Noah Kahan brings out Chappell Roan for surprise performance of 'California' at Rose Bowl

"Noah always stands up for me. Seriously," Roan told the crowd. "He's a good person. For real," she added

Noah Kahan surprised fans at the Rose Bowl by bringing out Chappell Roan for a special performance of California.

Roan joined Kahan onstage during his show at the Pasadena venue, where the pair performed the track together in front of the packed crowd. Before beginning the song, the two shared a heartfelt exchange in which Roan praised Kahan for always standing up for her.

"Noah always stands up for me. Seriously," Roan told the crowd. "Thank you. He's a good person. For real. For real."

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahan responded, "You're damn fucking right," before introducing the song as the first track of Roan's that he had ever heard and explaining that it was the reason he fell in love with her music.

"We're gonna sing the first song I ever heard of Kayleigh. The reason I fell in love with her music," Kahan said before the pair launched into California.

The surprise appearance quickly became one of the night's biggest moments, with footage from the performance circulating online.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California was released as part of Roan's 2023 debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The song sees Roan reflecting on leaving Los Angeles and returning to California after finding that life there did not turn out as she had hoped.

Kahan and Roan have both enjoyed major rises in popularity over the past few years, making their unexpected collaboration a particularly notable moment for fans of both artists.

The Rose Bowl performance also gave Roan an opportunity to perform California in her home state alongside Kahan, adding an extra significance to the surprise appearance.