Top 10 Reasons You Should Know Who Reneé Rapp Is

In 2022, Rapp kicked off her first big tour, promoting her debut EP, “Everything to Everyone.” At first, there were only four dates across the U.S., but due to high demand, more were added, essentially doubling the tour’s length. Even in the U.K., Rapp’s fans were super excited that, apparently, the venue had to be changed twice just to fit everyone in! She performed several personal songs, touching on themes like mental health, sexuality, and the universally relatable relationship rollercoaster. Rapp showcased two of her tracks, “Too Well” and “Pretty Girls,” from her “Snow Angel” album at the 2023 VMAs. Plus she got nominated for “Best New Artist” and “Push Performance of The Year” for her song “Colorado.”

If you’re a regular on TikTok, you’ve probably stumbled upon this amazing talent – and with a whopping 1.7 million followers (and counting), you might just be one of them. If you scroll through her videos, you’ll find some fun BTS snippets and genuinely hilarious moments. Plus, her musical slay is seriously on point – there are versions of her songs to suit practically every mood. It’s pretty obvious from what she shares that Rapp wants folks to see her as a musician first, and she’s nailing it. Sure, we’ve seen our fair share of TikTok stars, but how many can make singing look that darn impressive in such a short clip?

Rapp isn’t afraid to claim her space in the world and take charge of her own career – and we’re here for it! When she landed her first Broadway gig in “Mean Girls,” she threw down a major power move. She told producers Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels that she’d accept the role if they supported her music aspirations– she’s seen “SNL,” she knows they’re well connected. It totally worked! She played the iconic Regina George, kicked off her music career, and had these two big shots stirring up major buzz about her. So, the next time you want that promotion, raise, or even just the last cookie – ask yourself, “What would Reneé Rapp do?”

Rapp has been candid about her mental health journey, discussing challenges like disordered eating and receiving a mood disorder diagnosis. The pressures of her acting career, especially in the musical “Mean Girls,” intensified these struggles. Behind the scenes, she reportedly faced triggering remarks about her body, adding to the stress of the job. Ultimately, she stepped away from the role to prioritize her emotional well-being. Rapp has shared that she’s open about her personal challenges because she “suffered in silence for so many years.” Her hope is that, alongside peers from her generation, she can actively contribute to breaking down taboos and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

If this whole time you’ve been thinking, you recognize her face but can’t quite place from where, perhaps you caught her on a talk show? Maybe you saw her on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “The Late Late Show” or “Late Night with Seth Meyers?” She’s a joy to watch, effortlessly charming, intelligently witty, and just really lights up the screen – and that’s all before she’s sung a single note. Then, when she does start singing, she effortlessly holds our undivided attention. She’s also dabbled in a couple of duets with talk show host and singer extraordinaire Jennifer Hudson. So when’s that duet dropping, and can we have more of these while we wait?

Rapp was still in high school when she first made her mark in the theater world. In 2018, she took center stage as Sandra in her school’s production of “Big Fish,” bagging not one but two “Best Actress” awards, including the coveted Jimmy Award – think Tony Awards: High School edition. During the event, she delivered a stunning rendition of “All Falls Down” from “Chaplin,” leaving Broadway veteran Laura Benanti in awe of her stage presence. That year, she also played Wendla in Theatre Charlotte’s rendition of “Spring Awakening. By the time she hit 19, Broadway was calling. In 2019, Rapp captivated audiences at BroadwayCon, showcasing her remarkable talent once again.

A quick YouTube search of Rapp’s name opens up her musical world, but we’re not talking about her official videos. Dive into the YouTube archives, and you’ll discover a young Rapp recording herself singing covers of some of her favorite artists. She doesn’t choose the easy tracks either! You can find videos of her singing Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” and several big Beyoncé hits. If we had stumbled upon these videos before her rise to fame, we would have been convinced that her name was destined for the big lights, whether on Broadway or, perhaps, following in Bey’s footsteps and selling out MetLife Stadium.

Though Rapp’s journey began on stage, her true passion has always been music. The stage was essentially a means to an end, a path towards popstar dreams. After a few record deal setbacks, her single “Tattoos” turned the tide, gaining TikTok fame and catching a label’s eye. In 2022, she dropped her debut EP, “Everything to Everyone,” delivering several introspective tracks reflecting on life’s relatable highs and lows. She followed that up with her debut album, “Snow Angel,” in 2023. It entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number 44, boasting a debut week so successful that, at the time, it claimed the crown for the top-performing inaugural album by a female artist that year.

In 2021, Rapp made her television debut in Mindy Kaling’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” playing Leighton Murray, an affluent legacy student navigating her sexuality. As someone who identifies as queer, Rapp saw the character as a mirror to her own journey of self-discovery. She also compared Leighton to Regina George, saying they’re both the type to appear strong while the “World Burns” around them.” But she wants audiences to remember that there’s more to Leighton than meets the eye. She’s got layers that start showing as she figures out who she is. After two seasons as a series regular, Rapp chose to depart, downscaling her role to recurring with plans to exit the show altogether.

As we’ve already mentioned, Rapp made her Broadway debut playing cinema’s ultimate Queen Bee, Regina George. Initially, she filled in for Taylor Louderman, who was taking a short break over the summer. However, when a new semester started at North Shore in September 2019, Rapp strutted the halls full-time, and as we all know, those are some pretty big Louis Vuitton heels to fill. Indeed, she wanted to emphasize the side of the character that owns her power while still making audiences root for her. Unfortunately, the show closed earlier than anticipated due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. But, in “Grool” news, she reprises the role in the 2024 movie musical adaptation.

Were you already following Rapp’s career, or are you now a fan in the making? Let us know in the comments