Willard native Chappell Roan calls out hometown ex during Lollapalooza set

Sporting a bright pink and blue wrestling singlet, Willard native Chappell Roan jumped her way onto Lollapalooza's main stage in front of a jaw-dropping crowd last week. In addition to the sea of fans who camped out to see the rising pop star's set, Roan made headlines for the local weightlifters who joined her on stage and a callout she made to an ex back home.

The 26-year-old was slotted to perform on a smaller side stage at the festival, but due to the multitude of fans waiting for her performance, organizers decided to swap Roan's stage assignment with fellow pop artist Kesha, according to Rolling Stone magazine. Photos and videos from Roan's set show a packed Grant Park in downtown Chicago, where the music festival is held.

Roan's crowd may just be the festival's largest in history. A Lollapalooza spokesperson told CNN over the weekend, "Chappell’s performance was the biggest daytime set we’ve ever seen. It was a magical moment added to Lolla’s DNA."

Held Aug. 1-4, headliners at this summer's Lollapalooza included Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier, SZA, Stay Kids, The Killers, Future X Metro Boomin, Blink-182, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex.

Chappell Roan calls out ex back home

For fans back home, perhaps the most notable part of Roan's Lollapalooza set was the statement she made before one of her final songs, "My Kink Is Karma."

"I dedicate this song to my ex, who was bragging that they dated me at the bar in my hometown," Roan said into a camera on stage. "This is a message for your fiancée. You should break up!"

Who this ex partner is has been the topic of discussion on social media over the weekend, with fans trying to guess the bar Roan referenced — likely one in Springfield, not Willard.

Chicago-based weightlifters join Chappell Roan on stage

Roan is popularly known for working with drag performers in the cities she performs in, having them open her concerts. For her Lollapalooza set, Roan took a different approach. Instead of drag performers, several Chicago-based weightlifters joined her on stage.

Roan thanked the lifters on stage, at the end of her set, and in an Instagram post she made over the weekend. In her original post, Roan tagged each of the lifters but as of Monday, the post had been edited to remove these tagged accounts.

Blink-182 covers Roan's 'Pink Pony Club'

Even after her Thursday set, Roan continued to draw attention, as Gen X pop punk band Blink-182 briefly covered her single "Pink Pony Club" on Sunday night.

Chappell Roan's Lollapalooza setlist

According to setlist.fm, a fan-sourced website, Roan's nearly three-hour long set featured the following:

• "Femininonmenon"

• "Naked in Manhattan"

• "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl"

• "Love My Anyway"

• "Picture You"

• "HOT TO GO!"

• "After Midnight"

• "Casual"

• "The Subway"

• "Red Wine Supernova"

• "Good Luck, Babe!"

• "My Kink is Karma"

• "Pink Pony Club"

What's next?

Following a performance at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Roan will begin the Europe leg of her "The Midwest Princess Tour." She'll return to the states in September and more specifically to the Ozarks on Oct. 2 for a performance at the Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas. Her tour ends at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Chappell Roan's Lollapalooza crowd festival's biggest daytime set ever