Jelly Roll Addresses His Political Views in Passionate ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Monologue, Months After Grammys Controversy

Jelly Roll addressed his political views in a passionate ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ monologue on Thursday, Aug. 27, in which he reflected on his reluctance to share his thoughts at the Grammy Awards in February.

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Jelly Roll reflected on avoiding political statements after winning three Grammy Awards earlier this year in his latest Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue

On Thursday, Aug. 27, the singer shared his struggle with being misunderstood and his desire to represent marginalized groups

The 41-year-old has been standing in for Kimmel this week, as the longstanding host continues his summer vacation

Jelly Roll addressed his reluctance to talk politics at the Grammy Awards earlier this year in his latest Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue.

The singer, 41, who has been filling in for Kimmel, 58, on his late-night show this week, explained in his Thursday, Aug. 27 address that he was looking forward to using the platform to get “some very personal stuff” off his chest.

“For the last six months, I’ve watched people decide who I am, what I am, what I believe, what I support, and what I don’t support. And I felt that even more this week, just because I told a couple of jokes,” he continued, alluding to jabs he has made at President Donald Trump in recent days.

He then said that the speculation over his views went back to Feb. 1 this year, when he won three Grammy Awards.

While a number of his contemporaries used the Los Angeles ceremony to express their political views, most notably condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, Jelly Roll declined to comment.

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“You know, I’m a dumb redneck, like, I haven’t watched enough,” he said at the time. “I didn’t have a phone for 18 months... I’m so disconnected from what’s happening.”

In Thursday’s Kimmel monologue seven months later, Jelly Roll looked back on winning as the “greatest honor” of his career, explaining, “I got handed an award that I’ve been dreaming about since I was a child.”

“And immediately after, I was asked to make what I felt at the time was a political stance,” he added.

Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord in Antioch, Tenn., said he “fumbled” his words and wished he had “found the words to express my heart just a little bit sooner. But I was afraid that anything I was going to say was going to be immediately taken as a political statement.”

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He continued, “Ironically, by trying so hard not to make a political statement, I became one. I spent my entire career trying not to belong to a political party. Partly because until March of this year, I wasn’t even allowed to vote.”

“But now that I have that right, it’s one I plan to exercise this coming November,” he said, to applause from the audience.

Jelly Roll described his political beliefs as “simple,” and rooted in the desire for the “recovering addict,” the “felon who is trying to change his life,” and the “single mama working a double hard for her family” to feel represented.

He said, “That night at the Grammys, I had an opportunity to speak up for people who were scared, hurting, and felt like nobody was speaking for them. I had a microphone and I didn’t use it the right way.”

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Urging people to come together and find common ground, Jelly Roll explained, “Hurting hearts are more important than poll numbers.”

He continued, “I got to stand on that stage that night and win a Grammy. And that is the American dream... the American dream should be for everybody.”

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Jelly Roll’s comments echoed those he made while paying tribute to Dolly Parton the previous night, after the country legend died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at age 80, in which he held her up as a symbol of American unity.

“She was such an inspiration to so many, myself included,” he said. “She might be the last American that everyone liked. We will miss her dearly.”

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