Jelly Roll is going to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jelly Roll was invited to join on Wednesday, December 10. The Nashville native received the invitation from Craig Morgan, via video, while Jelly Roll was appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience.
Rogan began the invitation by recounting how Morgan influenced Jelly Roll, with his “Almost Home” single. After Jelly Roll got out of jail, he bought a ticket to go see Morgan perform at the Grand Ole Opry. The performance changed everything for Jelly Roll, who was still on parole at the time.
“It don’t get no bigger in country music. That’s as big as it gets,” Jelly Roll says through tears. “I used to buy tickets to go there. And I remember, I googled Craig Morgan. I heard ‘Almost Home’ in jail….It’s the most tear-jerking song about homeless people, and it just reminded me of jail. Just no matter where you are, the mind’s strong. I came home, and the song meant so much, I was like, ‘Craig Morgan live.’ It’s like ‘Grand Ole Opry house,’ and I was like, ‘I’ll go.’ I could barely afford tickets. I think I talked some girl into buying them for me. I went and sat by myself. I had an ankle bracelet on. The show went off at 9:00. I had to be home at 9:00, so I was like, if he’s the last one, I’m screwed.
“He comes out and sings ‘Almost Home,’ And I had, I’m not [joking], I’d maybe cried ten times in my life at that point,” he continues. “I cried and cried. I cried like I’m crying here now, and I just remember thinking, ‘Man, I wanna make people feel the way he makes me feel. That’s what I want to do. I did it, Joe.”
What Craig Morgan Said When He Invited Jelly Roll to Become a Grand Ole Opry Member
Morgan and Jelly Roll have become friends over the years, with Jelly Roll joining Morgan on a new version of “Almost Home” for Morgan’s 2023 Enlisted album. So it’s only fitting that it is Morgan who issued the invitation.
“Hey Jelly, my friend,” said Morgan in his video message from the Grand Ole Opry House. “I want to take a minute today to say congratulations on all the great things happening in your career, and to thank you for the positive difference you are making in the lives of so many people who need the help. You are doing great work, buddy. I’ll never forget meeting you on the Grand Ole Opry, and how much it meant to me to hear you say my music helped you get through some really tough times. That’s one thing country music does really well.
“Who would have ever dreamed I’d be back at the Opry House today to say, ‘Jelly Roll, you are officially invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry,” he adds. “It’s an honor to say, ‘Welcome to the family, brother.’”
Jelly Roll Speaks Out About His Grand Ole Opry Invitation
After appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience, Jelly Roll shared his thoughts on the invitation on social media.
“They invited me to be a member of the Opry. CRAIG MORGAN INVITED ME TO BE A MEMBER OF THE OPRY!!!!” Jelly Roll writes. “I’m honored beyond words and I can’t stop pinching myself. To everyone at the Opry, y’all are like family to me. To Craig Morgan, no matter how many times I say it i’ll never be able to tell you enough how much this has all meant to me. I love you Joe Rogan.”
An induction date has yet to be announced.
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