Masked musician Orville Peck is just like Us — he can’t stop talking about Chappell Roan.
“I’m obsessed with Chappell. I love [The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess] … I think she’s so talented,” Peck, 36, exclusively told Us Weekly before his Weekend 1 performance at the 2024 Austin City Limits music festival.
Peck and Roan, 26, rocked back-to-back sets on opposite ends of Austin’s Zilker Park on Sunday, October 6. Though their performances didn’t overlap, their audiences did — both artists played to fans wearing sparkly cowboy hats and waving Pride flags.
“I think she’s so cool for what she stands for and how she stands for it,” Peck gushed to Us. “She’s really lovely.”
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Peck himself knows all about standing for something. Since dropping his first album, Pony, in 2019, Peck has drawn in listeners with his deep voice and raw emotion, as well as his air of mystery. The country crooner wears a mask — “I want people to have their own take on it,” he once told GQ Australia — and he sings candidly about romances with men.
“There are a million different types of country fans. There are a million different types of country artists. There always have been,” he told Us in Texas when asked about how the genre has made strides in becoming more inclusive.
While Peck is a shining star of country music’s next generation, he still has love for the voices that raised him. His latest album, Stampede, is entirely made up of collaborations and features duets with icons like Willie Nelson, Elton John and Kylie Minogue.
The one artist still on his collaboration bucket list? “Dolly Parton,” Peck told Us. “I feel like her and Willie Nelson are two of the last big legends in country [music] and I got Willie, so I’m one away.”
Scroll down for more revelations from Peck about recording Stampede and meeting Harry Styles:
Us Weekly: How does it feel to be at ACL?
Orville Peck: It’s literally my favorite festival. I played it in 2019, I believe. I just love it. I mean, I love Texas, I love Austin, and ACL always kills it with the lineup. I’m excited to play, but I’ve also been geeking out over everyone all weekend. It’s been so fun. … Teddy Swims, my friend Teddy, was amazing. Benson Boone was incredible. I’m excited to see Sturgill [Simpson]. Of course, Chappell Roan.
Us: You’ve gotten to work with some pretty major legends — Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, Kylie Minogue. How special is it to be embraced by those types of artists?
Orville: It’s really amazing. You know, you are a fan of their music first and foremost, at least I am. Getting to work with these people, that part of me goes crazy ’cause I can’t believe that I get to even know them, never mind make something with them. It’s my favorite thing. I love collaborating. It’s such a great thing to do.
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Us: Stampede is such a great album because the collaborations are so diverse. How did you go about choosing who you’re going to feature?
Orville: Most of them are friends, which is so cool to say … but I just respect them so much for what they do as musicians. So, that went into it. There’s [also] people I’ve looked up to my whole life, like Willie Nelson or Elton John, and [I’m] lucky enough to know them as well. I think there [were] only about three people on the album I didn’t know beforehand. It felt very much like reaching out to just friends and peers.
Us: Are there any highlights to share from the process of recording the album?
Orville: It was a very long process. I think it was about two years in the making. Getting 18 different artists’ schedules together is the craziest thing ever. … It was a real mountain to climb. [Moments] that stand out are, like, I got to be in the studio with Elton, which is the best because I love being around Elton John. He’s always just so funny. He loves dirty humor and it’s always just the best time with him because he’s just cracking up. He is the sweetest man. He’s a great vibe.
Us: We’ve seen the country genre widen its reach in the past few years. How do you hope it continues to be more inclusive?
Orville: That’s sort of the hope always with country, and with everything, but definitely with country. It’s become a big part of what I do and stand for, of course. There are a million different types of country fans. There are a million different types of country artists. There always have been. It’s long overdue for those people to be telling their stories in the mainstream and getting a chance to shine. I’m so happy that that seems to be happening a lot more. I love that everyone’s embracing their inner country vibe, ’cause country music started from completely diverse roots, so it should be for everybody, you know?
Us: Are there any up-and-coming artists that you’ve been obsessed with?
Orville: I don’t know if we can even call her up-and-coming anymore, but Chappell. I’m obsessed with Chappell. I love [The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess], it is so good. It’s the first time in a while I’ve had an album just on repeat. I think she’s so talented. I think she’s so cool for what she stands for and how she stands for it. She’s really lovely. I’ve been lucky enough to chat with her, and she’s super cool. I’m very into Chappell.
Us: She’s been so open about touring being overwhelming, and I know you’ve canceled shows in the past. Do you have any advice for someone like her who’s been thrust into the spotlight so quickly?
Orville: It’s an unimaginable amount of pressure. I can’t imagine at that level especially. I think she’s doing the right thing where she is taking care of herself and prioritizing herself. I know that sometimes that comes across to the fans as maybe being ungrateful or something. But the thing is, everyone deserves a sick day. Everyone deserves to put their mental health as a priority. It doesn’t mean that we’re not grateful or love what we do, but it’s an impossible ask for us to be at 100 percent all the time. I’m really happy that that’s starting to become more of a trend, because it’s an immense amount of pressure to deliver all the time. No one’s capable of that. … I canceled a show the other day because I lost my voice. I’m not gonna go give a good show if I can’t rest it, you know? It’s important.
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Us: How would you say the crowds at a festival like this compare to your own shows?
Orville: I love playing a festival because my favorite thing is winning people over. You know, people who might have a misconception about country [music], people who might have a misconception about my mask and the way I present myself. Or just people that don’t know who I am at all. That’s my favorite thing is having people [into it] by the end. That’s the best.
Us: One of the first times I got to see you live was at a Harry Styles show [in 2021]. Have you stayed in touch with him at all?
Orville: Yeah, we talk every now and then. He’s super busy, obviously, but he’s such a sweetheart. If I hit him up, he always responds. The thing about Harry is he is actually just a very kind person and a really down-to-earth guy, so he is easy to talk to. He doesn’t have any ego.
Us: Any fun backstage memories from those Halloween shows?
Orville: Well … it was the first time I was meeting him officially. They let him into my dressing room and I was in my underwear. The first time I met Harry, we were just standing [there] having a conversation and I was almost completely naked and just like, “Hey, man.”
