Jelly Roll is catching his breath — and it’s not a metaphor. He’s sprinting up a hill in South Texas when he answers The Associated Press by phone, part of his ongoing health-and-witness transformation. “Endorphins are flying. I feel amazing,” he says, adding with a grin, “Time to win a Grammy!”
This week brings big milestones: he’s been invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, and last month he learned he’s been nominated for three Grammys in 2026, marking a third consecutive year with nominations. Two categories are new territory for him: his first nod in contemporary Christian music for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a collaboration with Christian singer Brandon Lake; and his first nomination in the new contemporary country album category for “Beautifully Broken.”
“Being nominated for a Grammy is, without a doubt, the greatest honor,” he reflects. “Everybody wants that nomination.”
Since its 2024 release, Jelly Roll’s album “Beautifully Broken” has resonated with a devoted audience who see his music as both personal and aspirational. He explains that the album’s Grammy recognition ties into a larger message: “God wanted people to understand that you can still be beautiful and broken.” He adds that it stands as his most meaningful project to date.
Two quick notes from his backstory illustrate how much his experiences inform his art. The song “Winning Streak,” which tracks someone’s first day sober, debuted on Saturday Night Live. And the more blunt “I Am Not Okay” demonstrates his range from hopeful anthems to sobering truths. Jelly Roll is not immune to hardship himself. He has spent time in prison, with a pivotal moment at 16 when he was charged as an adult with aggravated robbery, and later, at 23, he faced drug-dealing charges.
“I’m never far from that past,” he says. Those experiences fuel his philanthropy, particularly around mental health and recovery, including frequent prison performances and outreach efforts.
When his career began, he says, he was simply telling his story of a broken self. But as time passed, he realized his narrative echoed the stories of many others. Now he aims to lift voices that have never been heard, drawing directly from the crevices of those people’s experiences. He jokes about a “nobody cries alone” policy for his life and work.
For Jelly Roll, faith has been the driving force behind this transformative year. The Christian music nomination for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Lake reinforces the sense that he’s got support beyond his own efforts. He doesn’t see himself crossing fully into CCM, joking that his life is “a little too secular” to pursue that path; nonetheless, the recognition suggests that “God knows my heart.”
Lake describes their collaboration as a natural fit: country music, at its core, often encompasses faith, freedom, and family—values he shares. Collaborating with Jelly Roll, an artist he admires, felt inevitable. Lake believes their partnership has the potential to reach millions more with their messages.
Jelly Roll agrees: the collaboration is well intentioned and rooted in hope. He senses a broader hunger for uplifting messages across genres—country, Christian, and beyond. He sees a revival underway in America, where gospel is being reintroduced in a more accessible form, less punitive and judgmental than in days gone by.
If there’s one refrain he pushes back against, it’s the finger-wagging from organized religion. He’s simply glad to see the gospel shared in ways people can absorb and relate to.
At his core, he describes himself as a damaged person who’s slowly been rebuilt, echoing Humpty Dumpty’s comeback. His ambition is for his music to help others rebuild as well.
The 68th Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with a broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. For more on the Grammys, visit AP’s coverage.
