Jelly Roll Joins AMERICAN IDOL to Fill This New Position

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 31: Recording Artist Jelly Roll performs on stage during New Year’s Eve Live Nashville’s Big Bash at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on December 31, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images)

Jelly Roll Joins AMERICAN IDOL to Fill This New Position

By Movieguide® Contributor

Jelly Roll just accepted a new role on AMERICAN IDOL as the show’s first-ever Artist in Residence.

“I’m AMERICAN IDOL’s ‘Artist in Residence!” Jelly Roll said in a video with host Ryan Seacrest. The country star is joining the show’s 23rd season. “And I feel like I’m giving them the energy they need. I’m uplifting and trying to get ’em goin’!”

He then proceeded to pick up Seacrest and throw him over his shoulder.

In a caption of the video which he posted to Instagram, Jelly Roll said, “Had to lift up @ryanseacrest just like I’m gonna lift up the @americanidol hopefuls! 🙌 Honored to be IDOL’s first-ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE — mentoring with heart, soul, and real experience! 🎤💥 I join the show during Hollywood Week, watch it all starting March 9 on ABC & streaming on Hulu! #americanidol”

READ MORE: WHY JELLY ROLL HELPS THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION: ‘GOD GAVE ME THAT GIFT’

Fans in the commented section expressed excitement over the news. “Awesome! My reason to watch AMERICAN IDOL again! ❤️” one user said. Another person added, “This is fantastic! You were incredible last season. This is the news I needed today.”

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, has been public about his faith journey and his hopes to right his past wrongs. He recently teamed up with worship artist Brandon Lake for a new version of Lake’s song “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

“The first time I heard ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah,’ I haven’t had a record touch me like that in so long. It’s been years since I’ve worshipped the way I worshipped to that song,” DeFord explained on Instagram. “I carry my faith with me, but I’m also struggling, and [I’m] very honest and open about that.”

“I’ve been so bitter and hurt by the church and their ‘dogma’ that I created my own,” he continued telling Lake. “I believe music meets us where we are. I needed that record when I heard it, but then to double back and be like ‘Yo, there’s a chance you could work on this record with this guy,’ and I’m like, ‘Woah, God sent me the record, and not only does He want me to listen to it and worship, He wants me to live with it and learn it.”

READ MORE: A WORSHIP SONG TOUCHED JELLY ROLL SO DEEPLY THAT HE DID THIS…


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