Taking a step back.
Over the past couple years, it’s hard to think of a country artist who’s been more ubiquitous than Jelly Roll. Since making his Grand Ole Opry debut back in 2021 and following it up with his first country #1 hit with “Son Of A Sinner” early in 2023, it seems like Jelly Roll has been everywhere you look – not just in country music, but in broader culture.
Along with all the awards shows and being inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Jelly Roll has also had the official college football anthem for ESPN back in 2024, has appeared on SNL and the Joe Rogan Podcast, won multiple Grammy Awards, performed at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys game back on Thanksgiving a couple years ago, opened for Post Malone on his stadium tour the past couple years while also embarking on his own headlining tours, and has obviously made a ton of headlines for his inspiring weight loss journey.
But it sounds like that’s all about to change.
Jelly Roll recently wrapped up his time with Post Malone with a stop at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, just a few days before performing his final headlining show of the year at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And according to the “Save Me” singer, it’s the last we’ll be seeing from him for a while.
During his show in Salt Lake City, Jelly Roll announced that the Colorado Springs show would be his final concert for the foreseeable future:
“In a couple of nights, I go to Colorado Springs and do my last show for a year or two. I’m fixing to take some time off and heal.”
Of course the announcement comes less than a month after the country singer finalized his divorce from his wife of 10 years, Bunnie Xo. The couple filed for divorce back in May, after apparently having a fight back on Mother’s Day, but Bunnie revealed in a since-deleted episode of her Dumb Blonde Podcast that they still remain friends and still plan on having a baby together.
Jelly Roll echoed her statements, saying that his ex-wife remains his “best friend,” but it’s clear that it’s been a tough year for one of the biggest names in country music.
Taking time off will mark a significant departure from the past few years, where Jelly Roll admits that he’s had a hard time turning down opportunities after spending so much of his time behind bars earlier in his life:
“I spent ten years sitting in a jail cell staring at a wall, praying for an opportunity… I prayed to have the problems I have today. I prayed to be tired. I prayed to be busy. So now, how could I ever say no?”
There’s no doubt that his massive success, and all of the opportunities that come with it, has to be exhausting both physically and mentally, especially when it seems like his life changed overnight within the past few years. It’s not really a surprise that he’s ready to take a break and reset – although he’s said in the past that he does have hopes of playing one special show in 2027.
The Tennessee Titans will be opening their brand new indoor stadium next year, and Jelly Roll has expressed interest in being the first artist to headline the new Nissan Stadium:
“I shouldn’t say this… this will be my last Nashville show until 2027, y’all. Hear me out though, this is why… because I need y’all’s help. I want to be the first act to play Nissan Stadium when it opens in the spring of 2027.”
Jelly Roll is a Nashville native, and has spoken in the past about being locked up in the juvenile detention center located just steps from Nissan Stadium. Honestly, he’s the perfect artist to open the new stadium, given all his success, and I have a feeling that would be a hard opportunity to turn down if it comes along.
Until then, I guess we won’t be hearing much from the “Son of a Sinner.”
