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, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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