Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Raves About Jelly Roll’s ‘Phenomenal’ New Album: ‘My Guy Is Blowing Up The Industry’
Johnson said Jelly Roll’s music previously helped him get through a “rough patch” in his life.
The Rock; Photo via Instagram, Jelly Roll; Photo by John Shearer
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is praising Jelly Roll and his new album, WHITSITT CHAPEL.
On Sunday (June 4), the actor and former professional wrestler took to social media to show Jelly Roll some love.
“I’m so f’n proud of my brother Jelly Roll for his latest achievement of his phenomenal new album WHITSITT CHAPEL,” Johnson wrote. ”My guy is blowing up the industry and moving the crowds.”
He went on to applaud Jelly Roll’s authenticity and unwavering dedication to his career.
“He’s a real authentic artist who brings PASSION & MANA to his music – and he brings a joy and gratitude that can only come from experience and living the life,” he continued.
Johnson also recalled how Jelly Roll’s music previously helped him through a tough time in his life.
”Many years ago, before [Jelly Roll] blew up, his music helped me get a through a rough patch in my life. I’ll never forget it. Grateful. Proud of you my brother – keep doing it big and keep lifting the people up,” Johnson added. “We’ll get our asses down to Music Row and pop that Teremana baby. Everybody download this album!!! Listen to it and you’ll understand why. We’ve all been there…”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a big fan of Country music and actually grew up listening to the genre. In early 2021, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show in support of his NBC sitcom, Young Rock, to discuss his love for country music.
“You had country music star like ambitions, you wanted to be a country singer and I had no idea,” Clarkson said, asking Johnson about his country music dreams.
“I did! As wild as that sounds, and you’ll appreciate this obviously cause your love for music and certainly country music too,” Johnson revealed. “I grew up loving blues, hip-hop of course but then country but traditional like that three chords and the truth, steel guitar kind of country.”
Johnson also recalled a time when he was living in Music City and found himself frequenting Lower Broadway honky tonks as well as singing country songs in unexpected places.
“I was at a grocery store and I was shopping and when I say shopping I was doing a little five-finger discount at that time because I couldn’t afford anything and I was in the middle of the row in a shopping aisle and I was belting out this song, not caring who was listening to me,” Johnson explained. “Then, a woman comes around the corner and she sticks her head around the corner, she looks and I stopped singing, she looks at me, her eyes go wide and she’s like ‘wow I did not expect to see someone who looks like you singing that song.’ And I said ‘oh, thank you,’ then we had this chat and she was like ‘so clearly you should go down to Broadway cause that’s where all the country singers are.’”
Johnson was only 15 at the time and didn’t have the heart to tell the woman he “had no business being in a bar.”
“But then,” he continued, “I went down there to Broadway and I used to hang out down there and listen to all the acts and I did have it in my mind that I was gonna become a country music singer.”
While visiting the talk show, Johnson and Clarkson teamed up to sing a duet of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ iconic hit “Islands In The Stream.”
The 51-year-old actor previously revealed to Billboard that he would love to one day collaborate with an outlaw country music singer.
“My love for hip-hop goes back to day one, and I love traditional and outlaw country music,” Johnson explained. “I may collaborate with some artists in that genre as well. Some of those guys are my friends – like, for example, Jamey Johnson, Mickey Lamantia, Gethen Jenkins. There’s a real authenticity there… Maybe I could pick up my guitar.”
Jelly Roll recently released his brand-new album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrived on June 2, 2023. The project, named after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, features 13 tracks, including the fan-favorite tunes “NEED A FAVOR” and “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 previously shared in a statement.
WHITSITT CHAPEL, which serves as Jelly Roll’s debut full-length country record via BMG/Stoney Creek Records, also includes 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.”
Additionally, Jelly Roll will soon embark on his massive 44-date headlining 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.
Jelly Roll also recently released his documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me. The film by ABC New Studios gives viewers an inside look at the “Son Of A Sinner” singer’s life on the road with never-before-seen footage from his tour. It also includes interviews with Jelly Roll and people who are close to him.
With a desire to inspire others to make a change in their lives, Jelly Roll shared his personal trials and tribulations throughout film, which debuted on May 30.
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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