Noah Kahan Swaps the Stage for the Classroom in ‘Celebrity Substitute’
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Noah Kahan is expanding his repertoire from sold-out arenas to the elementary school blackboard. The “Stick Season” artist is the latest guest to step into the role of educator for the digital series Celebrity Substitute, and we have a first look at his classroom debut.
Ahead of the release of his upcoming album, The Great Divide, slated for April 24, Kahan visited PS 15 in New York City’s Lower East Side. Adopting the moniker “Mr. Noah,” the musician set out to teach a room of inquisitive elementary students the fundamental “art of storytelling.” However, before diving into the curriculum, the folk-pop star decided to gauge his standing with Gen Alpha by asking some pressing questions about his own “vibe.”
“Am I chopped?” Kahan asked the class, using the slang term for being unattractive. The students didn’t hold back, collectively shouting a resounding “Yes!” much to his amusement. Fortunately, the critique didn’t stop there. When Kahan inquired if he had reached “unc” (uncle/old man) status, the children were more forgiving, dismissing the label entirely.
The interaction took a humorous turn when one student noted Kahan’s signature long hair and beard, exclaiming, “You look like Jesus!” Kahan didn’t miss a beat, playfully responding, “Well, Jesus is watching you guys today, so let’s be on our best behavior.”
Hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, Celebrity Substitute has previously featured a star-studded roster of “faculty” members. Past episodes have seen A$AP Rocky teaching the basics of rhythm and rap, Kehlani offering an R&B masterclass, and Billie Eilish alongside Finneas collaborating on original songs with students. Other notable guests include Renee Rapp, Rauw Alejandro, and FKA Twigs.
You can catch the preview of Noah Kahan’s teaching stint above. The complete episode is scheduled to premiere this Wednesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. ET on the official Celebrity Substitute YouTube channel.
