WATCH: Kelly Clarkson Slays Cover of Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson’s Hit Song “Save Me”
Jelly Roll responded to the cover and admitted it brought him to tears.

Kelly Clarkson; Photo by Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal
Kelly Clarkson just shared a cover of Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson’s chart-topping hit, “Save Me” and crushed it!
Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke
Showcasing her powerful vocals, Clarkson poured her heart and soul into this cover, channeling the true emotions of the song. She made it her own while paying tribute to the original, which makes this cover one of her best.
Donning a vintage The Police tour t-shirt and stylish wide-leg jeans, Clarkson confidently belted out the lyrics of the tune.

“Somebody save me, me from myself/ I’ve spent so long living in Hell/ They say my lifestyle is bad for my health/ It’s the only thing that seems to help,” she sang on the opening lines, while backed by her band, Y’all.
With her backup singers chiming in, Clarkson continued, “All of this drinkin’ and smokin’ is hopeless/ But feel like it’s all that I need/ Somethin’ inside of me’s broken/ I hold on to anything that sets me free.”
The flawless performance aired on NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show as part of the ever so popular Kellyoke segment of the show.
Jelly Roll Reacts To Kelly Clarkson Covering His Song
Jelly Roll quickly caught wind of the cover and took to social media to share his honest thoughts.
“I would’ve never believed you if you would’ve told me that I’d write a song so impactful that incredible Kelly Clarkson would deem it worthy to cover,” he wrote. “
Thank you Kelly- wow – I’m honored in a way I can’t even describe – I cried watching it.”
Watch Kelly Clarkson Cover “Save Me”
“Save Me” reached the top spot on the country radio charts in December of 2023. It flew up the charts due to its popularity and officially marked Jelly Roll’s third No.1 and Wilson’s fourth on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
The History Of The Song “Save Me”
Jelly Roll initially recorded a solo rendition of “Save Me,” which later earned RIAA Platinum certification, for his 2020 album, Self Medicated. Later, he collaborated with Lainey Wilson to release a new version of the song following their surprise duet at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards. Their partnership continued with joint performances at various events, including the Season 21 finale of American Idol and one of Jelly Roll’s packed headlining shows in Austin, Texas, where he delighted the audience by inviting Wilson to join him on stage.
“Save Me,” co-written by Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) and David Ray Stevens, portrays a heartfelt plea for assistance in overcoming addiction.

Kelly Clarkson Previously Covered Songs By Lainey Wilson
This isn’t the first time Clarkson has covered a song recorded by Lainey Wilson. She previously delivered a stunning rendition of Watermelon Moonsine” and shared a powerful performance of “Heart Like A Truck.”
She covered “Heart Like A Truck” from the stage of her Las Vegas residency where she declared her love for Wilson prior to her performance.
“This next song that we’re going to do is a country song and I love this artist and this is really hard for me to say, because not shaming any artist, but I tend to love like ’80s and ’90s country that’s just what I grew up on,” Clarkson said from the stage. “So I love it and I love anything that sounds like or that is a derivative of it. I love it. There’s this new artist, I had her on my show and I fell in love with her and her name is Lainey Wilson.”
She continued, “I’m in love with her, I think she’s so cool and I am obsessed… I literally spent this summer at my ranch in Montana like I listened to this record nonstop… like I love not just the song… I’m sorry I’m old, I mean the whole album. I love this entire album and this was probably her biggest hit from that album so far. I really relate to it.”
Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke segments have also featured covers of songs by Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, and so many more.
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.