2024 CMA nominee Jelly Roll reflected on walking away from the show with zero awards, sharing that Taylor Swift inspired him to keep pushing harder.
“I seeen a clip the other day of Taylor Swift when she found out her album Reputation was not nominated for album of the year at the Grammys and her first response was ‘it’s OK, I just have to make a better record’ – man that lit a fire under me in a way I’ve never had lit,” Jelly, 39, captioned his Thursday, November 21, Instagram post. “That was ultimate accountability in action in the real moment and that’s why Taylor is the legend she is. That was all said to say, I’m going to write a better album, I’m Going to work harder and I’ll be back baby, I will be back. PS REPUTATION was one of the greatest albums ever written.”
Jelly was nominated for Album of the Year for his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel, Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Chris Stapleton was crowned Male Vocalist of the Year, Morgan Wallen took home Entertainer of the Year and Cody Johnson’s Leather was named the Album of the Year.
Earlier in the “Son of a Sinner” singer’s caption, he gave all three artists their flowers.
“I know I don’t have to say this but, just so we are clear – Chris Stapleton was and always will be the Male Vocalist of the year as long as he is alive and I think we all agree about that,” Jelly wrote.
The “Wild Ones” artist got excited while addressing Morgan, 31, his “East Tennessee brother, writing, “No one has done more for country music in the last quarter of a century than Morgan has.”
“And Cody, my brother and one of my best friends Cody Johnson, your album Leather is truly one of my favorite albums recorded in the last decade, any win for you is a win for me, you deserved this one, and now I can brag that I’m one of the only features on the CMA album of the year,” Jelly wrote.
Despite the outcome of the nominations, Jelly rocked Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena, during his soul-touching performance with Brooks and Dunn. Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Jelly performed Brooks and Dunn’s hit “Believe” and took the crowd to church.
Jelly also thanked Kix, 69, and Ronnie, 71, for asking him to perform their song with them onstage.
“I’m a 61 year old woman who cried during ur performance last night!!! I’m in awe of ur journey as a human being … went to c u in concert in El Paso tx … u r truly a vessel from above!!!” a fan wrote in the comments section of the post.
A second fan commented, “Dude. You are so real and this is why so many people love you. Keep killin’ it! PS … I loved watching you and Bunnie jam out last night. Also, you cheering on your friends is so wholesome.”
