LISTEN LIVE

New Jelly Roll Song Plays Homage To A Classic Country Song

This new Jelly Roll song could be huge. This collaboration is with a non-country artist but could they end up playing on the radio? You decide. Collaborations have been the…

66th GRAMMY Awards - Backstage

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: Jelly attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

This new Jelly Roll song could be huge. This collaboration is with a non-country artist but could they end up playing on the radio? You decide. Collaborations have been the thing to do lately but so have repurposing older country songs into beautiful new versions.

What's Old Is A New Jelly Roll Song

This is becoming a trend. Older songs are getting a second life in country music. "Fast Car" by Luke Combs was a massive smash success, obviously the original song by Tracy Chapman. Don't forget about Dierks Bentley, he just redid "American Girl". Or there's Cole Swindell who had his own take on "Heads Carolina, Tails California." It's the cool thing to do.

Who Is Jelly Pairing Up With?

New Jelly Roll Song

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

This is Machine Gun Kelly, better known now as MGK. He may or may not be taking his step into country music. We just saw Post Malone make his way into country music after a successful pop and hip-hop career. Who knows, this could be the next big country star.

MGK and The New Jelly Roll Song

It's a take on the famous John Denver hit song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." What do we think of this song?

Jelly Roll won three awards at this year's (4/2) CMT Music Awards. The one-time rapper recently scored his first country music chart-topper "Son of A Sinner." Born and raised in Antoich (right outside of Nashville), Jelly Roll has won the hearts of his fellow country stars and the heart of country music fans worldwide.

He made his first on the CMT Music Awards performance, joined by a full gospel choir, with his song "Need A Favor." That was followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation by the whole house.

Jelly Roll's awards came before his new album, Whitsitt Chapel, was released on June 2. Titled after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, the debut full-length Country project on BMG/Stoney Creek Records features 13 tracks.

Before his current time in country music, Jelly was known as a Southern Hip Hop artist. Beginning in 2010, he collaborated with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, Tech N9ne, and Ryan Upchurch. His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views and started his career.

A record label executive in Nashville told me they were looking for the Post Malone of country music and found that in Jelly. His real name is Jason DeFord, and his Jelly Roll nickname comes from his mother, who called him Jelly Roll when he was a young, as he said, a "chubby" kid.

As Jelly's star continues to rise, we take a look at his last few years in the national spotlight.

2023 CMT Music Awards – Winner's Circle

GettyImages-1479238863.jpgEmma McIntyre/Getty Images

Jelly Roll, winner of the Male Video of the Year Award for "Son Of A Sinner," poses in the Winner's Circle during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.


2023 CMT Music Awards - Show

GettyImages-1479232562.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Jelly Roll (L), winner of Male Video of the Year "Son of a Sinner," speaks onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.


2023 CMT Music Awards – Backstage & Audience

GettyImages-1479229501.jpgEmma McIntyre/Getty Images

Jelly Roll and Wynonna Judd attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.


2023 CMT Music Awards – Show

GettyImages-1479225359.jpgRick Kern/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.


CRS 2023 - New Faces of Country Music Dinner

GettyImages-1473832048.jpgDanielle Del Valle/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs onstage at the New Faces of Country Music Dinner during CRS 2023 at Omni Nashville Hotel on March 15, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Nashville's Very Own Jelly Roll In Concert

GettyImages-1448065520.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs at Bridgestone Arena on December 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.


CRS 2023 - New Faces of Country Music Dinner

GettyImages-1473828594-2.jpgDanielle Del Valle/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs onstage at the New Faces of Country Music Dinner during CRS 2023 at Omni Nashville Hotel on March 15, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.


The 56th Annual CMA Awards - Arrivals

GettyImages-1440364594.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Jelly Roll attends The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Jelly Roll In Concert - Nashville, TN

GettyImages-1341032962.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs at the Ryman Auditorium on September 17, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.


2023 CMT Music Awards - Show

GettyImages-1479225273.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.


2023 CMT Music Awards – Red Carpet

GettyImages-1479180475.jpgEmma McIntyre/Getty Images

Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Jeff Kurkjian is the morning show co-host on "The Andie Summers Show" on 92.5 XTU, Philly's Country Station. He's the nationally syndicated show host of "Jeff Kurkjian's Country Beat." As a content creator for 92.5 XTU he shares his perspective of being a dad, husband, country music and sports, specifically baseball.