Jelly Roll never expected to walk away from the CMT Music Awards with three trophies, for the second year in a row. The 39-year-old knows his style of country music is different from most other artists, as is his eclectic background. To win in all of the categories he was nominated in, including taking home Video of the Year, is an honor Jelly Roll doesn’t take lightly.
“It’s just really cool to see — I think people understand that I represent a group of people that aren’t properly represented,” Jelly Roll said backstage after the CMT Music Awards. “And when I win, we win. It’s like a win for a whole bunch of those kind of misfit people. I’m a straight-up misfit. I’m as white trash as I look like I am. I am who I am all the time. What you see here is what you see at a dinner table.”
Jelly Roll started out as one of 16 finalists for Video of the Year, for his “Need a Favor” video. That list narrowed down to him, Kelsea Ballerini for “If You Go Down, I’m Going Down Too,” and Cody Johnson for “The Painter,” with Jelly Roll ultimately crowned the winner in that category.
“I won the big one,” Jelly Roll gushed. “That’s crazy. I didn’t think I had a chance at that one. I came down to the final three, and I was like, ‘This is wild.'”
When accepting the trophy for Video of the Year, Jelly Roll praised both of the other two finalists.
“Cody Johnson, I’m not going to tell you anything up here that I don’t tell you on the phone, but I love you, brother,” Jelly Roll said in his acceptance speech. “You are my favorite cowboy forever and ever, and one of my best friends in the business. I love you. Kelsea Ballerini, you know what I think of you too, girl. You go, baby.”
During his acceptance speech for the CMT Music Award for Male Video of the Year, the Nashville native reflected on his past, in and out of juvenile detention facilities, and later adult prison, urging others currently incarcerated to have hope for their future, using him as an inspiration.
“But speaking of chances, it’s important that I stand up here tonight and represent those that are looking for second chances,” Jelly Roll said. “The kids back in the Metro Davidson County juvenile detention facility, the kids down here in the Austin juvenile detention facility are watching this tonight. I’m cheering you boys on. You can be this guy. You can change. You can turn it around. I promise you can. I once heard a man say that you don’t change until the pain to remain the same is greater than the pain it takes to change, and that’s what it takes. I love you.”
Jelly Roll, who also won the CMT Music Award for Performance of the Year, closed out the CMT Music Awards with his current single, “Halfway to Hell.” Find all of Jelly Roll’s music and tour dates at JellyRoll615.com.
Read ‘Jelly Roll: 11 Things to Know About the Reformed Singer’ here.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for CMT