Jelly Roll just did something that most people thought was impossible for a man with his past. On February 16, 2026, the music world learned he won the Artist Humanitarian Award. He raised $500,000 for people in need and gave $250,000 to build a music studio for kids at Riverbend Prison. This honor places him alongside stars like Carrie Underwood.
He knows what it is like to be locked up because he was in those same halls as a teenager. Now he uses his money and his voice to help kids find a better way through music. He wants them to have the tools he lacked back then. This mission is a debt he feels he must pay to his hometown. And, this is one reason why he’s deserving of this award.
Jelly Roll To Receive 2026 CRB Artist Humanitarian Award
Fans are moved by how much he cares about others. One viewer said that he is the most real person in music today. Another person wrote that his kindness makes them want to be better, too. People love that he not only talks about change but also spends his own money to make it happen for at-risk youth.
He told the men at Riverbend Prison that they are not even a tenth of who they can become. He is the living proof of that. He now openly shares his life and the changes he endured. He recently sat with Joe Rogan. Hearing his talk makes you think he truly deserves the award he’s chosen.
Joe Rogan Experience – Jelly Roll
In those talks, he spoke about losing over 100 pounds and finally being able to travel the world. He used to be stuck because of his old mistakes, but now he is a triple Grammy winner. He also talked about his past life, and his getting arrested time and time again.
Jelly Roll shows us that your past does not have to be your future. He is a hero to many because he never forgot where he came from. His journey from a cell to the big stage is something we can all learn from. Follow Jelly Roll on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see his amazing story continue. Hear all his amazing music that preaches change right here!