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Jelly Roll is expressing gratitude after their big win at the Grammy Awards.
The 41-year-old singer, who won three awards at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, told reporters, including PEOPLE, that her win at the ceremony was a result of the support she has received from her fans since the beginning of her music career.
“I want you guys to know…we did it, baby. None of this would have happened without them,” Jelly Roll said. “Imagine being one of the few people in the world where they believed in me from the beginning. This overweight white trash boy from Tennessee was going to figure it out one day and stand up here, and it’s my turn, we actually figure it out.”
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Jelly Roll, who attended the Grammy Awards with his wife Bunny Zoe, expressed his desire to reach more people after winning the award.
“I’m sure a lot of people are watching the Grammys tonight and they feel like someone is representing them for the first time in a while, and I decided to be that person,” he said.
Jelly Roll won Best Contemporary Country Album for their 2024 album Beautiful Broken, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fight Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Shabuzi.
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While accepting the award for best contemporary country album, he became emotional on stage and credited his wife of 10 years, Bunny Zaw, 46, for saving his life.
“They’re going to try to get me out of here. So let me get this out. First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening. Lord, I’m listening. Lord. Secondly, I want to thank my beautiful wife. My life would never be the same without you,” Jelly Rolle said through tears. “I would have ended up dead or in jail. If it wasn’t for you and Jesus, I would have killed myself. Thank you for that.”
“There was a time in my life, you guys, when I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album. I never thought I’d have a chance, guys,” he said. “Some days I had dark thoughts. I was a terrible person.”
While speaking about the experiences that inspired the album, Jelly Roll also reflected on his own difficult past with incarceration and how it led to a journey of recovery.
“There was a moment in my life when I thought all I had was a Bible this big, a radio the same size, and a 6-foot-by-8-foot cell,” he said. “And I believe those two things can change my life. I believe music has the power to change my life and I believe God has the power to change my life.”
