Jelly Roll is continuing the legacy of giving that Toby Keith left behind. The 39-year-old recently visited Toby Keith‘s OK Kids Corral, a place in Oklahoma that provides free lodging for children battling cancer and their families, along with other resources. The OK Kids Korral was started by Keith in 2006, and is a cause he was passionate about supporting until he passed away earlier this year from stomach cancer.
“I’ve heard so much incredible stuff about this place,” Jelly Roll says, in a video shared on social media. “I’m really excited to go see the legacy that Toby Keith left behind up here. A big part of his heart was to give back.”
In the video, Jelly Roll can be seen touring the facility, which he says he hopes inspires other artists to follow suit.
“I’m hoping, especially in Toby’s absence, the country music community will do this every time one of us plays here,” Jelly Roll says. “Go up, do what he did, be as big as he was. That’s the kind of legacy you really want to leave in life.”
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Jelly Roll was part of the Toby Keith: American Icon tribute concert which took place earlier this year. A portion of the proceeds went to the OK Kid Korral, which is operated by the Toby Keith Foundation.
“Toby inspired me to be a better American, a better human, a better songwriter, and with songs like this, most importantly he inspired me to be a better father,” Jelly Roll said during the tribute, before performing “My List.”
The Nashville native also teamed up with T-Pain earlier this year to perform “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Keith’s first No. 1 single. The song, along with “My List,” are two of Jelly Roll’s favorite country music songs ever, made even more special because of his respect for Keith.
“With songs like ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’ or ‘The Next Thing on My List’ and ‘I Love This Bar’ — just the whole way he put his personality into his music. He was an outlier,” Jelly Roll told Variety. “He was unapologetically Oklahoma. There are a lot of things he did that encouraged me and empowered me. He was very individualistic and carved his own path and he did it his own way, from pillar to post. He never knew it, but he was a mentor to me, just watching him from afar.”
Jelly Roll just celebrated his sixth No. 1 single with “I Am Not Okay.” The song is the debut single from his latest Beautifully Broken album, released last month.
“I believe in the power that music has to connect with people, and being able to see the response out on the road touring and seeing and hearing from people about this song – it’s been unreal … Thank you for continuing to shine a light on therapeutic music.” Jelly Roll told Billboard.
Jelly Roll has been touring extensively ever since “Save Me” came out in 2020, but says he will take a break from the road next year to focus on another dream he wants to pursue: acting.
“This is breaking news for Jelly Roll. I’m not going to headline a tour in America next year,” he announced on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’ll be my first year not headlining a tour in America since 2020, but before that, it was like 2012. It’s been a long time, so I think we’ve done enough this year. I’m going to do all those festivals next year, and I think I’m going to get into a little television, maybe.”
Jelly Roll is nominated for three CMA Awards, and will also perform during the live broadcast. His new single, “Liar,” is at radio now. Find all of Jelly Roll’s music and upcoming shows at JellyRoll615.com.