6th.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education