Backstage At The CMAs: Wynonna Says Jelly Roll Is A ‘Force’
Wynonna Judd joined Jelly Roll to open the 57th Annual CMA Awards. The two brought the audience to their feet, singing Jelly’s number one hit, “Save Me.” After the stirring…

Wynonna Judd joined Jelly Roll to open the 57th Annual CMA Awards. The two brought the audience to their feet, singing Jelly's number one hit, "Save Me."
After the stirring performance, Wynonna came backstage to talk all about how much she adores country music's new golden boy.
After I asked about the performance, Wynonna said backstage, "It was too much. He's so powerful. I was so nervous and so excited. I don't know how many more of these moments I have left, but I can tell you this: that was definitely top ten for me."
She added of her new friend, "Jelly Roll is a force to be recorded with, and he is his own person, and to stand toe to toe with him with him was one of my favorite things I've ever done."
Judd then explained how she and Jelly knew each other. She told us, "I didn't know anything about him until the CMT Awards, and I stood up out of my seat, and I ran up to him and Bunny afterward, And I said, 'I need to know the two of you, and I need to be part of your world, and I don't know what that looks like.' I just kind of threw myself at them."
She concluded with a sigh, "I guess you just need to show up on stage and say, 'What do you want, "I'll do whatever."
Wynnona also talked about her memories of the CMA Awards over the years, saying that when all the artists didn't stay in their buses in the 1980s, they got to hang out backstage a lot more. She admitted she really misses those days but is enjoying being a part of the country music community these days as well.
GALLERY: Jelly Roll Is A Country and Rock Star
Jelly Roll won three awards at this year's (4/2) CMT Music Awards. The one-time rapper recently scored his first country music chart-topper "Son of A Sinner." Born and raised in Antoich (right outside of Nashville), Jelly Roll has won the hearts of his fellow country stars and the heart of country music fans worldwide.
He made his first on the CMT Music Awards performance, joined by a full gospel choir, with his song "Need A Favor." That was followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation by the whole house.
Jelly Roll's awards came before his new album, Whitsitt Chapel, was released on June 2. Titled after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, the debut full-length Country project on BMG/Stoney Creek Records features 13 tracks.
Before his current time in country music, Jelly was known as a Southern Hip Hop artist. Beginning in 2010, he collaborated with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, Tech N9ne, and Ryan Upchurch. His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views and started his career.
A record label executive in Nashville told me they were looking for the Post Malone of country music and found that in Jelly. His real name is Jason DeFord, and his Jelly Roll nickname comes from his mother, who called him Jelly Roll when he was a young, as he said, a "chubby" kid.
As Jelly's star continues to rise, we take a look at his last few years in the national spotlight.
2023 CMT Music Awards – Winner's Circle

Jelly Roll, winner of the Male Video of the Year Award for "Son Of A Sinner," poses in the Winner's Circle during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
2023 CMT Music Awards - Show

Jelly Roll (L), winner of Male Video of the Year "Son of a Sinner," speaks onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
2023 CMT Music Awards – Backstage & Audience

Jelly Roll and Wynonna Judd attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
2023 CMT Music Awards – Show

Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
CRS 2023 - New Faces of Country Music Dinner

Jelly Roll performs onstage at the New Faces of Country Music Dinner during CRS 2023 at Omni Nashville Hotel on March 15, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville's Very Own Jelly Roll In Concert

Jelly Roll performs at Bridgestone Arena on December 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
CRS 2023 - New Faces of Country Music Dinner

Jelly Roll performs onstage at the New Faces of Country Music Dinner during CRS 2023 at Omni Nashville Hotel on March 15, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards - Arrivals

Jelly Roll attends The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jelly Roll In Concert - Nashville, TN

Jelly Roll performs at the Ryman Auditorium on September 17, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2023 CMT Music Awards - Show

Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
2023 CMT Music Awards – Red Carpet

Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.