When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jelly Roll finally embraced backstage at American Idol, it wasn’t just a celebrity moment. It was something deeply human, a hug that had been waiting for nearly a decade. Their friendship began in 2017 when Johnson was privately struggling with his mental health. During that time, he discovered Jelly Roll’s song “Only,” a raw, emotional track that helped him through the darkness. He reached out, and a long-distance friendship began built on mutual respect, shared pain, and a love of music that speaks the truth.
That moment of connection culminated in Nashville, where Jelly Roll was serving as American Idol’s artist-in-residence. Backstage, the two met for the first time, and Johnson presented Jelly Roll with a special gift: a vintage postcard of a Nashville motel where he once lived during a rough chapter of his youth. It wasn’t just nostalgic. It was symbolic of struggle, survival and the journeys they had both taken to get where they were.
Dwayne Johnson Gives Jelly Roll a ‘Hug 10 Years in the Making’ and a Special Gift
Jelly Roll, too, has been on a transformative path. He shared with Johnson that he has lost 200 pounds so far and is working toward shedding another 100. But more than the physical transformation, he opened up about how notes from fellow artists, such as Kid Rock and Craig Morgan, had been more meaningful to him than any award. These handwritten messages reminded him that connection, not fame, is what really matters.
Their meeting also brought renewed attention to Jelly Roll’s most vulnerable work, his breakout song “Save Me.” Initially released in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, it was a stripped-back acoustic ballad written in grief following the loss of his father and his ongoing fight with addiction. Jelly Roll called it his “cry for help,” and fans responded with overwhelming empathy. The song became a lightning rod for those struggling silently.
Jelly Roll – Save Me (New Unreleased Video)
“Save Me” eventually grew far beyond its original form. It was remixed with Lainey Wilson, sampled by Eminem in 2024, and became the centerpiece of a documentary (Jelly Roll: Save Me) exploring the artist’s life and battles. Still, it remains what it started as a brutally honest confession in song form, a lifeline for the broken.
And maybe that’s why their hug resonated so deeply. These two men are connected not by success, but by survival. For Johnson, Jelly Roll’s music was not just relatable but also restorative, and for Jelly Roll, hearing that from someone like The Rock proved that even when you feel alone, your voice might be saving someone else. That’s the power of truth and music.