Jelly Roll Scores Double Victory at 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“My mama always told me I had a face for radio, baby!” the superstar joked from the stage.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

April 2, 2024

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8:28 am

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Jelly Roll; Photo by Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup for FOX

Jelly Roll secured not just one, but two victories at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, further solidifying his ongoing triumph in the music industry.

Best New Artist

The genre-bending star was named Best New Artist in both the Country and Pop genres. He had the opportunity to accept the trophies during the broadcast and took the stage to deliver another inspiring speech. 

As the roar of applause filled the room, Jelly Roll joked, “My mama always told me I had a face for radio, baby!”  

Jelly Roll; Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX
Jelly Roll; Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX

Inspiring Acceptance Speech

He went on to reflect on his humble beginnings as a child growing up just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and recalled memories of riding around town listening to the radio with his siblings. Still in disbelief over his success in the music industry, the “Son Of A Sinner” singer showcased gratitude for his platform and the opportunity to share his music with fans. 

“I remember being a kid in the backseat of the car with my brothers. I had three older brothers and an older sister, and all we did was ride around and listen to the radio and we sung every single word,” he explained. “I never would’ve dreamed I would be one of the voices coming through your radio and to be the Best New Country Artist to represent Country music and the Best New Pop artist, you don’t know what this means to a kid like me!” 

As the audience cheered him on, Jelly Roll added, “I was thinking about it. What does it mean when a guy like me has the opportunity to be the New Pop Artist of the Year at iHeart Radio’s Awards? It means that God will always use the least likely messenger with the biggest message every single time. You can take it to the bank, baby!”

YouTube video

Holding his award up in the air, he thanked Jesus, his wife, Bunnie XO, and gave a sweet shoutout to his daughter, Bailee Ann, who was watching the show from home. 

Performing With Lainey Wilson

In addition to two big wins, Jelly Roll also stole the show with his performance of “Save Me” alongside his longtime friend and collaborator, Lainey Wilson. This performance was a highlight of the evening as they joined forces to deliver a stripped-down rendition of the chart-topping hit amid a stage filled with dimly lit candles. 

Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson; Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX
Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson; Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX

2024 CMT Music Awards

Next up, Jelly Roll will head to Austin, Texas for the 2024 CMT Music Awards, where he is one of the most nominated artists with three nods. He is vying for the title of Male Video of the Year for “Need A Favor,” CMT Performance of the Year for his performance of “Need A Favor” at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, and the night’s top honor, Video of the Year, for “Need A Favor.”   

The Tennessee native is also slated to perform at the 2024 CMT Music Awards alongside fellow superstars such as Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Trisha Yearwood, and more. 

Will Jelly Roll continue his award show domination? Fans can tune in to the CMT Music Awards to find out. Hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, the show will air LIVE from Austin, Texas’ Moody Center on Sunday, April 7th (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

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.