Country artist Jelly Roll delivered an emotional message at the Grammy Awards, using his time on stage to express gratitude for his faith, his family, and the people he credited with helping turn his life around after years of personal struggle.
Speaking to the audience, Jelly Roll opened by acknowledging his faith, indicating he was aware his remarks might be cut short.
“I know they’re gonna try to kick me off here, so just let me try to get this out,” he said.
“First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening Lord, I am listening Lord.”
He then turned his attention to his wife, crediting her with playing a central role in his survival and personal transformation.
“Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife,” Jelly Roll said.
“I would have never changed my life without you. I ended up dead or in jail. I’d have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus, I thank you for that.”
Jelly Roll also thanked the industry figures and organizations that supported his career, naming his record label and radio partners.
“I thank you for my label, Broken Bow, country radio,” he said.
“Baby, what’s up? Dawg. Oh, Republic, John McNeely, we did it.”
He went on to explain that his latest album was rooted in his own experiences with hardship and despair.
“Baby, there was a time in my life, y’all, that I was broken,” he said.
“That’s why I wrote this album. I didn’t think I had a chance.”
Jelly Roll described moments from his past when he believed he had reached the lowest point of his life.
“Y’all, there were days that I thought the darkest things, I was a horrible human,” he said.
“There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big, and a radio the same size, and a six by eight foot sale.”
He said those two items became the foundation for his recovery and belief in the power of music and faith.
“And I believe that those two things could change my life,” Jelly Roll said.
“I believe that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life.”
Jelly Roll emphasized that his message was not political and that his faith was not tied to any institution or organization.
“And I want to tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody,” he said.
“Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with him.”
He concluded his remarks with a direct expression of devotion. “I love you, Lord,” Jelly Roll said.
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