Jelly Roll Thanked His Wife And Jesus Instead Of Speaking On Politics During His Grammy Acceptance Speech
It wasn’t too long ago that the name Jelly Roll would first be mistaken for a cake in a cookbook before being recognized as a singer, but he’s now one of the biggest names in entertainment.
Part of that fame has come about as he has shared his life story with the public, proving himself to be relatable and inspiring.
Now, Jelly Roll enjoys being in commercials, serving as a mentor on Season 23 of American Idol, and has had a major crossover hit in the Christian music scene, collaborating with Christian artist Brandon Lake on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
However, it was on Jan. 11, 2024, that Jelly Roll’s path to becoming a household name was solidified when he addressed the U.S. Senate Banking Committee regarding his past with drug addiction.
There, he declared, “I am neither Democrat or Republican,” adding, “I have never paid attention to a political race in my life.”
Jelly Roll’s lack of political involvement, he argued at the time, made him the perfect person to address the fentanyl crisis in America, saying, “Fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology.”
However, with success in any entertainment field, questions of political views and affiliation are bound to follow…
At the 68th Grammy Awards last night, Feb. 1, Jelly Roll had a lot to be thankful for, winning three Grammys for the following:
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, “for Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake;
Best Country Duo/Group Performance, for “Amen” with Shaboozey; and
Best Contemporary Country Album, for his Beautifully Broken.
However, unlike many of his peers in the music industry, he didn’t use his award acceptance to tout his political views. Instead, with his Bible in hand, Jelly Roll directed the victory toward Jesus and thanked his wife, Bunnie XO.
Asked afterward about his political silence, Jelly Roll gave an explanation, and also made an announcement.
Revisit Jelly Roll’s 2024 remarks to Congress, here:
Jelly Roll Addresses Silence On Politics At Grammys
When “Amen” won the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, Shaboozey accepted the award at the ceremony held before the main broadcast and began by thanking God, saying, “Nothing is possible without You.”
He then pivoted to a political issue that is close to his heart, noting that his mother immigrated to the United States, adding, “Immigrants built this country, literally … so this is for them — for all the children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunities to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunities, to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here. You give America color.”
Shaboozey wasn’t alone with such remarks, but Bad Bunny, who will be performing in the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 8, was more pointed in his acceptance speech comments, as he called out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out.’”
After the Grammys had all been awarded, Jelly Roll and other winners had an opportunity to take questions from the press, and he was asked about his silence on politics.
Responding, Jelly Roll said, “People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion, man. You know? I’m a dumb redneck.”
He then went on to say that he recently didn’t have a phone for 18 months and has been off social media for the past four months.
“I hate to be the artist aesthetic aloof, but I’ve just become so disconnected from what’s happening,” he said.
Continuing, Jelly Roll said:
“I grew up in a house of, like, insane pandemonium. Like, I didn’t even know politics were f***ing real until I was in my mid-20s in jail. Like, that’s how disconnected — when you grow up in a drug addict household, do you think we, like, have common calls about what’s happening in world politics? Like, we’re just trying to find a way to survive, man, you know?”
Wrapping up his response to the question of politics, Jelly Roll then announced, “I have a lot to say about it, and I’m going to in the next week, and everybody’s gonna hear exactly what I have to say about it in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoken in my life, so I look forward to it.”
Watch Jelly Roll address his lack of political comments, here:
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