Jelly Roll Stays True to Himself Amid Criticism from Organized Religions
Jelly Roll on September 19, 2025.
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Jelly Roll, the 41-year-old singer known for his poignant lyrics, has opened up about facing criticism from organized religions without letting it dampen his spirit. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, he discussed his upcoming nominations for three 2026 Grammy Awards, including one for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for his collaboration with Brandon Lake on "Hard Fought Hallelujah."
"I really don’t care when the organized religions wave their finger at me," Jelly Roll said. "I’m just glad to see the message, the gospel getting presented." He believes there is a current revival within the United States, noting, "I think there really is a revival happening in America right now, where people are being re-presented the gospel in a digestible way."
Jelly Roll.
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Reflecting on his own faith journey, Jelly Roll shared how Christianity has played a crucial role in overcoming personal struggles, including past issues with incarceration and substance abuse. "I’m a broken dude that came from a broken place and like Humpty Dumpty, they put me back together, baby," he remarked.
Despite his Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, Jelly Roll expressed hesitation about fully crossing over into contemporary Christian music. "I definitely live a little too secular to be releasing Christian music," he said, although he acknowledged that the recognition for "Hard Fought Hallelujah" is a reminder that “God knows my heart."
In addition to his nomination with Lake, Jelly Roll is also recognized for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Amen," a collaboration with Shaboozey, and Best Contemporary Country Album for his 2024 release, Beautifully Broken. This past week, he received the emotional news of his invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
Country singer Craig Morgan delivered the heartfelt message, expressing how meaningful it was to hear Jelly Roll say his music had helped him through tough times. "I’ll never forget meeting you at the Grand Ole Opry," Morgan said, welcoming Jelly Roll to the Opry family.
As Jelly Roll reflected on this honor, he shared an anecdote about attending a performance by Morgan, saying, "He comes out and sings ‘Almost Home,’ and I cried and cried. I just remember thinking, ‘Man, I wanna make people feel the way he makes me feel. That’s what I want to do. I did it, Joe.’"
