Singer/songwriter Jelly Roll headlines show during Music City Rodeo, May 30, 3025, Nashville, TN
With the hometown crowd fired up and ready to go, Jelly Roll hit the stage (which spectators had just watched drop down from the ceiling a short time ago). With rodeo dust still in the air, the stage covered part of the thick dirt floor, where cowboys had wrapped up competition on Day 2 of the Music City Rodeo, less than an hour ago.
Jelly kicked things off with his song “Heart of Stone.”
Currently on tour with Post Malone, he’d just wrapped up a show in Pittsburgh the night before, and had flown into Nashville early that morning.
He was clearly happy to be back in town.
“Awww, Nashville,” he said in a booming voice. “There’s no place like home! I’ve traveled the world, been across the United States, and there is no place like home!”
The Nashville-native’s warm references to home would set the tone for the next hour-and-a-half. He sang his hits, but also stopped several times, often getting emotional, as he spoke directly to the audience. He wanted to express his gratitude, and perhaps a little bit of awe, in discussing his spectacular rise to fame over the past three years.
Throughout the show, he touched on different aspects of his life and journey, pointing to circumstances when none of what he’s accomplished seemed remotely possible. From the days of sneaking into bars as a teenager and selling mixed tapes on Lower Broadway – to the negative life choices that would later land him in jail.
Jelly Roll performs at Bridgestone Arena as headliner for second night of the Music City Rodeo, … More
His appearance this night had special meaning. It marked his third time playing the Bridgestone Arena. He said four or five years ago, he couldn’t imagine even playing in some of Nashville’s much smaller venues (the Exit In, Marathon works, etc). But three years ago, with just two hit songs to his name, the powers-that-be took a risk on Jelly Roll and booked him here.
“I would have never guessed that hometown show was going to launch me to play 80 arenas across the United States of America and have one of the biggest shows of last year. I never thought a kid from Antioch, Tennessee, was going to end up on tour with Post Malone and selling out stadiums across the world!”
Post Malone and Jelly Roll at the Jelly Roll & Friends concert held at Billy Bob’s Texas on May 06, … More
The crowd roared with applause.
“I want y’all to know I’d never take this for granted, what ya’ll have done for me in this city, and how y’all have changed my life.”
He noted how special it was to play this particular show, as Nashville hosts its first-ever professional rodeo, hoping the rodeo could become a permanent, even bigger event for Nashville in the future. For the inaugural rodeo, Reba McEntire headlined the first night, Jelly Roll the second, with Tim McGraw capping things for night three.
“I’m honored to be here tonight, but I want to be clear, this not a Jelly Roll show. This is the first Music City Rodeo, and they let Jelly Roll do a show. I’m just here to support the cowboys, and I want to thank the cowboys that stuck around to support me.”
Backed by his spectacular band, he rocked the house with familiar songs like “Get By,” “Liar,” “Lonely Road (Country Roads),” “I Am Not Okay,” “Need A Favor,” “Save Me,” and more. He also did covers of Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” and Garth Brooks’ “I Got Friends In Low Places.”
And between songs, he continued sharing his thanks, along with his faith.
“I’ll be honest, coming from where I came from, I didn’t think I was going to live to be 30 years old, and if I did, I assumed I’d be in prison, spending the rest of my life there. But God had a different plan for me. And it’s by God’s grace and God’s grace alone I am here tonight!”
He hopes sharing his story will inspire others.
“I know it sounds cliché’ but I’m a human example that not only do dreams come true, but bad people can be good people. I come here with a message of love, hope, healing, self-belief, second chances, redemption, God’s grace, and testimony of the most high. If you believe in change and you’re willing to work for that change, then God’ll get in the middle of it and it’ll change, baby!”
Singer/songwriter Jelly Roll headlines show at Music City Rodeo, Nashville, TN
In a world where so many of Jelly’s dreams have come true, he decided to step out, and share another.
“I want to be the first act to play Nissan Stadium when it opens in the Spring of 2027, y’all. Please let the local boy open up the new stadium. Sorry, I know that’s crazy, but I’ve got to speak it into existence. I believe it.”
Jelly Roll has proven – believing is key.
As the show drew to a close, he remarked on the power of music to heal broken hearts and serve as medicine or therapeutic.
“I believe music says what the soul cannot say.”
He’s grateful so many of his own songs written because that said what “he” needed to hear, are now resonating others.
He reminded the crowd for anyone struggling to keep “this” in mind, “It might not always be okay, but I can promise you, it’s always gonna be alright.”
One of his biggest hits, “I Am Not Okay,” says exactly that.
Right after his Music City Rodeo show, Jelly Roll thanked and bid Nashville farewell, for now. He headed off to board a plane to rejoin Post Malone on tour.
