Saskatchewan·This is SaskatchewanCBC’s This is Saskatchewan takes a closer look at how music superstar Chappell Roan got the internet buzzing about Saskatchewan, and set the local 2SGLBTQ+ community buzzing.This is Saskatchewan dives into how the music icon gave the province a viral momentJanani Whitfield · CBC News · Posted: Aug 09, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours agoA Saskatchewan licence plate with an abbreviation for Chappell Roan’s new song The Subway was featured in a teaser video for the track about a break up so bad it makes you want to run away and start a new life in Saskatchewan. (@chappellroanfandemonium/TikTok, Will Heath/NBC)You might call Saskatchewan a midwest princess these days. And just like the singer that shot to fame with the release of her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Saskatchewan’s had its own rollercoaster journey following singer Chappell Roan’s name drop of this prairie province in her latest single, The Subway.Abby Zinman is a Toronto-based writer for Buzzfeed, and even she’s feeling the adrenaline rush on behalf of the province that’s sometimes an afterthought for the rest of the country. “It definitely left me speechless and so excited. I think the reason boils down to the fact that it just doesn’t happen that often, especially in mainstream American music – we don’t get a lot of shoutouts like this,” she told CBC’s This is Saskatchewan podcast. LISTEN | This is Saskatchewan examines Chappell Roan’s impact on the province:In its latest episode, This is Saskatchewan explored the phenomenon – or should we say, Femininomenon? – kicked off by Roan’s mention of this province.Kris Bynes, known online by the handle Little Twink on the Prairies, captured the excitement of Saskatchewan’s 2SLGBTQ+ community about the music icon’s name drop.”Everybody thinks of Sask. as some place that’s just for yee-haw country boys. But baby, we exist here and we’re valid here and I want to wake that up,” he said. WATCH | Go behind the scenes in the filming of the teaser for The Subway:So Chappell Roan wants to move to Sask.? BTS of her viral video and new singleChappell Roan is giving Saskatchewan some love in her new single, The Subway. The breakup song released Thursday night talks about escaping it all and moving to the Canadian Prairie province. In the leadup to the song’s release, Saskatchewan’s own Captive Media was hired by Universal Music Canada to film a special teaser video right here at home. We take a look behind-the-scenes of that viral post and at all the passionate reactions online. “And Chappell chose to sing about Saskatchewan, saying she’s moving to Saskatchewan, which I think is literally the coolest thing.”NDP MLA Nathaniel Teed, who is gay, has written to Roan’s management team, saying the song has “sparked unexpected joy and a real sense of connection,” urging her to come visit and maybe even stop here on her next tour. “Our vision is a collaboration with Chappell that offers an unapologetic middle finger to bigotry and signals to trans and queer people across this province – especially youth – that they are not alone.” But it’s not just the locals going nuts. News outlets from Buzzfeed to ABC News have covered the bump in online attention for Sask., while influencers across North America are also helping shed light on the province’s allure, even though it’s true, we have no actual subways. Chappell Roan has said in an interview she owes it to Saskatchewan to perform here, and her own lyrics in The Subway remind fans those hopes should never die. “It’s just another day and it’s not over ’til it’s over.” (CBC News)This story is from CBC’s This is Saskatchewan podcast — your connection to the stories Saskatchewan is talking about. Every week, Leisha Grebinski and Nichole Huck will cover local issues that matter. Hear the voices that are creating change, shaping policy and fuelling creativity in Saskatchewan.Tune into This is Saskatchewan every Wednesday on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.ABOUT THE AUTHORJanani Whitfield is a community engagement producer who also edits feature storytelling and First Person columns for CBC Saskatchewan. Contact her at janani.whitfield@cbc.ca.
Chappell Roan made Sask. a midwest princess, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community is here for it
