See Chappell Roan’s highly anticipated concert in Kansas City

Editor’s note: Do you want to commemorate Chappell Roan’s Kansas City return? Sign up to get a free digital download of a special front page sent to your email after the concerts.

In the first of two highly anticipated concerts in Kansas City on Friday night, Chappell Roan took her moniker of Midwest Princess to a new level.

The Willard, Missouri-born pop star entered her stage on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial wearing a dress in the style of the medeival princess, with towers on either side of the stage, then proceeded to sing her first several songs.

Roan, who released an album called “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” in 2023, has since seen a major rise in popularity since, winning Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys. The show Friday night was her first performance in Kansas City since April 2024. It’s part of a mini-tour that’s only going to three cities, including Kansas City, called Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things.

After her royal entrance, Roan continued through her 18-song set list, including favorites like “HOT TO GO,” “Good Luck, Babe!” and concluding with her biggest hit, “Pink Pony Club.” She also played one cover of the song “Barracuda” by Heart, which she says is one of her favorite songs of all time.

The sold-out audience of 30,000 knew all the words to each of Roan’s songs, and many were decked out in styles emulating her persona, which Roan says is inspired by drag. Though the official theme of the night was “Pink Pony Club,” references to all of Roan’s music and outfits prolifterated throughout the crowd. But of course, pink was the primary theme.

And it wasn’t just the crowd. Union Station, the relit KCTV tower and more shone for the special event.

“It’s so awesome to see the city show up for me,” Roan said during her set. “It’s so awesome to see all the pink lights and coffee shops and thrift shops and people in a good mood. It makes me so happy and it makes me feel so loved and affirmed that this is what I’m meant to do.”

The show also featured three local drag performers and singer-songwriter Japanese Breakfast. More local performers and singer and rapper Baby Tate will take the stage Saturday night for the second concert.

This story was originally published October 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.