WATCH: Lainey Wilson Shocks Fans With Surprise Performance Of ‘Save Me’ With Jelly Roll In Austin

Lainey Wilson made a surprise appearance during Jelly Roll‘s sold-out headlining concert at Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, Texas on Thursday (Sept. 21) to perform their chart-climbing collaboration, “Save Me.” 

Jelly Roll kept Wilson’s appearance a complete surprise. He sang the first verse alone and Wilson later joined in, completely unannounced. 

Entering from stage left, the Bell Bottom Country queen shocked fans as she casually made her way to the center to join the genre-bending star. 

Fan Video

@cait_lit Best night ever 🤩 #jellyroll #laineywilson #xobunnie #germaniaamphitheater #cota ♬ original sound – cait_lit

As the audience erupted in cheers at the sight of Wilson, the pair of superstars joined together in harmony to finish out the song as gold sparklers showered down from above.

“It’s Electric”

During a recent interview with Pure Country, Jelly Roll admitted that “it’s electric” when he and Wilson get to perform “Save Me” together live.

@chelseacram7 @Jelly Roll thank you for bringing @Lainey Wilson out at the Austin show. I can honestly say it was one if the realest concerts ive been to. This song hits my soul. #jellyroll #laneywilson #somebodysaveme #saveme #circutoftheamericas #austintx #atx #concertoutfit ♬ original sound – Chelsea Cram

“When we look each other in the eye on that ‘all of this drinking’ part, man, I see her soul,” he added. “I see every painful thing she’s been through in her life and her eyes at that moment. It’s insane.”

Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson debuted the collaborative version of the song at the 2023 ACM Awards in what became one of the most buzzed-about moments of the evening. The artists joined forces once again during the Season 21 Finale of American Idol for another televised performance of the song. 

While chatting with the outlet, the genre-bending star also opened up about creating a new version of the tune with Lainey Wilson.

Teaming Up With Her Was A ‘No-Brainer’

“It was a no-brainer,” Jelly Roll said of adding Wilson to the track. “Lainey’s like a sister. I think she’s got one of the best voices in country music, and we’re already friends so it was just such an easy collab. Now, admittedly, what I didn’t think about at the exact time, the first thought was just like, ‘Man, wouldn’t this be cool to do a real duet?’ But I didn’t realize how much of an impact the song was going to have on me when I heard it from the perspective of a woman.”

Jelly Roll also shared that Wilson gave the song a whole new life.

“I tell Lainey all the time, she’s like, ‘This song is doing incredible.’ And I was like, ‘It has nothing to do with me, Lainey.’ I’ve already put this song out,” he continued. “I was like, ‘People are hearing this from the perspective of a woman right now, and it’s putting a whole different energy into the universe from this song.’ You know what I mean?”

The 38-year-old singer/songwriter also showcased gratitude for Wilson, who has already found success with collaborations alongside HARDY (“Wait In The Truck”) and Cole Swindell (“Never Say Never”). 

“I’m sure there was somebody in her camp going, hold on, we don’t need another duet right now,” Jelly Roll mused. “You know what I mean? You know how this business is. And Lainey was just like, ‘No, I’m doing it.’ She’s scorching hot on just red fire right now.”

“She’s coming off the biggest TV show on Earth,” he continued, referencing Wilson’s first-ever acting role on Yellowstone. “You know what I mean? Everything about it. She had a thousand reasons not to do it and one reason to do it, and that was liking me, you know what I’m saying? And she picked the one over the thousand. That’s who Lainey Wilson is.”

Major Impact At Country Radio

The tune is currently climbing the charts at Country radio. “Save Me” was most-added when the officially impacted country radio on September 5, earning a whopping 60 first-week adds on stations around the country.

Co-written by Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, alongside David Ray Stevens, “Save Me” finds the Nashville native begging for help with addiction. 

Additionally, “Save Me” is the title of Jelly Roll’s recently-released documentary. The clip gives fans an unfiltered and raw look into Jelly Roll’s inspiring story of transitioning from an incarcerated teen to an adult.

See The Trailer

The new reimagined version of “Save Me” featuring Lainey Wilson appears on Jelly Roll’s latest album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrived on June 2, 2023. The tune was originally recorded as a solo song on Jelly Roll’s 2020 album, Self Medicated.

“Save Me” follows Jelly Roll’s multi-week chart-topper, “NEED A FAVOR” and his first-ever No. 1 hit, “Son Of A Sinner.” Wilson’s current single, “Watermelon Moonshine,” is climbing the charts at Country radio and currently sits in the Top 10 on Mediabase. “Save Me” follows Wilson’s string of No. 1 hits, including “Heart Like A Truck,” “Wait In The Truck (with HARDY),” “Never Say Never (with Cole Swindell),” and “Things A Man Oughta Know.”

Album Out Now

WHITSITT CHAPEL, named after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, will feature 13 tracks, including his current single “NEED A FAVOR” and the previously released track, “SHE.”

“This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful. I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems,” Jelly Roll shared in a statement.

The project debuted at No.2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and in the Top 3 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart with 90,000 album equivalents.

On Tour

Jelly Roll is currently in the midst of his highly successful Backroad Baptism Tour, which kicked off on Friday, July 28, and runs through Saturday, October 14, where the trek will wrap up in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.

Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, Yelawolf will appear as special guests on select dates of the nearly sold-out tour.

Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson is serving as direct support on HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW Fall Tour, in addition to headlining select dates.