Could a 5-year album break be the fall of the Midwest Princess?

Chappell Roan shared during an interview with Vogue earlier this month that there is currently no follow-up to her 2023 star-making debut LP, The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess. She said, “It took me five years to write the first one, and it’s probably going to take at least five to write the next. I’m not that type of writer that can pump it out.” Her declaration begs the question that pop nerds and her own fans have since been pondering: can Chappell Roan’s career survive a five-year break between projects?

Historically, very few pop stars follow this path as industry tradition likely instills fear in artists to release a sophomore album within two years of their debut. When you look at her counterparts who broke out in the past couple years, Sabrina Carpenter is about to release Man’s Best Friend only one year after Short ‘N Sweet, while Tate McRae released So Close To What barely over a year after Think Later. Even Olivia Rodrigo, who had Roan as the opener of her Guts Tour, took around two years to put out the sequel to 2021’s record-breaking SOUR.

You might be thinking, “What about Lorde?” She came out swinging with her first and biggest single to date, “Royals,” back in 2013, but since the release of its accompanying album, Pure Heroine, that same year, she has consistently taken four-year-long breaks between projects. The fan favorite Melodrama (2017) helped consolidate her status as a music “prodigy” amongst critics and influential figure in music. It begs the question though, is Chappell Roan as “indie” or alternative as Lorde? Her biggest singles, “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Pink Pony Club” and “HOT TO GO!” indicate she isn’t.

So, how did Lorde’s career survive after her rapid ascent similar to Roan’s? Well, it all comes down to two main things: the music itself (which in Lorde’s case, showcased a well received sonic evolution) and the support of the fans.

When the New Zealander first made her debut, she brought something fresh to the pop front: an almost goth-like image, a quiet confidence, and minimalistic yet innovative production. She created her own lane, something that Roan appears to be doing as well with her head-turning drag-inspired looks, explosive stage persona, and breathtaking vocals. This isn’t even to mention that she’s one of few to reach the top as an openly lesbian woman. With her ability to connect with and represent so many in the queer community, it would come as no surprise that her loyal fanbase will be patiently waiting for her next release, no matter how long it takes.

Although five years seems like a long time, it has already been two since her debut album, and she hasn’t necessarily stayed quiet, either. Her first release since The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess was “Good Luck, Babe!” in 2024, which many consider her breakout hit and one of the year’s biggest. In 2025, Roan took home the Grammy Award for Best New Artist while being nominated in major categories for “Good Luck, Babe!” and The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

In March, she released the country-influenced single “The Giver” before dropping the fan-favorite “The Subway” on July 31. She previewed both singles in live performances before releasing the studio versions, which didn’t appear to affect their success, though. The latter, released alongside a music video featuring Roan’s signature red hair in new, eye-popping variations, is still in the Top 10 of the U.S. Spotify chart three weeks after its release, accumulating over 80 million streams. It also marked her highest charting song yet on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 3.

As far as speculation goes, one thing remains true: Chappell Roan is an artist unlike any other in the pop scene right now. Her unabashedly honest music and meteoric rise have already left a mark on the industry. Her sleeper hits, including 2020’s “Pink Pony Club,” which reached number one on pop radio this year, do not follow a traditional success story timeline-wise. From the much-publicized statements on her newfound fame last year, it’s no surprise that she doesn’t seem to care for maintaining her current level of success or “relevancy,” if you will.

While chatting with Bowen Yang for Interview Magazine, she said, “My career has worked because I’ve done it my way, and I’ve not compromised morals and time.” It’s safe to assume that Roan is more focused on letting her work be the guiding force of her unique journey. Whether the Midwest princess will continue to rise or suddenly start to fall, we will be anxiously anticipating her next steps.

Buy tickets to see Chappell Roan at the Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things pop-up shows here.