Jelly Roll Delivers Powerful Performance Of ‘I Am Not Okay’ for In Memoriam Segment at the EMMYs
“I want to let you know that it’s okay to not always be okay,” he shared from the stage.
Jelly Roll; Photo by Disney/Frank Micelotta
Jelly Roll gave a moving performance of his latest single, “I Am Not Okay,” during the 76th EMMY Awards, taking the stage for the In Memoriam segment.
Taking a break from his Beautifully Broken Tour, the 39-year-old appeared on stage wearing all black and told the audience, “I believe that music is therapeutic. I believe that music can heal…If you are feeling lost and alone tonight, then I want to let you know that it’s okay to not always be okay.”
Backed by a gorgeous string arrangement, Jelly Roll delivered an emotional rendition of the song while paying tribute to Carl Weathers, Dabney Coleman, Donald Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, James Earl Jones, Louis Gossett Jr., Martin Mull, Phil Donahue, Richard Lewis, Richard Simmons, Ryan O’Neal, Bob Newhart, Shannen Doherty, and more.
The EMMY’s music director, Rickey Minor, teased Jelly Roll’s performance prior to the show, urging viewers to have tissues ready.
“I think that his decision of what particular song to do will touch everyone. I cry every time I hear it. Everyone at home, make sure you have tons of tissue around,” he told Variety, and also added, “He is literally stepping off tour for a day and going right back on the road when he’s done. So, we’re so grateful to him.”
On the EMMY’s red carpet, the genre-bending star told Billboard he felt honored to be asked to perform the In Memoriam tribute, noting that it highlights the profound impact of music.
“Here’s the truth. To be the artist that gets picked to do this, this is special, man,” he shared. “We are honoring the greatest storytellers in television and film. We are honoring the greatest storytellers of the last years, decades, and to be the guy that gets to sing that song…Man, I think it’s just further proof of how important therapeutic music is and cathartic music stil is and how much real music can still exist.”
Hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, the 76th EMMY Awards broadcasted live on ABC on Sunday, September 15 from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. The show is now available for streaming on Hulu through September 22.
Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” is featured on his forthcoming new album, Beautifully Broken, which is set to release on October 11. Further details surrounding the project have yet to be revealed, however, the Tennessee native teased that it will feature “a lot of collabs.”
“I have spent so much time working on this album. I’ve never been more proud of a body of work,” he told Billboard.
The album follows his breakout country debut album, Whitsitt Chapel, and will arrive while Jelly Roll is in the midst of his first ever all-arena tour. The current trek has already sold over 550,00 tickets and marks his largest headlining tour to date.
The Beautifully Broken Tour will visit major U.S. cities, including Orlando, Washington, and Atlanta, among others, before concluding in Jacksonville, FL this November.
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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