Chappell Roan beats Beyoncé’s record with history-making single about queer sex
Chappell Roan has just made history on the Billboard charts, but not for one of her beloved pop singles. Her brand new single, The Giver, marks the artist’s first foray into the country genre and it’s already a history-making success.
The Giver opened at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and it has raised her to the ranks of only two other artists, one of whom is Beyoncé. The Giver’s success makes Chappell the third woman in history to debut her first entry on the Hot Country Songs list at No. 1.
The first artist to accomplish this feat was Bebe Rexha. Rexha is similarly known for being a “pop chameleon” and was the first female artist to debut her first country song at No. 1. Her 2017 song Meant to Be with Florida Georgia Line is still the longest-running No. 1 in the history of the chart.
Just last year, Beyoncé was the second artist to match Rexha’s success. Beyoncé’s pivot to country music was a huge surprise to fans but was undoubtedly a success. The Houston-native’s single Texas Hold ‘Em debuted at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts. The song was the leading single on her Cowboy Carter album, which she will be touring across the globe later this year.
But The Giver has also earned Chappell a history-making title all of her own. The single is officially the first ever openly queer country song to top the Hot Country Songs chart in the US.
The song features Chappell singing about fulfilling women’s sexual desires better than any man could: And other boys may need a map / But I can close my eye / And have you wrapped around my fingers like that.
In the chorus, Roan goes on: Cause you ain’t got to tell me / It’s just in my nature / So take it like a taker / ‘Cause, baby, I’m a giver / Ain’t no need to hurry / ‘Cause, baby, I deliver / Ain’t no country boy quitter / I get the job done.
In an Instagram post before the single’s debut, which she had been teasing for months with billboard signs around the US, Roan admitted she had reservations. Roan wrote: “It is def a bold and scary move to release a full ass country song after only releasing one song last year and it having such a success in the pop genre .. (like I am very scared as I type this lol)”.
Clearly there was nothing to fear for the singer who has had a whirlwind 12-months. Chappell is behind impressive pop ballads like Pink Pony Club, Good Luck, Babe! and Red Wine Supernova.
The singer was the breakout star of 2024, winning Best New Artist at the 67th annual Grammy Awards in 2025. She was up against other greats like Sabrina Carpenter and Doechii.
She dedicated her acceptance speech to artists, shedding light on the difficult realities they face. She made a “demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off artists would offer a livable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists.”
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