Q&A with Chappell Roan’s Cover Singer

Madison Heritage on the Midwest Princess and how a cover band forms.

By Lydia Harada

The Chappell Roan cover band for Cover Show 2025. From top to bottom, left to right: Francie Johnson (guitar), Brady Dorrington (drums), Jasper Zeray (synth), Maeve Palma (bass), Madison Heritage (vocals), Paul Gunter (synth). Photo by Dave Langan.

As the rumors surrounding what artists would be covered at the Stood’s Cover Show grew, leading to the lineup reveal on Monday, one artist’s name kept coming up with oohs and ahhs: Chappell Roan. Over the last year and a half, her 2023 debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” became a marquee moment in pop music. Her brand of campy, yet lived-in theatricality and explosive hooks resonated with millions, launching six Billboard Hot 100 hit singles in 2024. This week, I sat down with the vocalist who will be adopting her mantle on Friday.

Lydia Harada: Could you introduce yourself for our readers?

Madison Heritage: Hi everyone, I am Madison Heritage and I am a third year Anthropology major. I am so excited for Cover Show because I haven’t done anything music related at Purchase yet, and I think it’ll be a blast!

LH: How did the cover band come together?

MH: My friends and I have a joke where we often say, “Cover show?” when listening to basically any artist. That happened with Chappell, except this time my friend Brady [Dorrington] was like, “Wait, that could be so fun.” So that’s how I got my drummer. I asked my friends Maeve [Palma] and Francie [Johnson] if they would be down, and they said yes too! Maeve is the bassist and Francie is playing guitar. Maeve’s boyfriend, Paul [Gunter], plays the synth, so we thought that would be a great addition. Our second synth player, Jasper [Zeray], joined later in the process; after auditions. I still don’t really know how he got involved, but I am super glad that he did. The second synth really changes the game.

LH: Sometimes that’s how it breaks. How does the audition/booking process work?

MH: I signed us up for a time slot. We got there, and there were only three people in the audition room and a camera. We played two songs, and it was recorded and played for a larger group of people, who were the decision makers.

LH: What does the opportunity to perform Chappell's music mean to you?

MH: Chappell is obviously a queer icon, so it’s awesome as someone who is also a part of the community to perform as an openly queer pop star! Also, her outfits and makeup are always so beautiful and fun and I’m excited to exude that at least a little bit. It’s all very empowering – and I get to see all of my bandmates performing in drag makeup, so that’s a plus!

LH: One more question – what should the audience expect from the set?

MH: They should just expect fun! And to dance! If nobody does the “Hot to Go!” dance with me I will cry. We are playing the songs everyone wants to hear and it will just be a blast.