Jelly Roll to Receive 2026 Artist Humanitarian Award at Country Radio Seminar
The GRAMMY winner is being honored for his heartfelt dedication to addiction recovery, mental health, and giving back to the community.
Jelly Roll; Photo by Jacob DiStasio
Jelly Roll has been named the 2026 recipient of the Artist Humanitarian Award by the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB). The three-time GRAMMY nominee will be honored at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, taking place March 18–20.
Jelly Roll is being honored for his heartfelt dedication to addiction recovery, mental health, and giving back to the community, efforts that go well beyond his music.
The “Need a Favor” singer has made giving back a central part of his mission since rising to fame, advocating for juveniles in detention centers across the country and in Nashville. He has also returned to speak with inmates nationwide, including at the Nashville facility where he was once incarcerated. Most recently, he visited the Davidson County detention center to serve holiday meals to inmates and staff.
The Nashville native previously attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Nashville Juvenile Court and has pledged to donate one of his GRAMMY awards to the facility, hoping to inspire the youth and show them that they, too, can chase their dreams.
Founded in 1990, the award recognizes country artists whose philanthropic efforts have made a meaningful difference in the causes they support.
Past honorees include Eric Church, Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and more.
With CRS 2026 just around the corner, this is the final chance to register online. After this week, tickets will only be available on-site in Nashville.
Taking place March 18–20, the three-day convention offers an unmatched opportunity to connect with the country music industry, featuring everything from the 6th Annual Digital Music Summit and intimate songwriter sessions to live performances, label luncheons, networking events, and exclusive celebrations like CRS Honors.
Whether you’re attending full-time or with a single-day pass, CRS 2026 is designed to provide insight, inspiration, and collaboration for country radio professionals and music industry leaders alike.
Additional information can be found HERE.
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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