Jelly Roll is preparing for a night of emotions at the 57th Annual CMA Awards. The “Save Me” singer made a splash in Nashville with the release of his acclaimed studio album, Whitsitt Chapel, earlier this year. Not only is he a first-time CMA nominee, but he’s also the top-nominated male artist in his debut outing.
“Dude, I didn’t even expect a nomination, so when they told me I was the most-nominated male, I was shocked,” the artist, born Jason Bradley DeFord, jokes to ET during rehearsals for the upcoming show at Bridgestone Arena.
“Need a Favor” is up for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year, while he’s also nominated for Male Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year for his “Save Me” collaboration with Lainey Wilson. Wilson is this year’s most-nominated act with nine nominations to her name.
Feeling accepted into country music’s elite class is a significant milestone for Jelly Roll. Nashville’s CMA Awards are voted on by members of the Country Music Association, so all nominees and winners are celebrated by their industry peers.
“It was the approval I prayed for,” Jelly Roll says. “I knew we had support from fans, but I wasn’t sure what Nashville thought of me, you know?”
Getting emotional, he admits.
“It makes me want to get emotional,” he admits. “I’m really getting teary-eyed. For me, it was really like, you know, I’m welcome here and it was really cool.”
Besides receiving nominations, Jelly Roll has been chosen to open and close the ceremony with a pair of performances.
“There’s no greater honor,” he says of the opening spot, during which he’ll perform “Need a Favor.” “I would pray that one day I could be a fly on the wall and look back in history in that boardroom, and I just want to know who suggested it, right? ‘Cause somebody had to sit around a big table of important people and go, ‘I think Jelly Roll should open the show.'”
He adds, “Whoever did it, I just want to kiss them on the mouth.”
As for the closing performance, Jelly Roll will team up with K. Michelle to pay tribute to The Judds with “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
“K. Michelle has got one of the greatest voices on earth,” Jelly Roll gushes. “My only goal for that is to make sure that we represent Wynonna and Naomi properly in that moment, and respectfully, and also to stay out of K. Michelle’s way ’cause she is gonna go to church. I know it and I can feel it.”
In his first performance, Jelly Roll teases a special guest but keeps the details under wraps.
“I’ll have a special guest,” he confirms, “I’m not telling nobody who it is.”
The 2023 CMA Awards, hosted by Bryan and retired NFL pro Peyton Manning, will be broadcasted live on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and available the next day on Hulu.
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