Role Model is quickly becoming one of pop’s most exciting rising stars. While the genre is currently dominated by powerhouse female artists, Tucker Pillsbury — better known as Role Model — has carved out his own niche with music that’s deeply emotional, a little cheeky and undeniably: for the girls.
His hit single “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” has become a cultural moment, largely thanks to its viral bridge where, during live performances, he brings an audience member or celebrity onstage to dance with him. The combination of his playful TikTok persona (under the alter-ego @saintlaurentcowboy), catchy lyrics and onstage charm has turned him into a Gen Z favorite. With a Saturday Night Live debut around the corner and a starring role in a Netflix film alongside Natalie Portman, it’s clear Role Model is stepping into a new level of fame.
Who Is Role Model?
Born Tucker Pillsbury on May 15, 1997, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Role Model didn’t initially set out to become a singer. He developed a passion for film during high school and moved to Pittsburgh in 2016 to study at Point Park University. However, a pair of accidents changed everything. After breaking his wrist while skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain — and then breaking it again in a skateboarding accident — he was confined to his dorm room.
Two friends left their music equipment behind, and Tucker began experimenting with Logic Pro, recording early rap mixtapes during his recovery. When his grades started to slip, he dropped out of college to pursue music full time.
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How’d He Get His Start?
His earliest work came under the name “Tucker,” releasing the mixtape Since When in 2016. He briefly rebranded as “Dillis” and dropped his debut album Moth that June, even opening for Jordan Capozzi on her U.S. tour.
By 2017, he’d evolved his sound and image entirely, switching to singing and adopting the name “Role Model.” He self-released the EP Arizona in the Summer, which caught the attention of Mac Miller. Soon after, he signed with Interscope Records and released two more EPs and two full-length albums.
His most recent album, Kansas Anymore, generated major buzz and led to him joining Gracie Abrams’s world tour as an opening act for her second album The Secret of Us. Next up: his debut Saturday Night Live performance in October 2025.
Who’s He Dated?
While he currently appears to be single, Role Model was previously in a high-profile relationship with model and social media personality Emma Chamberlain. The two split in October 2023, and their romance heavily inspired Kansas Anymore.
“I have no regrets, and it’s a beautiful time in my life that I’m proud of,” he told Nylon. “I honestly never thought I would be in a relationship for three and a half years, and the fact that I was and that it was beautiful pretty much the entire time — I’m just very thankful. At the end of the day, I think the best thing I took away from it is knowing that I can do that and knowing that I can do that again at some point when I want to or when I’m ready.”
When’s He Making His Acting Debut?
Role Model’s rising star isn’t limited to music. He’s set to make his acting debut opposite Natalie Portman in Good Sex, a romantic comedy directed by Lena Dunham for Netflix. Mark Ruffalo is also part of the cast, making it a seriously stacked lineup.
