Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Meet rising starRole Model, who’s continuing to rock the music scene.
The singer-songwriter, born Tucker Pillsbury, has been a music star on the rise since the release of his debut EP in 2017. In the years that followed, he has gone on to work with today’s top artists, performed at some of the biggest venues and wrapped a headline tour and festival-circuit in 2022.
Music aside, Role Model has caught the public’s eye in recent years due to his mysterious relationship with YouTube sensationEmma Chamberlain, first turning heads heads when they walked the red carpet together at the2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Partyin March.
While their romance wasn’t confirmed at the time, the YouTuber admitted she was in a relationship on theCall Her Daddypodcast a month prior — though, she played coy about the person’s identity. Nearly a year later, the twomade their relationship officialin aGQfeature.
Although Chamberlain and Role Model only made their relationship official in 2022, they have known each other for years, having texted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for months before ever meeting in person. “We have a very just unproblematic, safe, private—when we want to be private—relationship,” Role Model toldGQat the time.
After over three years together,Role Model and Chamberlain broke up, sources close to the situation confirmed toE! Newsin early October 2023.
Here’s everything to know about Role Model.
Tucker Pillsbury/Instagram
After releasing his 2017 ballad “Stolen Car,” a song about longing and addiction, Role Model caught the attention of late rapper Mac Miller, eventually leading to his deal with Interscope Records and his move to Los Angeles.
“Then, the [Instagram] DM happened. Mac Miller reached out and flew me out, and my career kicked off,” Role Model toldGQ. “He told me he related to ‘Stolen Car.’ Then, he passed. I was back home when I got the call, and I started crying when I hung up. Mac was the first person to see me as an artist.”
Role Model’sRxalbum teased his relationship with Emma Chamberlain
When Role Model first started writing the album, it mainly consisted of love songs. Although he scrapped the original cut, approaching it from a more “unique” angle, he toldGQthat the album is “all about [his girlfriend].”
In fact, fans have speculated that the girl featured in his “neverletyougo” music video is Chamberlain, despite the person never showing her face.
“It’s one of my favorite songs, and now it’s one of my favorite videos,“Role Model told PEOPLE. “It’s always the simple ones, I guess.”
Role Model had never been in a relationship before
Role Model and Emma Chamberlain.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
In an April 2022 interview withGQ, Role Model revealed that his relationship with Chamberlain was his first-ever girlfriend.
“This relationship is my first girlfriendever. I’m so used to sleeping around and breaking hearts,” he said at the time. “I was very closed off to the idea of a relationship before this. I was always scared of how it would influence my music.” He added, “I’m just so happy with this person, though. She’s the best.”
Role Model performed at Coachella
Role Model.Scott Dudelson/Getty
Role Model made hisCoachelladebut on the Gobi Stage during the festival’s first and second weekend in 2022 and was stoked to hear the crowd sing along during his set.
“At Coachella, there were far more people than I would’ve expected,“he told PEOPLE. “It felt a lot like our shows on tour, which is cool. It’s very inclusive, and we’re all singing together.”
He added, “Our first show on tour was in Pomona [in California] right before Coachella. It was days after we put out the album, and the fans knew every word. I didn’t even know the words yet!”
Role Model sees acting in his future
In addition to music, Role Model has a passion for acting. Prior to the release of his album, he set out to audition for the role of Elliot inEuphoria. Although it ended up going toDominic Fike, the musician toldGQthat he went all-in on the audition process.
“Dominic Fike did a great job, but I was up for that role,” he explained. “Before the audition, I studied for two weeks and locked myself in my apartment. I want to go into acting alongside my music career.”
Role Model has Type 1 diabetes
There is a lot of adjusting that comes with Role Model’s busy lifestyle, making touring a bit of a learning curve, especially with the added responsibility of managing his Type 1 diabetes.
“This is the first tour where I really had to think about it,“he told PEOPLE. “I felt super lost a couple months ago with it. It’s definitely a hard thing to try and get the crew educated. It’s a small window of time and there’s a whole lot to learn. I’m still learning, and it’s been 10 years.”
Role Model told PEOPLE he has found a mentor inHaim’s Este Haim, who also has Type 1 diabetes.
“She is incredible,” he said. “We met a while back in Paris, and she has been really helpful. She put me in contact with all these people from [diabetes management companies] Dexcom and Tandem. She’s been like a f—ing mother to me.”
source: people.com
