Jelly Roll released his latest album, Beautifully Broken, in 2024, and he’s now working on an eagerly-anticipated follow-up project to that record, which featured hits like “I Am Not Okay” and “Heart of Stone.” During an appearance on Miles Adcox’s Human School Podcast, Jelly Roll revealed that fans will be in for a major surprise with his next album, as it will be a “bold swing.”
The Tennessee native’s next full-length release will mark his 11th studio album. Across his 10 previous projects, Jelly Roll has explored genres ranging from rap to rock. He made his country debut with 2023’s Whitsitt Chapel, but it appears his upcoming project could signal yet another musical evolution.
Confirming that he is in the early stages of things, Jelly Roll reflected on when he decided to record his massive hit “Save Me,” explaining, “I remember when I cut ‘Save Me.’ If you listen to my catalog, it was a wild swing. If you were currently a Jelly Roll fan, that was a crazy curveball for me to throw. Five years later, if you are currently a Jelly Roll fan, I said, ‘Throw y’all a curveball.’ You know what I’m saying?”
Adcox replied that Jelly Roll had thrown him a curveball when he first shared the concept of his new album. “I was like, of course, that makes all the sense in the world,” the podcast host said.
After becoming one of country music’s biggest names, Jelly Roll has gained a legion of devoted fans, and the award-winning singer shared that he hopes they’ll stick with him when he pivots to his next project. “I hope they follow me because I’m taking us on a ride,” he said. “Always have been bold when it was time to be bold musically, I thought, and it’s time to be bold.”
Adcox brought up Jelly Roll’s recent musical subject matter and how it pertains to his personal life, noting that he sees how well his friend is currently doing. “There’s a whole other gear of where you go from survival to thriving, and I’m seeing you start to thrive, and it’s really inspiring,” he said.
“I think the art will reflect it,” Jelly Roll replied. “The music’s always met me where I was.”
The star has plenty of time to focus on his next project, as he only has a few show dates currently on the books. He told Adcox that it was “refreshing” for him to appear on the latter’s podcast and not have to promote a project, with Jelly Roll later adding that he is “in a great place in life” and excited about the podcast’s concept.
“We need a change in humanity anyways, and I think this is the best step forward we can take, that you could take, and I’m glad you brought me in,” he said. “I just want to create more conversations like we’re having in general. Human to human conversations. Like real ones. What keeps you up at night? What scares you? Why are you scared? You know what I mean? Are you being a good husband? Are you being a good father? Does that matter to you? You know what I mean?”
Jelly Roll only has a few shows left on the books for 2025, including Strummingbird Festival, Corona Capital Festival and more. For more information and to buy tickets, visit his official website.
