Ethermac|Chappell Roan Steals the Show With 2024 MTV VMAs Performance Amid Backlash for Canceling Concerts

H-O-T-T-O-G-O,Ethermac Chappell Roan just stole the show.

The “Hot To Go!” singer made her award show debut at the 2024 MTV VMAs, hitting the stage at UBS Arena in New York Sept. 11 to perform her hit "Good Luck, Babe!"

Featuring a medieval-inspired dance number, the song—off Chappell’s 2023 debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—got many celeb attendees dancing along. (To see all the stars on the red carpet, click here.)

Chappell began the performance wearing a knight in shining armor outfit, wielding a flaming crossbow before launching into "Good Luck, Babe!" as fire rained around her. 

Chappell (real name Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) is nominated for Best New Artist at the ceremony, facing off against nominees Benson Boone, Gracie Abrams, Tyla, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims. In addition, she is up for the Performance of the Year award alongside Benson, Teddy, GloRilla, Coco Jones, Victoria Monet, Jessie Murph, Laufey, Le SSerafim and The Warning. 

And while Chappell’s VMAs performance itself was a hit, not everyone was applauding after she seemingly prioritized the VMAs over her some of her European tour dates. In fact, after the 26-year-old canceled her Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 concerts in Paris and Amsterdam—later revealing in a Sept. 3 Instagram Story it was due to rehearsals for the VMAs—her international fans took to social media to complain.  

“Canceling two shows that are in less than a week because you made the last minute decision to attend the VMAs is so unprofessional,” one detractor wrote on X Aug. 29. “Many new artists just don't have an ounce of respect for their fans.” 

Another added to X, “Is leaving fans heartbroken that they now can’t see their favorite artist really worth it for a short little five minute spot at an award show?” 

Meanwhile, fans also found her performance at such a high-profile event contradictory to her previous public statements about her struggles with her quick rise to fame.  

Last month, Chappell called out  “creepy behavior” amid her summer of chart success. 

“I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous,” she explained in an Aug. 18 TikTok. “That does not make it OK. That doesn’t make it normal. That doesn’t mean I want it. That doesn’t mean that I like it.” 

Chappell faced backlash for calling out some of her fans, but many other celebrities—including Shawn Mendes and Jewel—came to her defense.  

“This happens to every woman I know from this business,” the Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams wrote. “I’m really thankful Chappell is willing to address it in a real way, in real time.” 

To see more celeb candid moments from the VMAs, keep reading…