Country music award season is in full swing.
Each year, when the air begins to chill and the year comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the incredible singles, artists, duets, and more that captured the hearts of fans over the last twelve months. As we approach this year’s CMA Awards, some of last year’s winning artists reflect on their time at Bridgestone Arena and the crazy moments before and after taking home their respective honors.
Jelly Roll is one artist EVERYONE thinks of reflecting on the 2023 CMA Awards. The New Artist of the Year took home his first CMA Award, and this year has the potential to take home three awards.
Last year, Jelly Roll was stunned to be selected as New Artist of the Year, and fans could feel the excitement and shock as he delivered one of his most iconic awards show acceptance speeches.
Moments after finishing the speech, he headed backstage for a short celebration before returning to his seat. With adrenaline running high, Jelly Roll got a case of butter finger and accidentally let the award out of his grip, watching it crash to the floor.
Last night, Jelly Roll stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and the late-night host brought up the incident, wanting to shed more light on what happened before and after that moment. Fallon leads into the segment showing the behind-the-stage footage, where you hear the crack of the award hitting the floor and the awkward silence right after.
Jelly Roll’s recollection of what happened is hilarious, and his analogies to describe the incident are pure gold.
“First of all when it first dropped, you could’ve heard a mouse pee on cotton. I mean, it was dead silent. Right after you could’ve heard a cricket fart, you heard a bunch of people go, ‘Awwww.’
I was just so excited and so nervous that I had the sweatiest, shakiest palms. And that thing is…I’m already not a physically fit man and that thing’s heavy. That thing’s really heavy. I was so excited, and I was going to change it from one hand to another to shake somebody’s hand, and it just boom.”
While I am sure it was heartbreaking for Jelly Roll to drop the esteemed award, he at least found humor in it, comparing it to his life’s story.
“This is the story of my life, though, Jimmy. I finally got my life together. I won the biggest award, best new artist. I was one of the oldest people to ever win it. I was 39 years old. I gave a passionate speech. And then I came backstage and fumbled the ball. I dropped it right there!”
Jelly Roll does make it sound like he was sent a new award after shattering the one he got handed on stage, even telling CMA that they didn’t need to mail him an unbroken one.
“I campaigned for them to give me the broken one. I was like, ‘It fits me great; I’ll just duct tape it together.'”
That’s one way to make the Beautifully Broken Tour meaning come to life beyond the stage.
Jelly Roll is a national treasure. Hopefully, he will keep a handkerchief to wipe off his sweaty hands at this year’s CMA Awards so he doesn’t drop another award if he should win one.
