At CMA Fest twenty twenty four Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson sang Save Me together. It was a very strong performance. The crowd got quiet as Jelly Roll started to sing. The words were raw and full of feeling. They were about feeling shattered and trapped in a loop of hurt. His voice was honest and rough. It showed what it is like to be totally lost and looking for any kind of help.
When Lainey Wilson joined him on stage, her voice brought a softness that balanced Jelly Roll’s rough edges. Together, they produced a lovely contrast between two voices from opposing sides narrating the same tale. Though each of them sang it, the message changed from hopelessness to strength in the lyrics “I’m so damaged beyond repair,” which hit deeply. The performance was a shared story of survival, not only a duet.
Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson – “Save Me” | CMA Fest 2024
Every word they sang seemed personal. It was more than simply music; it was therapy. Some fans were crying however all fans in the audience were obviously touched. Jelly Roll and Lainey linked rather than just played. Though it may seem impossible, their voices spoke the truth about suffering as well as about dedication.
That same truth carries over in Jelly Roll’s interview with Pure Country, where he talks about how music changed his life. He shares stories behind his album Whitsitt Chapel, calling it his “coming of age” project.
Jelly Roll on how music changed him, his new album Whitsitt Chapel, The Garth Hug + more!
Songs like Kill a Man and The Lost are not just words. They are pieces of his own story. He wrote them to give other people hope. Jelly Roll talks about being a teenager in juvie. He says he never dreamed of this life. Now he goes back to those same kinds of places. He shows the kids there what can happen because of music.
Jelly Roll’s path shows that change can happen even when things seem black. He is not just singing for himself. He is singing for anyone who has ever felt smashed apart. You can follow his strong story and more of his music online. He is on YouTube and Instagram and TikTok and Spotify. His songs tell people it is alright to be wounded. But it is even better to get better.