Jelly Roll Returns to ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ as Guest Host, Pokes Fun At Himself, Chats With Glen Powell and More

This week, Jelly Roll returned as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the second time. While filling in for Jimmy Kimmel, the genre-bending act opened the show with plenty of jokes about his past, his dramatic weight loss, his friendship with Jimmy Kimmel and more before interviewing two popular guests.

“This is my second year filling in here,” he told the live audience. “This hosting show is sort of how I felt about my last time in prison. I never really thought I’d be back, but boy, here I am. I love doing this though. I just hope the staff survives another week with me.”

He then admitted that his guest hosting duties had even given him a reason to wear a suit and tie for the first time.

“Y’all might not believe this, and it’s going to sound like a joke, but this is the first time I wore a suit and tie ever,” he said, noting that he did not even wear one to the Grammys, court or his father’s funeral.

“I didn’t know that you could buy formal wear at a Bass Pro shop, but I am wearing this out of respect for my friend, Jimmy Kimmel. I love you, Jimmy.”

Jelly Roll went on to poke fun at his own physical transformation, referencing the roughly 300 pounds he has lost, while taking some playful shots at President Donald Trump, who recently took on some hosting duties himself at the IndyCar race.

The jokes continued when the “Save Me” singer turned his attention toward his reputation in the public eye with a segment in which Jelly Roll and a camera crew headed to Hollywood Boulevard to ask pedestrians what they thought about him. The unsuspecting people who had been discussing him didn’t expect that the singer himself would make a surprise appearance during their on-the-street style interviews.

“One thing about being in the public spotlight I’ve learned is that people have lots of opinions about you. Some are good, some are not, but I’m always interested in what folks have to say. So we sent a camera crew out to Hollywood Boulevard to ask pedestrians what they think about me, and then I snuck up behind them,” he explained.

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After delivering his hilarious monologue, it was time to sit down with two guests individually to get an update on their latest projects and major career moments. Joining Jelly Roll was podcaster, author, life coach, and a former monk, Jay Shetty, to discuss some of his most meaningful interviews on the worlds top rated mental health podcast, On Purpose, life after being a Monk and more.  

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The Antioch, TN native also caught up with his friend and renowned actor, Glen Powell.

“I wear two bracelets. One that says, ‘What would Jesus do?’ And the other says, ‘What would Glenn Powell do?’ And that’s why I am so damn happy he’s my first guest.”

The two of them discussed how the last time they saw each other was while working on set of Powell’s new movie, The Comeback King, which is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 5, 2027. The film finds Powell taking on the role of a country-western music star named King who is trying to learn to navigate his life after experiencing a massive career downfall.

The actor revealed to the live audience that alongside Jelly Roll, the movie will also feature major country music stars Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley.

“I got to say, it’s a movie directed by Judd Apatow. Jelly crushes it,” Powell admitted. “It’s the first time I’ve ever sang on screen. And I mean, it’s in front of Jelly, Miranda Lambert, and Brad Paisley. It’s the most terrifying experience of my entire life, but the movie is fantastic and you crush it,” he told Jelly Roll.

The country act then returned the praise, stating that Powell is a much more talented singer than some might expect.

“The best part was we knew he was going to sing, so me and Miranda and Brad were kind of leaning back and fumbling through some lyrics because we didn’t know what you had. This dude started belting, y’all. It’s like he’s been singing his whole life. It was unbelievable.”

Powell credited his voice coach Eric Vitro, his mother, who he grew up singing with in nursing homes, and his younger sister for her efforts in writing for the show while also helping him prepare for his role.

He also opened up about his efforts to make The Comeback King feel authentic to Nashville’s country music community. Rather than making a movie simply about country music, he said he wanted to make one “with country music,” which led him to spend time writing with artists including HARDY. The two took part in writing sessions that eventually turned into nights out on Broadway with HARDY and Dan + Shay.

Jelly Roll closed the conversation by praising Powell for bringing Nashville and its country music community into The Comeback King, telling him he believes the movie will be “great for country music.”

“I think what you’re doing with The Comeback King is going to be unbelievable. I think it’s going to be great for country music. And I’m just honored you involved the city of Nashville and that you involved our community. I love you like a brother Glenn. You’ve been good to me. I’m so glad to have you be my first guess what I’m trying to play host for tonight.