Reneé Jane Rapp was born on January 10, 2000, in Huntersville, North Carolina, to parents Charles (Charlie) Rapp and Denise Olexa, who cleverly gave her an alliterative name to aid her future in music fame. Reneé is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Growing up, she attended Hopewell High School, where she balanced theater and even played varsity women’s golf, before transferring to the Northwest School of the Arts to seriously pursue performance. its soundtrack . She also gained acclaim for her role as Leighton Murray in HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–2024). Her music career took flight when she signed with Interscope Records in 2022, releasing her debut EP, Everything to Everyone, in November of that year. In terms of relationships, Rapp dated actor/singer Antonio Cipriano from 2019 to 2021. She then dated TikTok personality Alissa Carrington for nearly a year until early 2024. From theater kid to worldwide pop star and Broadway queen, she’s defied norms, embraced vulnerability, and glossy reinvention. She sings from her core, acts with unapologetic confidence, and lives her truth—no filter, no regrets.
Four: Snow Angel
“Snow Angel,” the emotionally raw and haunting title track of Reneé’s debut album, was released in June 2023 as a lead single, arriving ahead of the full album drop in August 2023. Crafted with producer Alexander 23, the song emerged from a deeply traumatic personal experience: Rapp was drugged during a night out in early 2022, went missing for seven hours, and woke up alone in a hotel bathroom stall with blood on her pants. This stark moment, both terrifying and disorienting, became the emotional core of the song and the album’s namesake. It has garnered over 2.1M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube and over 47M streams on spotify. The central lyric serves as a defiant mantra of survival, vulnerability, and resilience. Critical reviewers describe “Snow Angel” as the album’s aching heart: a powerful vocal journey that encapsulates Rapp’s capacity to channel profound pain into beautifully haunting pop-rock balladry. The song is not just a step in her musical evolution—it’s a testament to survival, the reclamation of agency, and artistic bravery that invites listeners to witness her healing process.
FYI
- Rapp publicly came out as lesbian in 2024, after previously identifying as bisexual in 2022 interviews. She is also diagnosed with ADHD, which she has embraced as a creative asset. Beyond that, she has been open about her struggles with eating disorders, particularly during her Broadway run as Regina—citing body-shaming remarks that worsened her health and eventually led to her departure from the show for her well-being.
Three: Leave Me Alone
Serving as Reneé Rapp’s first solo single since 2023’s Snow Angel, “Leave Me Alone” marks a bold departure into a more liberated and rebellious musical era. Released on May 21, 2025, as the lead single from her sophomore album Bite Me, the track showcases Rapp’s evolution from introspective ballads to a more assertive pop-punk sound. It has garnered over 40M streams on spotify and over 2.4M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. Lyrically, Rapp addresses the pressures of fame and the entertainment industry, expressing a desire for personal freedom and autonomy. The accompanying music video further amplifies the song’s themes, depicting Rapp in a surreal, chaotic party scene that transitions into a pillow fight with her lookalikes. This visual representation underscores the song’s message of reclaiming personal space and embracing individuality. “Leave Me Alone” has resonated with fans and critics alike, with some describing it as a “brash, fun pop hit” that channels the spirit of early 2000s pop-punk. The track’s success set the stage for the release of Bite Me, with fans eagerly anticipating the full album’s exploration of themes like love, friendship, and personal growth.
Two: I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone
Released on August 1, 2025 as the tenth track on her second studio album BITE ME, this folk-pop gem stretches right over 2 minutes and 23 seconds of emotional candor. It was penned by a powerhouse songwriting team—Rapp herself alongside Ali Tamposi, Mikky Ekko, Alexander 23, and Omer Fedi—and produced by Alexander 23, Omer Fedi, and Henry Kwapis. It has garnered over 13M streams on spotify and over 460K views on YouTube. Lyrically, the track meditates on relief and self-discovery post-breakup. Musically, the song leans into Contemporary R&B and folk-pop sensitivities, giving it a hushed, introspective texture that stands in compelling contrast to the more bombastic anthems on the album. Rapp’s layered vocals bring sensuality and nuance to the track, which reviewers—like those at Spectrum Culture—have dubbed the “crown jewel” of BITE ME for its sultry, dangerous, and deeply self-aware soul. The track essentially captures the bittersweet clarity of realizing you’re better off when someone’s not around—and it strikes a balance between mourning what was lost and celebrating independence and self-preservation.
Bonus Track
Why Is She Still Here
“Why Is She Still Here?” is the third single from her second album BITE ME. It is a sultry, emotionally intense ballad that sees Rapp confront the lingering presence of her partner’s ex with sharp honesty and heartbreaking clarity. Released on the 18th of July 2025, it has garnered over 13M streams on spotify and over 867K views on it’s Official Visualizer on Youtube. The song opens unapologetically immediately setting the stage for a confrontation born from jealousy and unresolved presence . Rapp doesn’t sing heartbreak—she documents it, offering concrete imagery that paints a vivid picture of betrayal. The lack of any bridge or final resolution on this track leaves the listener feeling tension without closure—echoing the emotional limbo Rapp describes. Critics have praised the song for its raw emotionality and stylistic shift from Rapp’s usual pop-rock persona. Atwood Magazine calls it “a seductive reckoning with jealousy, emotional ambiguity, and the ache of being someone’s secret,” spotlighting its cutting lyricism and atmospheric restraint. A Times review of BITE ME commends the ballad’s emotionally complex nature, noting that even in its quiet moments it resonates with raw realness. In essence, “Why Is She Still Here?” is Rapp at her most vulnerable and incisive—scathing yet tender, minimal yet impactful—a confessional etched in pop-soul that demands answers and refuses to let the listener (or the partner in question) off the hook.
Awards/Nominations
- Reneé Rapp’s accolades shine across theater and music—from winning top high school acting honors to earning industry and pop-culture awards for her breakout music career.
- She earned the Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in 2018 for her role in Big Fish, a prestigious national high school musical theater accolade.
- In 2024, she was honored with the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist, recognizing her deeply personal musical work, particularly Snow Angel.
- Also in 2024, she won Favorite Breakout Artist at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards; she was also nominated that year for Favorite Villain for her portrayal of Regina George.
Discography
- Snow Angel (2023)
- Bite Me (2025)
One: Not My Fault Ft. Megan Thee Stallion
“Not My Fault,” released on December 15, 2023, is a vibrant disco-funk / pop-rap anthem and the lead single off the Mean Girls (2024) movie soundtrack — the only original track not performed by characters within the film but playing over the end credits. The song was swiftly written by Rapp during a single free day off while on tour in L.A., and she brought Megan Thee Stallion onboard to elevate the track’s energy. It has garnered over 18M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube and over 146M streams on spotify. The accompanying music video, directed by Mia Barnes and released January 5, 2024, is a pink-soaked fashion fantasia full of Mean Girls Easter eggs. The duo delivered a fierce live debut of the song on Saturday Night Live on January 21, 2024 — Rapp opened with “Snow Angel” before being joined by Megan — complete with a dramatic reveal from a rotating cake. Chart-wise, “Not My Fault” was the most commercially successful single from the soundtrack, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, and charting in the UK (#61) and Canada (#82). In short, the track is an electrifying blend of self-assurance, theatrical flair, and pop-culture savvy — a standout moment that fuses musical theater roots with megawatt pop-rap energy.