Jelly Roll and Lynyrd Skynyrd joined forces for a duet at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville on Friday, October 13. The memorable performance was also accompanied by a surprise gift from the legendary rock band – they presented Jelly Roll with a guitar that once belonged to the late Gary Rossington, a gift that brought the “NEED A FAVOR” singer to tears.
“The Greatest Rock Band In The History Of Music”
The genre-bending star surprised the crowd during his headlining set at the Florida arena, which is home to the Jacksonville Sharks, on the Backroad Baptism Tour with surprise guests Rickey Medlock and Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“I don’t know if you know it or not, but the greatest rock ‘n roll band in the history of music came from Jacksonville, Florida. I don’t think they’re the greatest southern rock band, I think they are the greatest rock band in the history of music. That’s what I believe as a man that grew up in the south. It is with incredible pride that I tell you to join me for the next song right is Mr. Rickey Medlock and Johnny Van Zant from the legendary band, Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Jelly Roll announced.
Upon entering the stage, Van Zant addressed the capacity crowd and praised Jelly Roll for being genuine and remaining humble despite his new heights of success.
“How you doing Jacksonville? You know what before we get into this,” Van Zant said. “I got to say we were talking backstage and we actually met [Jelly Roll] for the first time in November of last year and he hadn’t changed one damn bit. I’m telling you. He is great, he’s the real deal, we love ya.”
“What do you say we play a little bit of southern rock ‘n roll?” Jelly Roll asked Van Zant, to which he replied, “sounds good, let’s do it!”
Performed “Simple Man” Together
Jelly Roll and the two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd then joined forces to perform “Simple Man,” one of the classic rock band’s most iconic songs and a tune that Jelly Roll often covers during his live concerts. In the midst of the performance, the “NEED A FAVOR” singer stopped and asked his band to “break it down for a second,” so that he could tell audience how much the moment meant to him.
“This is legendary for me. Not only am I standing on the stage with men that I have idolized since I was a child,” Jelly Roll exclaimed. “I am doing it in the great state of Florida, but better than that I’m doing it in Jacksonville baby. What I want to do is… I want to do this chorus one more time Ricky and Johnny and this time I want to hear what the sold-out crowd at the VyStar Arena sounds like. So we need 110% Jacksonville.”
The trio then pointed the microphone out to the audience to finish the track’s final chorus, prompting a massive sing-along.
“And be a simple kind of man/ Oh, be something you love and understand/ Baby, be a simple kind of man/ Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?” the sold-out crowd sang along in perfect sync with Jelly Roll, Medlock and Van Zant.
Tearful Surprise: A Guitar That Once Belonged To The Late Gary Rossington
Following their memorable performance together, the two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd brought Jelly Roll to tears by presenting him with a precious gift – a guitar that had once belonged to the late Gary Rossington.
“Hey Jelly, I got a surprise for you tonight. Jacksonville we love this guy. I got a surprise for you… Last year folks, we did a show at The Ryman Auditorium and it was the last show that Gary Rossington did with the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. Y’all give it up for Gary Rossington up in Heaven right now. We got a guitar here that was Gary’s guitar, one of his guitars, that his wife and his kids wanted to give you in honor of being our buddy, our friend and this is a revival tonight,” Johnny Van Zant said, handing him a guitar. “I’m telling you God bless ya. One of Gary’s own, he played it, cherished it. I wonder how many Lynyrd Skynyrd songs were written on that guitar. We love this guy, he’s the real deal I’m telling you Jacksonville.”
Jelly Roll broke down in tears as he received the priceless gift from Lynyrd Skynyrd, before he proudly held the guitar in the air.
“RIP Gary Rossington, a living legend baby, the man that did it first,” the 38-year-old singer/songwriter shouted.
He also received a note from Dale Rossington, according to Van Zant.
“Beyond Honored And Humbled”
Jelly Roll later took to social media to commemorate the unforgettable evening.
“Of everything I’ve ever been gifted , last night I was given what I consider now to be my most prized possession. Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd came out to sing with me in Jacksonville Florida – it was unbelievable – and the end of the song on behalf of the Rossington Family, I was gifted one Gary Rossington’s guitars with the sweetest note ever. I literally cried,” he wrote on Instagram.
He continued, “I grew up in Tennessee – if you grew up in the south you know the 3 biggest things in our life was Jesus, Lynyrd Skynyrd and College Football (in that order) . Thank you Gary’s Wife Mrs Dale Rossington and his daughters Mary and Annie for trusting me with such a beautiful gift – I promise to keep it safe – write songs on it and hang it on my wall. I am beyond honored and humbled . Truly – thank you for everything.”
“Save Me” Is Making Waves At Country Radio
The news comes as Jelly Roll’s latest single at Country radio, “Save Me,” featuring Lainey Wilson, continues to make its way up the charts and currently sits in the Top 15.
Jelly Roll’s latest single “Save Me” featuring Lainey Wilson made a major impact at Country Radio upon its release on September 5. The song earned a whopping 60 first-week adds on stations around the country. “Save Me,” which received over 91 historic adds.
The genre-bending star recently opened up about reimagining the tune with Lainey Wilson and how she gives the song a whole new life. “I didn’t realize how much of an impact the song was going to have on me when I heard it from the perspective of a woman,” Jelly Roll admitted. “Lainey’s like a sister. I think she’s got one of the best voices in country music, and we’re already friends so it was just such an easy collab.
New Album, WHITSITT CHAPEL
The new reimagined version of “Save Me” featuring Lainey Wilson appears on Jelly Roll’s latest album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrived on June 2, 2023. The tune was originally recorded as a solo song on Jelly Roll’s 2020 album, Self Medicated.
WHITSITT CHAPEL, named after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, features 13 tracks, including his chart-topping hit “NEED A FAVOR,” “SHE,” and more.
“This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful. I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems,” Jelly Roll previously shared in a statement.
The project debuted at No.2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and in the Top 3 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart with 90,000 album equivalents.
Backroad Baptism Tour
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Deford, is currently in the midst of his Backroad Baptism Tour, which has been playing to capacity crowds across the country since it kicked off on Friday, July 28. The trek runs through Saturday, October 14, when it will wrap up in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.
Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, and Yelawolf will appear as special guests on select dates of the nearly sold-out tour.
2023 CMA Awards
Additionally, Jelly Roll recently joined the ranks of Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and more as he landed five nominations at the 2023 CMA Awards as a first-time nominee.
Following behind his “Save Me” duet partner Lainey Wilson who leads CMA Awards nominees, the genre-bending star earned five nominations, including Single Of The Year (“NEED A FAVOR”), Male Vocalist Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year (“Save Me” with Lainey Wilson) and Music Video Of The Year (“NEED A FAVOR”).
“5 CMA nominations . I can’t believe it , like literally,” he initially wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, before further elaborating on Instagram.
For more information about Jelly Roll and his upcoming tour dates, visit his official website HERE.
