The 2024 CMA Awards brought many standout moments but Jelly Roll’s surprise duet with Brooks & Dunn may go down as one of the most emotional performances in the show’s history. Their live performance of “Believe” wasn’t just music it was a deeply spiritual experience. From the first note, the entire room shifted arms raised, eyes welled with tears and the crowd fell silent in awe as three powerful voices came together to sing about faith, loss and hope.
What made this moment truly unforgettable was the raw passion behind every lyric. Jelly Roll already known for wearing his heart on his sleeve delivered lines with shaking emotion while Brooks & Dunn’s legendary harmonies wrapped around his voice like a warm embrace, It wasn’t just a performance; it felt like a church service inside an arena, reminding everyone of the healing power of belief and togetherness the chemistry was natural, the delivery honest and the crowd’s response said it all.
Brooks & Dunn with Jelly Roll – “Believe” (Live from the 58th Annual CMA Awards)
This was also a powerful moment of generational unity in country music. Seeing a modern star like Jelly Roll, known for blending country, rap and rock stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Brooks & Dunn proved just how timeless great storytelling can be. It was a passing of the torch and a celebration of shared faith and values through song.
And it’s not the first time Jelly Roll has used the stage to pay tribute to country legends, just months earlier at Stagecoach 2024, he honored Toby Keith with a bold and emotional cover of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” and this time, he brought T-Pain with him. Together, they turned the classic into a heartfelt tribute that both surprised and united fans of all genres.
Jelly Roll feat. T-Pain – “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” (Amazon Music Original)
And let’s not forget T-Pain’s incredible vocal turn with his own soulful rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” long associated with autotune-heavy pop T-Pain flipped expectations and stunned audiences with his pure, stripped-down vocals. It showed the depth of his talent and why his moment with Jelly Roll felt so genuine and earned.
To keep up with Jelly Roll and see how he continues to push boundaries while staying true to his roots, follow him on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Every performance he shares is more than a song—it’s a piece of his soul.