Jelly Roll has gone from the rap world to the rock world to the country world. In fact, 2023 saw him release his debut country album, WHITSITT CHAPEL. With such a broad range of skills, it seems as if there’s nothing Jelly Roll can’t do.
Well, now the 38-year-old Antioch, Tenn., native says he’s ready to branch out even more as he hopes to add another entertainment-driven career to his resume. And that’s acting.
In a recent interview with Audacy’s Jason Bailey, Jelly Roll opened up about his interest to tap into in the world of acting and mentioned the inspiration for his newly announced passion came from watching Machine Gun Kelly find success as an actor, appearing in a variety of movies and TV shows, including Nerve, Roadies, and The Dirt.
“I want to act, really bad,” Jelly Roll told the outlet. “I know it sounds weird [and] I never thought I would act, but I’ve been really inspired by what Machine Gun Kelly has done with his career the last three years.”
Watch Jelly Roll’s Full Interview Below
“I’m one of the old-school guys, and this is weird, but if I see somebody do something, whatever in me, since I was a kid, instantly goes, ‘Oh, that’s doable,’” he added.
Machine Gun Kelly Inspired Jelly Roll To Want To Act
Further reiterating his wishes to show his talents on the screen, whether big or small, Jelly Roll said his mindset on achieving his dreams always stemmed from seeing other people do just that with theirs.
“If I knew somebody personally that did something, I was like, ‘Oh, this is achievable,” the “Save Me” singer revealed. “Even if it was some third cousin’s uncle who played at the Grand Ole Opry, I was like, ‘Whoa, we might be able to play at the Grand Ole Opry. I know somebody’s third cousin uncle that played there.’ And watching MGK do all these independent films has really inspired me.”
Making His Dreams Come True
Jelly Roll is no stranger to setting goals that many may deem too high or unachievable. Already setting unprecedented benchmarks, for example, having collected three trophies, including Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, and Digital-First Performance of the Year at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Jelly Roll couldn’t have predicted he’d be where he is at this point even if he tried to.
In fact, when announced as “the biggest artist period, end of story” by Audacy’s Bailey, Jelly Roll laughs and responds with: “Hearing you say that, I still have moments where I am like, ‘Who is he talking about? Who is this man he is speaking of? There are people from my past that would never believe that was an intro to me.”
Jelly Roll’s perception of himself comes as he continues his path away from the earlier dark days of his life, which found him in and out of the jail system for over a decade. The prior part of his life combined with his celebrity status has gone on to serve as a rare and unusual fate and somewhat of a rags-to-riches story.
And while Jelly Roll maintains a modest approach, his music and talents continue to take him to the next level every time.
Jelly Roll will soon embark on his headlining arena tour, the Backroad Baptism Tour.
With 44 dates planned, the trek will begin on Friday (July 28) at Bank Plus Amphitheater in Southaven, Mississippi. Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, and Yelawolf will serve as support on select dates of the tour, which will wrap on Saturday (Oct. 14) in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.
