A Documentary Chronicling Jelly Roll’s Life Is Coming To Hulu
‘Jelly Roll: Save Me’ will premiere on May 30.
Jelly Roll; Photo by John Shearer
A documentary chronicling Jelly Roll’s rise to fame will soon premiere on Hulu.
Jelly Roll: Save Me by ABC New Studios will give viewers an inside look at the genre-bending star’s life on the road with never-before-seen footage from his tour. It will also include interviews with Jelly Roll and people who are close to him.
How To Watch
Additionally, the documentary will take fans inside his visit to the juvenile detention facility where he was incarcerated. With a desire to inspire others to make a change in their lives, Jelly Roll will share his personal trials and tribulations throughout the film, which will debut on Hulu on May 30.
Edward Hambleton and Claire Weinraub executive produced Jelly Roll: Save Me. David Sloan was the senior executive producer and Monica Escobedo is the senior entertainment producer.
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, previously hinted at the forthcoming documentary during an interview on The Bobby Bones Show.
““I don’t know if I’m allowed to say… Can I blow it? I guess I will… We have partnered with ABC and we are shooting something,” he shared at the time.
He Previously Teased The Documentary
“Guys LIke Me Don’t Make It”
The 38-year-old has been very open about his turbulent upbringing and the time he spent in prison.
“You couldn’t write a Cinderella story cooler than this, saying that I’ll have a headlining show at Bridgestone while I have a top 10 at country radio,” Jelly Roll told Billboard of his Music City homecoming concert. “I look at it like it’s my introduction party to Nashville, even though I was born here.”
“What I think I represent is just a beacon of hope,” he added. “I don’t look like the guy that you would’ve assumed would’ve made it [in the music industry] … I just feel like I represent the guy who looks at himself in the mirror every day and goes, ‘Yeah, guys like me don’t make it.’”
The funds ($250,000) from the massive Bridgestone Arena concert were donated to Impact Youth Outreach and benefitted the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center, where he was confined for most of his youth.
“[It’s] where I spent the worst 18 months of my life, but it was a turning point,” Jelly Roll continued. “I found my real love for rapping here. I loved all music as a listener, but I didn’t think I could sing, but there was something about rhythmic rapping and poetry that I understood…”
Since taking to the Bridgestone Arena stage, Jelly Roll has earned a two No. 1 hits, including “Dead Man Walking” and “Son Of A Sinner.” He also made his country awards show debut with a performance of “Son Of A Sinner” at the CMT Music Awards, where he also took home three awards.
New Album Coming Soon
Jelly Roll is currently preparing to release his new album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrives on June 2, 2023. The project, named after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, will feature 13 tracks, including his current single “NEED A FAVOR” and the previously released track, “SHE.”
“This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful. I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems,” Jelly Roll shared in a statement.
WHITSITT CHAPEL, which serves as Jelly Roll’s debut full-length country record via BMG/Stoney Creek Records, will also include three collaborations. Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings joins Jelly Roll on “Behind Bars” and Yelawolf is featured on “Unlive,” while Lainey Wilson teamed up with the 38-year-old hitmaker to recreate his fan-favorite tune, “Save Me.”
2023 Tour
Additionally, Jelly Roll will soon embark on his massive 44-date headlining arena tour, dubbed the Backroad Baptism Tour.
Hosted by Josh Adam Meyers, the trek kicks off on Friday, July 28 at Bank Plus Amphitheater in Southhaven, Mississippi. The Backroad Baptism will run through Saturday, October 14, where the trek will wrap up in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.
“The Backroad Baptism Tour is a big one for me, y’all! I’m bringing my friends out on the road this summer, and I can’t wait to see every one of you mutherf***ers at a show,” Jelly Roll shared.
Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, Yelawolf will serve as support on select dates of the tour.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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