Katelyn MacDonald
| Katelyn MacDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 🏫 Education | Duke University (MDiv) |
| 💼 Occupation | bell ringer internet personality |
| 📆 Years active | 2024 – present |
Katelyn MacDonald is an American bell ringer and TikToker. She went viral on social media in 2024 after posting a video playing Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go!" on the church bells at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina.
Early life and education
MacDonald grew up in the United Methodist Church, where her mother served as a minister.[1] She studied saxophone and earned a bachelor's degree in music.[1] She earned a master's degree from Duke University's School of Divinity in 2021.[2]
Career
MacDonald works as a staff specialist at the Duke University Chapel and is a bell ringer at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Durham, North Carolina.[3][4] On June 1, 2024, the first day of Pride Month, a video of her playing Chappell Roan's song "Hot to Go!" on the church bells went viral on the social media platform TikTok.[5][6] The video received over seven million of views and over one million likes, catching the attention of Chappell Roan.[7][8] She posted two behind-the-scenes videos of her playing on the church bells which, combined with the initial video, had over seventeen million views.[1] After her initial video, she began posting videos playing other pop songs by LGBTQ artists on the church bells, including Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" and Billie Eilish's "Lunch".[4][9][10]
Personal life
MacDonald came out as a transgender woman in 2021.[2] She is a practicing Methodist and is a member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church.[2] She leads an LGBTQ group at the church.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "A Viral Song of Pride | Duke Today". today.duke.edu. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Holland, Grace (June 28, 2024). "Durham bell ringer connects LGBTQ+ community and church through viral pride song". WRAL-TV. Raleigh, North Carolina.
- ↑ WRAL (2024-06-28). "Katelyn MacDonald is a volunteer bell ringer at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Church bell ringer celebrates Pride Month for everyone to hear, and millions on TikTok". WUNC. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ Martin, Emmy (June 12, 2024). "Historic Durham church's bells played Pride anthem and caught the attention of millions". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ↑ "United Methodist Church goes viral playing Chappell Roan on church bells for Pride Month in Durham". ABC7 New York. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ Lee, Zachary (2024-06-14). "Meet the Queer Methodist Who Played 'HOT TO GO!' on Church Bells". Sojourners. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ Staff, A. O. L. (2024-06-11). "Historic Durham church's bells played Pride anthem and caught the attention of millions". www.aol.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Paur, Chase Pellegrini de (2024-06-12). "For Whom the Bells Toll? At Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, Everyone". INDY Week. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ↑ "How a Durham church bellringer's message of love to the LGBTQ community went viral - WRAL Daily Download". iHeart. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
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