Jelly Roll is on a winning streak of his own, literally. The Nashville native performed a new song, “Winning Streak,” during his recent debut performance on Saturday Night Live. The song, from his new Beautifully Broken album, was inspired by Jelly Roll’s determination to still attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
It’s a decision reflected in the lyrics, which say in part, “I was so ashamed, to be in this seat / I met a man who was twenty years clean / He said, ‘Evеrybody’s here’s felt thе same defeat’ / Nobody walks through these doors through a winning streak / Hold on, hold on / Just hold on, hold on.”
“Something I do to maintenance my relationship with those drugs is I still attend the meetings but I never share,” Jelly Roll explains to the New York Times (via People). “I just quietly sit and appreciate the message and the meaning.”
“This is the first time that I’ve talked about this publicly,” he continues. “I don’t tell people I go to meetings. So I just sit and I watch, and this kid, he’s going through it. You can tell. One of the old men sitting in there was like: ‘Look, man. It’s all good. Nobody came in here on a winning streak.’”
Jelly Roll is likely performing the song on his Beautifully Broken Tour, which runs through the end of October, with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay serving as his opening acts. The 39-year-old reflected on his tour in a heartfelt post on social media, praising his fans for their support of him and his music.
“The music is so honest and emotional,” he writes. “I pray that a sense of community is happening at these shows. I hope people are making friends. Thank y’all [for] making people feel safe and welcome at our shows. [This] tour has been so eye opening for me to see arenas full of strangers consoling each other and connecting . It’s been one of the most beautiful acts of humanity I’ve ever seen and it happens every single night. Thank y’all.”
Jelly Roll currently has a Top 5 hit with “I Am Not Okay,” the debut single from Beautifully Broken. The song, about mental health, is one of 22 songs that have an important message he wants to share.
“I’m looking for songs that have a purpose,” Jelly Roll explains. “When I go to put out a song under the name Jelly Roll, I think to myself, Why? Because for the first time in my life, it has nothing to do with a financial decision. I’m well past putting out anything for money. So, now, it really is a why.”
Jelly Roll is nominated for three CMA Awards, including the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. He has also been announced as a co-headliner, along with Kane Brown, of this year’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.
Find all of Jelly Roll’s music and upcoming shows at JellyRoll615.com.