From Dreams To Reality: Jelly Roll Shares Gratitude For Fans Amid ‘Unreal’ Backroad Baptism Tour
“I would’ve never dreamed back then that I would one day be headlining these same amphitheaters around America,” Jelly Roll shared.
Jelly Roll performs at the VIP Stage at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2023 in downtown Nashville; Photo Courtesy CMA
Jelly Roll recently took a moment to reflect on his wildly successful Backroad Baptism Tour, and admitted the trek is a dream come true for him.
This is the first time he’s spoken out on the remarkable success of his first-ever headlining arena and amphitheater tour as it’s taken him a while to collect his thoughts.
Since launching on July 28, the 38-year-old singer/songwriter has performed a whopping 21 sold-out shows and it is anticipated that the remainder of the 44-date trek will follow suit.
Dream Come True Moments
On Monday (Aug. 28), the “NEED A FAVOR” singer took to Instagram to share why this tour means so much to him as he reflected on spending his childhood years dreaming of having a career in music as he watched artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sheryl Crow, No Doubt, The Eagles, and more perform at Starwood Amphitheater in Antioch, Tennessee.
Reflects On Childhood
Jelly Roll recalled tailgating with his friends outside of his hometown amphitheater and shared his disbelief over the fact that he now gets to headline amphitheaters across the country.
“We would go early and hang out in the parking lot with other fans while they grilled and pre gamed- we would slide down the mud on the hill of the Lawn when it would rain- we would party in the parking lot after the show while waiting for traffic to slow down. Some of my greatest childhood memories are on the lawn of that amphitheater,” he shared.
He then admitted that he “never dreamed” that his life would turn out the way that it has.
Message Filled With Gratitude
“Every night I look out in the crowd and I remember music transforming my life in those same bleachers and lawns,” he wrote.
He closed his gratitude-filled post with a message to his fans.
“This tour has been nothing short of UNREAL so far. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and get emotional on stage almost every night. Looking at out at 10s of THOUSANDS of people singing along and living in the moment. I get off stage every night feeling hopeful like I just left a good Sunday service on a backroad in Tennessee,” he continued. “I hope y’all are feeling the same when you leave the show as well. Thank y’all for making this tour what it has been so far….I do not take this for granted for a single second.”
His Biggest Tour Yet
In a previous interview with Nashville Lifestyles, the Tennessee native said he enjoys seeing how his new album is already resonating with fans across the United States.
“It’s the biggest tour we’ve ever done, and the way the record is already performing live is a testament to the fans coming out and resonating with the music,” Jelly Roll previously told “I think [the tour] is one of the places you really feel the impact of the music— seeing the fans, hearing their stories, and seeing the signs people make. They’re sharing a piece of their soul with us. I hope they leave feeling seen, heard, and like they’re not alone in their struggle.”
He also showcased his appreciation for fans taking the time to come see his show during an interview with CMT.
“That’s 550,000 stories. That’s 550,000 people that felt impacted enough by me that they not only bought a ticket, they found a babysitter, and they drove to the show. They overpaid for parking,” he graciously shared. “They paid too much for drinking. People probably drove in from hours outside of these towns. That’s somebody’s wife getting ready for date night.”
“I went and [saw] eight buses,” Jelly Roll continued. “I saw eight wrapped semi-trailer trucks. It just instantly becomes different. You’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ I’ve been talking about this in such a casual way that I may have even forgotten how mega this is … We’ve almost sold out. It’s a half a million people. Less than half a million people lived in Nashville when I grew up. That’d be like the entire city of Nashville.”
Tour Underway
Jelly Roll’s Backroad Baptism Tour kicked off on Friday, July 28, and runs through Saturday, October 14, where the trek will wrap up in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.
Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, and Yelawolf will appear as special guests on select dates of the nearly sold-out tour.
The tour comes in support of Jelly Roll’s new album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrived on June 2. The project, named after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, debuted at No.2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and in the Top 3 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart with 90,000 album equivalents.
“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.
The 13-track release includes his latest multi-week chart-topper, “NEED A FAVOR,” and his brand-new single, “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson.
WHITSITT CHAPEL also includes three collaborations. Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings joined 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.”
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, will also serve as support on several dates of Eric Church’s The Outsiders Revival Tour.
For a full list of tour dates and additional information on Jelly Roll, visit his official website HERE.
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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