Pop sensation Chappell Roan brought classic rock thunder to her New York City show this weekend, unleashing a fiery rendition of Heart’s “Barracuda” — made all the more unforgettable by a guest appearance from the song’s co-writer and Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson.
The surprise collaboration took place during Roan’s Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour, where the 27-year-old artist continues to blend theatrical pop with high-voltage rock influences. Since first covering “Barracuda” in 2024, Roan has turned the hard-rock staple into a recurring highlight of her live set.
Roan’s Rock Reverence Runs Deep
Roan has not been shy about her reverence for “Barracuda.” Speaking to BBC Radio 1 earlier this year, she described the song as a creative benchmark — a sonic force that shaped her idea of what powerful performance should feel like.
“‘Barracuda’ is one of those songs I wish had come from me,” she said. “It makes me feel everything I want to channel onstage. When I perform it, I feel like the artist I’ve always wanted to be. Every time I’m in the studio, that’s the level I’m chasing.”
She also praised Heart vocalist Ann Wilson, calling her voice a gold standard in rock history. “Ann Wilson has the most powerful rock voice of all time, hands down,” Roan said. “She’s this towering presence — totally commanding, totally fearless. That’s the kind of conviction I aim for every time I sing.”
Nancy Wilson: Rock Legend, Mentor, “Auntie”
Nancy Wilson, who co-wrote “Barracuda” with her sister Ann in the late ’70s, has since developed a warm connection with Roan and her contemporaries. After meeting Roan, Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, and members of Boygenius at a Heart show in Los Angeles, Wilson embraced her role as a mentor to a new wave of artists.
“We really connected,” Wilson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I told them, ‘If you ever need a rock ’n’ roll auntie, I’m here.’”
Wilson reflected on the lack of female influences in rock during her early days and expressed admiration for today’s rising generation. “We had Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and Elton John as our influences. But not many women. These young artists today have more to look to — us, Sheryl Crow, and others showing them it can be done.”
Bridging Generations Through Sound
Chappell Roan’s bold reinterpretation of “Barracuda” isn’t just a tribute — it’s a declaration of lineage. By standing shoulder to shoulder with Nancy Wilson onstage, Roan affirms her place in a tradition of women who dare to dominate loud stages and even louder genres.
As Heart gears up for an extended run of their Royal Flush tour into 2026, and Roan continues to gain momentum with her genre-bending theatrics, one thing is clear: the torch of rock power vocals is burning just as brightly — and it’s being passed with pride.
