Jelly Roll is being honest about doing the work to improve his mental health.
Earlier in December, Jelly made a guest appearance on “The Daily Show” podcast.
He and guest host Charlamagne tha God talked openly and seriously about the importance of therapy for his mental health. Charlamagne asked Jelly Roll to talk about how and what he’s done to work on himself.
Jelly Roll said he’s taken the time to love himself. He told Charlamagne that he’s learning to listen to himself. Then he shared, “I go to therapy, I take it very seriously.”
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According to Jelly Roll, having faith and believing in a higher power are equally important to his evolution as a man. He described himself as an old-school Southern man.
And Jelly Roll said, “I’m just really rooted in my faith, my belief that more than anything, I search for purpose.”
Jelly Roll doesn’t think that mental health therapy and what he calls “old-school Southern” religion pose any conflicts with each other, either.
Jelly Roll On Faith and Therapy
He told Charlamagne, “I believe in God and therapy and I believe in the universe.” He even confessed that he’s becoming more open-minded as he ages.
He’s always been open and honest about his former life on the poorest streets around Nashville. When he was in his teens and early twenties, Jelly was often in trouble with the law. He spent years in prison after being convicted of dealing substances.
And, at one time, he confessed he couldn’t see a way out of his dark life. But the birth of his daughter while he was in prison sent him in a new direction that changed the course of his life.
Jelly Roll began to work hard to become a musician. Eventually, his hard work and patience paid off. He is now a country superstar.
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But success and fame are not the most important things to Jelly Roll. As he’s gotten more successful, he started to focus on giving back to his community.
He performs live for inmates at local prisons and for patients at rehab facilities. He also raised funds to build a recording studio in a special location — inside the juvenile detention center where he served time as a youth.
During the holiday season, Jelly Roll runs a massive toy drive to collect Christmas gifts for kids throughout middle Tennessee.
His music also has a higher purpose. Songs like “Son of a Sinner,” “She,” and “Save Me” include messages of hope for people he can identify with. These people may be poverty-stricken, lonely, or struggling with a dependence on substances. Jelly Roll writes and sings for those who have told him they didn’t feel represented in country music before.
He explained it more, saying “I feel like I’m a voice for the voiceless… and I speak for a group of people that never have been properly spoken for…”
The One Shift that Helped Jelly Roll Become a Better Man
Jelly Roll said he takes his role in country music very seriously. There is one distinction between the man he was and the mean he is becoming. “I quit searching to be happy… and I started searching to be useful,” he shared.
He claims that everything negative in his life began to change when he became a man of service. “I’m finding purpose in life… and it’s really cool,” he added.
When Jelly Roll appeared on The Daily Show, he had something else to celebrate. Charlamagne wished Jelly a happy birthday — and the audience joined in, too. The country star’s actual birthdate is December 4, 1984.
Charlamagne talked about another celebration on the podcast episode. “You celebrated a number one record with ‘Save Me,” he told Jelly. “Man, what a birthday present.”
He then asked, “You released it, what, three years ago on YouTube?” Charlamagne couldn’t believe Jelly Roll’s post on YouTube when he uploaded the song.
At the time, the artist wrote that he wasn’t sure if the song should make it to the album or not: “I know this is a little different for me… but I’m wondering if this should make the album or not.”
That comment shocked Charlamagne, since “Save Me’” has become such a big hit. He asked Jelly Roll, “Why didn’t you believe the song should make the album?”
Why Jelly Roll Almost Didn’t Publish ‘Save Me’
Once again, Jelly Roll spoke honestly about how his mind and thoughts sometimes get in his way. “Oh, man, insecurity, that voice of negativity that gets in all of our ears,” he said.
He also admitted that he fights that voice in his head almost every day, but added that he’s glad he fought enough to put the song up.
“Save Me” also taught Jelly Roll an important lesson. He told Charlamagne that he needed to let go and let the song find people. The song was released on YouTube a few years ago but only recently hit number one on the country charts.
Jelly shared some great insight on why the song took years to find its audience. “You know, music meets us where we are,” he said, adding that he thinks that’s the beauty of music.
As Jelly Roll said on The Daily Show music is there to help and heal. He was just glad to see the song finally touch people since that’s what’s important to him.
He added that he wants to talk about the things people are afraid to talk about.
