Chappell Roan Dares to Go Country, But Can She Win Over Traditional Fans?

Pop music’s controversial “It” girl Chappell Roan is following in the footsteps of Post Malone and Beyoncé by going country — but sources sing that the Grammy winner’s twist into twang may be a harder sell because she’s an openly gay woman with a drag-queen persona!

The 27-year-old Good Luck, Babe! chart-topper recently released her first country song, The Giver, which she may follow with a full-length album of country tunes, but a music industry insider tells GLOBE that Roan can’t count on matching the success of Malone and Beyoncé, who both scored No. 1 country albums last year.

“Post is so adorable, everybody loves him. And Beyoncé is such a superstar, fans will lap up anything she puts out,” trills the tipster.

“But Chappell openly challenges society’s norms and is vocal about her controversial political views, so it’ll be a challenge winning over good ol’ boys and gals who lap up Jason Aldean and Zach Bryan!”

Still, Roan believes she has bona fide country cred from growing up in a conservative Christian household in small-town Willard, Mo. — population 6,344 — where country was king.

“I have such a special place in my heart for country music,” she says. “I grew up listening to it every morning and afternoon on my school bus and had it swirling around me at bonfires, grocery stores and karaoke bars.”

Adds the source: “Roan seems a million miles away from what people think of as a country artist. Now, we’ll see just how big the country music tent is!”