Chappell Roan’s new single “The Subway” hits No. 1 on iTunes in the U.S. after months of fan anticipation and standout live performances. US singer-songwriter Chappell Roan arrives for the 2025 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025, in New York. The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The 2025 Met Gala is themed “Tailored for You,” aligning with the Costume Institute’s exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” set to open to the public on May 10. (Photo by Angela WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Chappell Roan has a history of performing songs and teasing them to her massive fanbase for months, if not years, before they are properly released. It’s a strategy that has worked for her in the past, and she’s stuck with it. To promote her brand new cut “The Subway,” she leaned into this approach once again, much to the delight of her diehard followers.
Fans of the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter are already familiar with the tune, but the rest of the world is just now waking up to the latest single from the current holder of the Best New Artist Grammy. Anticipation was clearly extremely high, as “The Subway” is already a bestselling smash.
“The Subway” Leads New Releases on iTunes
Friday (August 1) marks the beginning of a new tracking week in the music industry, and “The Subway” is the most exciting release this frame. Roan dominates iTunes rankings in a number of countries, including the United States, where “The Subway” rides the rails all the way to No. 1.
Demi Lovato, Forrest Frank and Zach Top
At the time of writing, Roan scores one of only two new arrivals inside the top 10 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in the U.S. “Chevy Silverado” by Bailey Zimmerman opens at No. 4, while new cuts from musicians like Zach Top, Forrest Frank, Russell Dickerson, and Demi Lovato sit just a few spaces beneath the highest tier. Any, or all, of those songs could climb into the top 10 in the coming hours or days.
A Fan Favorite Finally Gets Released
Roan has been performing “The Subway” for more than a year now, and she played it at several high-profile events, including the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City. Many fans had demanded a studio version of the tune, and Roan eventually acquiesced. According to more than one interview, the singer felt that “The Subway” actually works better live, so she had some hesitation when it came to sharing it as a proper single.
What Comes Next for Chappell Roan?
“The Subway” marks Roan’s second new single of 2025. Back in March, she delivered “The Giver,” another track she’d performed live well before officially releasing it. That tune brought Roan back to the top 10 on the Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 5.
“The Subway” joins both “The Giver” and “Good Luck, Babe!” as standalone tunes, as none of them have been formally connected to an upcoming full-length. There is a good chance all three will be featured on Roan’s highly-anticipated sophomore album, though there’s no date for such a project just yet.