Entertainment Awards Shows and Events VMAs Chappell Roan Dedicates Best New Artist VMA Win to 'All the Queer Kids in the Midwest': 'I Am One of You' The "Good Luck, Babe!' singer also dedicated her win at the 2024 MTV VMAs "to the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love — or hate" By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines and Charna Flam Charna Flam Charna Flam is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on Variety, The New York Post, and The Wrap. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 11, 2024 11:30PM EDT Comments Chappell Roan at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at UBS Arena September 11, 2024 in in Elmont, New York. . Photo: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Nothing "Casual" about this: Chappell Roan just won her first VMA. The "Good Luck, Babe!" singer was named best new artist at the 2024 MTV VMAs at New York's UBS Arena in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The 26-year-old pop star (real name: Kayleigh Amstutz) took the stage in chainlink dress and headpiece to accept the award and read her speech directly from her diary. After thanking MTV, her team and her family and friends, Roan thanked drag queens who inspire" her, adding: "I dedicate this to queer and trans people that fuel pop. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love — or hate." Chappell Roan at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at UBS Arena September 11, 2024 in in Elmont, New York. Mike Coppola/Getty She added: "And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and my fears. Thank you. For all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now: I see you. I understand you because I'm one of you, and don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't be exactly who you want to be." Roan released her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in September 2023 and skyrocketed to fame this year while on the summer festival circuit. She's since notched Billboard Hot 100 hits with a whopping seven songs: "Pink Pony Club," "My Kink Is Karma," "Femininomenon," "Casual," "Red Wine Supernova," "Hot to Go!" and "Good Luck, Babe!" Part of what's drawn fans to Roan is her energetic and campy live shows, which come with dress codes and themes, such as “slumber party kissin’,” “goth grunge and glitter” and “so you wanna be a pop star." Chappell Roan on Her Love of Drag Queens and Her Debut Album That 'Feels Like a Party' (Exclusive) “I think people like to party and I think my project feels like a party,” she previously told PEOPLE. “I think that people just want to be happy and reflect, sing, dance and dress up, and feel free. The project gives people an opportunity to express themselves without judgment and freedom to discover themselves in the same way that I feel like the project allows me to discover myself.” Roan also performed at the 2024 VMAs and received additional nominations for Push performance of the year for "Red Wine Supernova," song of summer for "Good Luck, Babe!" and best trending video for "Hot to Go!" The 2024 MTV VMAs air on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/ PT live from the UBS Arena in New York. Close