Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll Reflect On Their Musical Journeys At Triple No.1 Party
Amid their hectic schedules, the superstars made time to commemorate their latest chart-topping accomplishments.
Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate their recent chart-topping singles on Thursday during a No.1 party hosted by BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.).
The party, which took place at Nashville’s Tin Roof, celebrated Jelly Roll’s back-to-back Platinum chart-toppers “Need a Favor” and the Grammy-nominated “Save Me” (featuring Wilson) as well as Wilson’s fifth consecutive No.1 at Country radio, “Watermelon Moonshine.”
Ahead of the plaque presentations, the artists sat down with us and other media outlets and reflected on their musical journeys, revealing what motivated them until they got their first big breaks.
The Chart-Topping Artists Reveal What Kept Them Going
Wilson initially joked, “I’m just a little bit crazy I guess. I think you kind of got to be a little bit nuts to stick these kind of things out!”
In all seriousness, the GRAMMY-winning star explained, “I think it was grit. That grit that my mama and daddy instilled in me from the beginning, but also that faith that they instilled in me. And I knew from an early age, and I know I’ve told all of y’all this a million times, but when I was a little girl, I knew that this was my calling and I knew that this was a gift. And I truly believe that if you feel like you have a gift, you’re supposed to share it with the world. And mine is telling stories and I’m so thankful that I get to be a part of that. I’m so thankful I get to tell my story and have other people kind of find theirs in it too.”
Jelly Roll agreed that “insanity” had something to do with it and later elaborated on how his late father’s words inspired him not to give up at a time in his career when he wanted to throw in the towel.
“I came in one day and I said, ‘I think I’m going to give it up,’ Jelly Roll recalls of the conversation with his dad. He explained that he asked his dad to give him a job on his meat delivery route and instead of complying, his father shared words of inspiration that Jelly Roll will never forget.
“He looked at me, and it was probably 10 years ago, and he said, ‘Son, if you’re working as hard as I think you are, and as hard as you’re telling me you are if you’d have done what my wish for you in life was, and you’d have went to Vanderbilt right after you left high school to be a doctor…you wouldn’t have even had your master’s yet to go into the doctor’s program. He said, ‘If you’re really working that hard, I believe that one day this will work,’” the CMA New Artist of the Year recalled.
Rather than giving up, Jelly Roll hustled and has now found himself at the top of his game in country music.
Jelly Roll Promised They Would Sing The Song Together for Years To Come
While Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson have moved on from their chapter as collaborators with “Save Me,” Jelly Roll promised, “This isn’t a song that’ll go away.”
He declared, “We’ll be on stage singing this together anytime we’re near each other, I’d say the rest of our lives.”
Jelly Roll is currently climbing the charts at country radio with his latest single, “Halfway To Hell,” while Lainey Wilson is beginning her next musical chapter with “Country’s Cool Again.”
The artists later gathered with their co-writers to toast the songs’ wildly successful runs on the country radio charts.
“Save Me”
“Save Me” was written by Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) with David Ray Stevens, produced by Zach Crowell and David Ray Stevens, and recorded by Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson.
“Need A Favor”
“Need A Favor,” written by Jelly Roll with Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, and Rob Ragosta, and produced by Austin Nivarel, is a special one as it’s each of the songwriters (aside from Jelly Roll) first No.1s.
“Watermelon Moonshine”
Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” was written by the Louisiana native alongside Josh Kear and Jordan Schmidt and produced by Jay Joyce.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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