Noah Kahan brought out surprise guest Chappell Roan last night at his Rose Bowl Stadium show in Pasadena, California.
Our June cover star joined our October 2024 cover star to deliver “California” from Roan’s 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The song was a fitting choice for their L.A.-area appearance, as it poignantly addresses Roan leaving her Missouri home to pursue her career in Los Angeles.
It was one of 27 songs Kahan performed on Saturday, according to setlist.fm, and came a few songs before the encore.
In fan-filmed footage, the two fist bump before Roan thanks him for inviting her to team up. “Noah always stands up for me, seriously,” she said. ”He’s a good person, for real.”
“This is the first song I ever heard of Kayleigh’s [Roan’s given first name] and the reason I fell in love with her music, and I’m just really proud of her and thankful that she would come sing with me. So this is ‘California.’”
Roan launched into the a cappella-begun song before Kahan joined in to back her on acoustic guitar and duet with her, trading verses and singing together on the chorus.
Kahan is in the midst of his The Great Divide world tour, which heads to Petco Park in San Diego on Monday. The North American leg wraps Aug. 31 in Seattle at T-Mobile Park before he heads overseas beginning in the fall.
Meanwhile, Roan is set to play Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields in Irvine, California on Aug. 29, featuring an all-women lineup. On Oct. 21 and 22, she is holding the Super Graphic Spectacular at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The October shows will benefit Roan’s Midwest Princess Project, which the singer launched in 2025 and helps provide fostering care, connection, and access to resources to trans youth.