Katelyn MacDonald
Katelyn MacDonald | |
|---|---|
| Education | Duke University (MDiv) |
| Occupation(s) | bell ringer internet personality |
| Years active | 2024 – present |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 10.3 K |
| Likes | 1.5 M |
Last updated: June 1, 2025 | |
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b c "A Viral Song of Pride | Duke Today". today.duke.edu. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b 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.