Jelly Roll Makes Major Impact At Country Radio With ‘Halfway To Hell’
“Halfway To Hell” was the most-added song at Country radio upon impact, earning a whopping 92 first-week adds on radio stations around the country.
Jelly Roll; Photo by Jake Alita
Jelly Roll’s newest single “Halfway To Hell” was most-added upon its debut to airwaves on Monday (Jan. 22), earning a whopping 92 first-week adds on stations around the country. This news comes after the track broke out at number 51 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, cementing Jelly Roll’s 5th career entry on the chart.
The Antioch, TN native’s hot new addition to country radio follows his string of three consecutive No. 1 hits – “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” and “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson.
New Jelly Roll Single “Halfway To Hell”
Written by Jelly Roll with Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, and Jessie Jo Dillon, “Halfway To Hell” appears as the leading track to his debut country record, Whitsitt Chapel, which arrived in June of 2023.
“’Halfway to Hell’ baby, the best way to start the album, an absolute banger,” he previously boasted about the tune. “I wanted to start this album with something hard, and something that meant something and something that felt something… And something that was about that constant duality of life that I love to write songs about. Being somewhere between right and wrong.”
The Song Is An Autobiographical Depiction Of His Real Life Journey
Jelly Roll did just that as he belts out the narrative that mirrors his life as a “county jail revival.” He illustrates his battle of deciding between right and wrong, and Heaven and Hell, making for an autobiographical depiction of his journey of serving time in prison to then rising to fame as a country music artist.
“I’m a county jail revival / I’m a bottle and a Bible / I’m a rolling stone disciple / With a cross across my face / I’m a trailer park tornado / Jagged edges on my halo / Hope the chariot gon’ swing low/ And carry me away,” he sings in the opening verse.
The chorus serves as a further insight to his thoughts as he wonders, “Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell/ My angels and demons at war with myself/ One foot in the fire and I still can’t tell/ Am I halfway to Heaven/ Halfway to Heaven or hell?”
Concluded 2023 With Several National Televised Performances
The “Save Me” singer got the chance to showcase this song on national television this fall when he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Recapping the milestone moment on social media in the days following, he wrote, “What an incredible experience this was–thank you, Jimmy Fallon for having me–this was unreal.”
The tune also made its way into Jelly Roll’s lively set on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024. Taking place in the heart of Times Square, the event welcomed him to the stage, where he delivered a mix of his fan-favorites like “Wild Ones” (with Jessie Murph), and “Need a Favor.”
It’s safe to say that the impressive debut of “Halfway To Hell” on country radio sets the tone for everything Jelly Roll has in store for 2024.
The GRAMMY-Nominated Artist Set To Perform At RODEOHOUSTON
Up next, Fans can catch him performing at RODEOHOUSTON on March 6, followed by appearances at festivals such as Country Thunder Arizona, Stagecoach, Tailgate N’ Tallboys Iowa and more.
Additionally, he’s expected to attend the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sun, Feb. 4, to find out if he will take home a win. Jelly Roll is going into the coveted evening as a first-time nominee in the categories of Best New Artist of the Year and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his chart-topping duet with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me.”
This song was originally recorded as a solo track for 2020’s, Self Medicated album. Then, Jelly Roll re-released it with added vocals by Lainey Wilson. Together, their duet reached the No.1 spot at country radio. At the time, it was most-added upon its debut to airwaves, earning a whopping 60 first-week adds on stations around the country.
Billboard reported that this achievement marked Jelly Roll’s third No.1 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart and Wilson’s fourth.
Written by
Madeleine O’Connell
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.